He's the only man I trust to protect me. But he's my assassin.

Violet

He's coming for me.

There's nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

All I can hope for is that I can stay ahead of him. It's my only shot.

The only problem is I have no idea how to stay on the run. Growing up the way I did prevented me from learning any real survival skills. The best I can do is keep my head down and resist the urge to call my family. They can't know where I am. Because if they know, he'll find out.

When he finds me, there isn't a damn thing I'll be able to do to stop him from killing me.

Xavier

Violet needs to keep running. If she stops, even just to rest her eyes for a bit, the other Shade and I will catch up with her, and she'll be doomed.

We both will be.

I have to find her. Then I have to get her the hell away from The Shades. That means I have to earn her trust.

But why would she ever trust me?

I held a gun to her head last night. I nearly killed her. Some moments, I think I should have. It would have been easier than this. She wouldn't have had to suffer all this fear.

She would be free.

But I didn't pull the trigger. And now, Devon and I are right on her tail, and there's no telling what kinds of wicked things he'll do to Violet if—no, when—he gets his hands on her. She won't stand a chance.

I'm the only thing standing between her and a grisly death, and I refuse to let the mistakes of her father destroy her.

I'll fight for her until the end.