DANTE
Marcus. Here. In this house.
I wanted to shut the door and lock it, keeping him on the other side where he belonged. Out of my sight. Out of Cinnamon’s life. Out of the fragile peace we’d built.
"It's freezing out here." Mrs. Hartley rubbed her arms, breath clouding in the December air. "Can we come in?"
My throat tightened. No. That's what I wanted to say. No, you can't bring him into this home. But Mrs. Hartley's expectant smile, the cold biting at them and the fact that this wasn’t my house stopped me.
"Of course."
I stepped aside, holding the door wide.
Mrs. Hartley swept in first, already chattering about the dish she'd brought. Marcus followed, those calculating eyes sliding over me.
I locked the door behind them, balancing the pot in one hand, trying to wrestle my expr
