The Day Our Promise Breaks

Chapter 571

Blake's reflexes were razor-sharp.

Before he could hit the little girl, his foot slammed down on the brakes, coming to a screeching halt.

The front bumper stopped just inches from the girl's frail, trembling body.

The piercing sound of the brakes split the quiet night, startling the little girl.

She jerked her head around.

Through the rain-streaked window, a pair of wide, luminous eyes-bright as stars -locked onto Blake's inside the car.

Their gazes met.

Startled by Blake's icy, intimidating expression-the kind that could freeze over a thousand winters—the girl looked like a frightened fawn. Her big, beautiful eyes went round, her legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed onto the wet pavement.

It was impossible to tell if she was shivering from the cold rain soaking her or from sheer terror at Blake's presence.

...

Inside the car,

Even after that near-miss, Blake's features remained composed and frosty.

He was the most notorious "Ice King" in the city's legal world-a man said to be born without the capacity for normal human emotions.

But in the instant his eyes met the little girl's, his pupils dilated.

For those few seconds, her eyes looked so much like Yara's.

Realizing he'd let himself think of Yara again, Blake's gaze turned even colder, his emotions locked down tight. The ripple of feeling lasted only a heartbeat before he returned to his usual, impassive self.

After watching the girl collapse, he pushed open the car door, grabbed an umbrella, and stepped out.

Long legs hit the ground, and he strode to the front of the car, stopping just half a step away from the little girl.

He looked down.

as he regarded the soaked, trembling child on the ground -certain

wallet and tossed it at her feet. His voice was as cold

well he

girl had thrown herself in front of

had heard about these scams before-kids of all ages, some as young as this one. Some were runaways, others used

never thought someone would try it on

so young, he wouldn't have even given her a

...

ground with her head

the hundred-dollar bill on her lap,

tiny fingers snatched up the bill and

knew that a red bill meant a hundred dollars. A hundred dollars could buy her and

but he could also just hand

meant he was rich-really

was seared of

lying sick at home, she mustered her courage. As Blake bent to get back

up and threw her

around his leg.

Please, can you lend me

hard

bottles and boxes

eyes grew even colder

giving her that

like her, he thought, were shameless and

turned glacial. "Let

"1

Katy clung to him like he was her

Blake shifted his leg.

he could shake her off

down at

the end, Blake leaned into his car grabbed a handful of crisp