*ADELINE*
I took a breath, steadying myself—it was now or never. As I walked towards him, my heart raced. Each step felt like a declaration of war, and I needed to remind myself why I had come here in the first place. I craved answers, closure, or perhaps some semblance of understanding about the enigma that was Vincenzo. It was foolhardy, I knew that, but the pull he had on me was undeniable.
"Vincenzo," I started, the words barely spilling from my lips, "what are you doing here?" But before I could finish, he was up from that chair, moving with a grace that could only be described as predatory. In a heartbeat, he was right in front of me, and before I could collect my thoughts or prepare myself, he wrapped his arm around my waist, pressing me against the cool wall behind me. The air le
