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.

indifferent as he regarded the soaked, trembling child on the ground -certain she was faking an injury

it at her feet. His voice was

perfectly well he hadn't

herself in front of his car with practiced

scams before-kids of all ages, some as young as this one.

thought someone would try it

she hadn't been so young, he wouldn't have even

...

had been sitting on the ground with her head down,

the hundred-dollar bill on her lap, her eyes

snatched up the bill and clutched

dollars could buy her and Mom so

also just hand out a hundred bucks

Katy, that meant he

was seared of Blake,

she mustered her courage. As Blake bent to get back in

up and

around his leg.

really sick. Please, can you lend me

work hard to

many bottles

eyes grew even colder at

giving her that

he thought,

turned glacial.

"1

him like he was her only lifeline, falling to

Blake shifted his leg.

knew he could shake her off easily-she

looked down at those

leaned into his car grabbed a handful of