ALINA’S POV.

    I peeked from behind Jordan to see that we had been surrounded by six scary-looking men. But one face stood out to me.

    “Cobi?” The name left my lips in a shocked whisper.

    I took a good look at the man who had spoken, and it was indeed Cobi.

    He took a step forward, and Jordan stood a little straighter in front of me, his jaw clenched, ready to act.

    “Jordan, it’s fine.” I said, squeezing his hand in reassurance before stepping out from behind him.

    “It is you.” I said softly, my voice quivering as my eyes glistened with tears.

    “You know her, Jay?” One of the guys asked Cobi, ncing between us with confusion. !--

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    Cobi regarded me with a guarded expression, his brows furrowed as he tried to figure out who I was and how I knew him.

    Who the fuck are you, and how the fuck do you know the name Cobi?” He asked harshly, his voice rough and demanding, making meugh through the painful jam in my throat.

    He was still just as I remembered, stern-looking, with the mouth of a sailor.

    I couldn’t stop myself. I threw my arms around him, hugging him tightly as tears streamed freely down my cheeks.

    Jacobi, poprly known as Jay, was one of the top dogs in this area. He looked tough and mean, but deep down, he was a big softy. He always made sure the kids around here had something to eat, and in my past life, he had secretly snuck me food.

    He had even nned to help me escape, but we got caught. He was shot right in front of me.

    He had once told me I could call him Cobi because I reminded him of his sister Rosa who used to call him that. Rosa, had died while still in college. She apparently went to the same college as Seraphina and me, though I never met her. I’d only heard rumors of a schrship student who had fallen off a building.

    I pulled away from the hug, just enough to look up and see Cobi’s helpless expression. It was funny andpletely out of ce on someone so intimidating.

    His friends stared at him in disbelief and confusion, blinking as though they’d just seen a ghost. Everyone knew that Jacobi didn’t do hugs. Or mushy stuff.

    “I’m Alina.”I told him in a shaky voice.

    He pulled mepletely away from him, stepping back with exaggerated caution in case I tried to hug him again.

    “So?” He asked, his tone t and unreadable.

    I wasn’t hurt, at least not deeply. I hadn’t expected him to remember me. Not in this lifetime at least.

    I had to think quickly of a way to exin how I knew him. Then an idea hit me.

    “I was a friend of your sister, Rose.” I said.

    His expression shifted instantly at the mention of her name. Rose was Rosa’s full name, but she hated it. She’d insisted on Rosa. I wouldn’t have known that if Cobi hadn’t told me all of it in my past life.

    You knew Rosa?” He asked, his voice a little softer now, heavy with disbelief.

    “Yeah, only for a short while, but she always spoke about you.” I lied smoothly.

    “She was the one who told you that my name was Cobi?” He asked, skeptical.

    No, you told me that. I wanted to say, but that wouldn’t make any sense.

    “Yes.” I nodded with practiced ease.

    “Back the fuck off, boys,” Cobi ordered his friends, his eyes never leaving mine. “Do you mind if we talk?” He asked politely.

    “Sure.” I sounded a little too eager, but I couldn’t help it.

    I was just so happy to see him. It was a relief, a miracle, seeing people who had died because of me in my past life alive and healthy.

    “But ma’am-” Jordan started to protest.

    “I’ll be fine, Jordan. Cobi is family. He won’t hurt me.” I assured him with a small smile.

    For a brief second, something shed in Cobi’s eyes, an emotion I couldn’t quite ce, but it disappeared before I could figure out what it was.

    We began a slow stroll, with Jordan following a few steps behind, his body still tense, refusing to let his guard down.

    “So… you

    knew Rose?” Cobi asked again, his tone gentler now, more like the man that would sneak me food..

    “Uh-huh.” I nodded. “But I feel like I know you more than I knew her because you were all she ever talked about. You’re a good brother, Cobi,” I told him softly.

    His jaw tensed, and his eyes clouded.

    “No. I failed her.” He said, voice turning hard.

    “You didn’t,” I protested quickly. “You did everything for her that you could, and she knows that. What happened was unfortunate, it wasn’t your fault.”

    I knew Rosa’s death wasn’t suicide. In the past life, Cobi had tried to find out the truth and bring her justice… but he’d been killed before he could..

    “Can I have your phone?” I asked suddenly.

    “Why?” He looked at me, suspicious.

    “Just give me your phone.” Iughed lightly, trying to ease up the tension.

    He pulled out his phone from his pocket and handed it over.

    I quickly input my number, and Talia’s before giving it back to him.

    “I just put my number and one of the best hacker’s number you can ever find in there,” I told him. “Call her and tell her I sent you. She’ll find you the evidence you need to prove that Rose’s death wasn’t an ident.”

    His eyes widened in shock.

    How how- He couldn’t even finish the question, but I knew what he was thinking.

    How did I know he’d been trying to seek justice for her?

    “Because I know you a lot more than you think,” I said with a small smile. “I know it’s been tough, but I want you to know one thing. When it gets too hard, remember…”

    “It is always darkest before the dawn.”

    We both said it together.

    It was something he’d often said to me in the past life to give me hope that maybe I could survive what I was going through.

    “You remind me so much of Rosa, you know?” He chuckled, his eyes a little misty now.

    “I know.” I replied softly.

    He’d told me that before too.

    “Here,” I said, pulling one of the ck cards Lucian had given me and cing it in his hand. “I don’t know how much is in it, but it’s more than enough to make sure you and the kids don’t go hungry for a very long time.”

    I squeezed his hand around the card gently, so he wouldn’t reject it. Thankfully he didn’t because it would go a long way for them.

    I had a couple of those cards. Honestly, I didn’t even make use of them, Lucian got me everything I needed without me even asking.

    “Please make sure you call me if you ever need anything… or if you just want to hang out.” I told him.

    “Thank you, Alina,” he said, gripping my hand, his eyes filled with gratitude and unshed tears. “I’ll text you. And don’t forget, to reach out if you ever need help with anything. Even if it’s to ruffle someone up.”

    “I have a bodyguard.” Iughed, gesturing to Jordan behind me.

    “Who? The pretty boy?” He scoffed, “I mean it, Alina.” He said firmly.

    “Alright, I’ll keep it in mind.” I smiled softly.

    “Good. Nowe on. Let me walk you to your car. This ce isn’t safe for you.”

    We walked back to the car, side by side.

    He opened the car door for me, and I got in, rolling the window down.

    “Make sure you call me the next time you want toe around, okay? Don’t just drive here with your fancy car and one bodyguard, it’ll be of no use if the other gangs decide to attack,” he warned me.

    “I will, Cobi. Thank you.”

    “No, thank you.” He said, smiling at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back.

    It’s crazy how the meanest-looking people have the most beautiful smiles.

    “Now run along,” he said, tapping the roof of the car. Then he called out to Jordan, “Hey, man. Make sure you take care of

    her.”

    Jordan nodded silently before driving off.

    I knew he had a lot of questions, but thankfully, he kept them to himself.

    For the first time since I woke up today, I felt lighter.