The air between them was suffocating, thick with unresolved tension and unspoken words. Elena stood frozen near the center of the room, her pulse hammering in her chest as Luca returned, his expression carved from stone. The gunfire had stopped moments ago, but the echoes of chaos still lingered in the heavy silence.
Luca’s dark eyes met hers, scanning her from head to toe as though to ensure she was unharmed. His broad shoulders heaved slightly as he took a slow step toward her, blood smearing faintly along the edge of his jaw. The sight sent a strange jolt through Elena—fear, yes, but something else, something dangerous.
“You didn’t stay where I told you to,” he said, his voice low and gravelly, holding just a hint of frustration.
Her lips parted to respond, but the words caught in he
