CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

As I sat on the ground, with my hand on my face, the headlights of Carl's car illuminated the dark driveway. He leapt out of the vehicle, his long strides devouring the distance between us. His face was a picture of fury, his eyes blazing like embers. "Don't tell me Daniel did this to you!!" he thundered, his voice like a crack of lightning that shook the air. "Where is Daniel?!!!!"

I gestured weakly towards the club's back door, and Carl seemed to expand with rage, his chest heaving like a bellows. He looked like a knight ready to charge into battle, but I stopped him with a frail hand, my voice barely above a whisper, as I groaned in pain, "Please, Carl, just take me home."

The anger in his eyes still simmered, like he was about to bring the whole world down. But as our gazes met, the anger eventually gave way to a softness I'd never seen before. He scooped me up from the ground with a tender strength, like I weighed nothing. He settled me into the back seat. Then, he rounded the ca