Lucia’s POV
My breath stilled as the detective’s gaze settled on me. His presence alone made the air feel heavier. I hadn’t expected to walk into this—to see him standing there, looking at me like I was a puzzle he was trying to solve.
The worst part? He was close. Too close.
I forced myself to relax, to smooth out my expression, but it was too late. He had seen my hesitation, and now he was interested.
He smiled. “And who might you be?”
Dante didn’t move, but I felt his presence shift like a predator sensing an approaching threat. His body was a barrier between me and the detective, but it wasn’t enough to stop the weight of the man’s scrutiny.
I swallowed. “Lucia,” I said evenly.
The detective’s eyes flickered, something unreadable flashing across his face before he nodded. “Lucia
