(Aria)
The hallway felt colder than before, or maybe that was just Vincenzo. He walked half a step ahead of me, shoulders rigid, jaw tight, hands shoved into his pockets like he was trying to keep them from doing… something. Grabbing Alice again? Dragging me away from everyone entirely? I didn’t know.
What I did know was that every few seconds, he glanced sideways to make sure I was still behind him.
“You don’t have to hover,” I muttered under my breath.
He didn’t stop walking. “I’m not hovering.”
“You’re absolutely hovering.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Luca said I’m responsible for you. That’s all.”
Responsible.
The word stung in a way I didn’t expect—like I was another assignment, another gun to load and aim.
We turned a corner, our footsteps echoing softly against polished
