Scarlett Mila Marino

I'm at dinner alone, again.
When the front door opens I move to see who it is. Rowan walks through it, and I notice something's off immediately. He's moving slower than usual, breathing heavily, his hand clutching his arm. My stomach knots, and before I know it, I'm rushing towards him.

I see blood on his hand, sweeping through his shirt. My breath catches. He's bleeding, badly. I hurry closer, heart racing.

"Rowan!" I gasp, reaching out for him. He tries to sidestep me, brushing it off like it's nothing. "You're hurt. What happened?" I say in panic. Is he going to die? No. Please don't die.

"I'm...fine." He grits out. But I can see the strain in his face, the tightness in his jaw, the way his steps falter. He's not fine. He's lost too much blood.

"No. You're not fine!" I snap, surprising even myself with the firmness in my voice. I pull him toward the couch, and sit him down before he can resist. He doesn't fight me, not really. He's too tired to push back.

He's bleeding through his jacket. A lot. My mind races, I need to stop the bleeding. Without thinking I start pulling off his jacket, he grunts not able to move his right arm. "I'm sorry." I keep telling him because I don't want to hurt him even more.

"Can I get a first aid kit!" I yell out to no one, hoping someone will hear me.

"Scarlett, I said I'm fine." He growls, trying to pull away. But I ignore him.

My hands are trembling a little as I pull the fabric down his arm. "Just please, let me help, okey?" I say not wanting him to die.

I see it now, his white shirt stained red, and the blood is still flowing. I bide down on the inside of my cheek, trying not to panic.

I start to unbutton his shirt, he stiffens, his muscles tensing under my fingers. I can't help but notice how solid he feels, his skin warm despite the cold air. And then...good god, his abs.
Now's not the time to get distracted by that.

One of the maids come rushing with supplies. Thank god.

I focus on the wound, the cut is deep, and my hands shake a little more as I reach for a cloth to press against it.
"What happened?" I ask, my voice quieter now.

He must have been bleeding for a long time. Has he been walking all the way here? While bleeding? Because no car showed up at the front.

Rowan doesn't answer. He's silent watching me work. I feel his eyes on me, heavy and unreadable.

I press the cloth harder against his arm, trying to stop it from bleeding.
"Why aren't you saying anything? You can't just...just come home like this and expect me to not care." I admit, my voice shaking a little.

He finally looks up, his dark eyes meeting mine. And for a moment I see something there. Something raw, vulnerable, hidden behind the mask he always wears. But then it's gone.

"You shouldn't care. It's not your problem." He mutters, his voice gruff.

I pause, my hands stilling against his arm. Why do I care? I should want him out of my life. He's right. But the thought of him hurt, or worse...I can't handle it.

I wrap the wound tightly, tying off the bandage to stop the bleeding. "You're not dying on me, Rowan. Not tonight." I say.

I finish tying the bandage, my fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary on his arm. I glance up at him, expecting his usual hardness. The cold, distant stare.
But instead something so rare happens. His gaze softens.

It's subtle, barely there, but I notice it.
Were both quiet, the room filled with nothing but the sound of our breathing. He's watching me, less guarded, almost...grateful. Which is crazy because Rowan Marino is not grateful of anything. He doesn't like anyone. But now, it's as if he's letting himself feel something.

I blink, suddenly unsure of what's happening between us right now. I pull my hands away from him, standing up quickly, as if putting more space between us will help me think clearer. "You should get some rest." I say.

He doesn't move, just watches me, with that strange softness in his eyes. "You...care...more than you should, Mila." He says almost a sad smile playing on his lips.

I stare at him, my heart doing something weird in my chest. "Don't flatter yourself. I just don't want a dead body in my hands." I say knowing it's a lie. Because I do care. More than I should. And that terrifies me.

"Thank you." He says so gentle.
I...I don't know what to say. I'm stunned. Did the Rowan Marino just thank me? He's never done that.

I take another step back. I can't stay here any longer than I have, because if I stay things will change between us, and that can't happen.
I nod before I turn to leave. "Goodnight, Rowan." I say then head back to my room.

As I sit on my bed, heart still pounding, I can't help but think of how he let his guard down, the way his voice sounded when he thanked me. And for the first time, I wonder, if maybe...just maybe, there is more to Rowan than I ever thought possible.

Sorry for a short chapter...