Ashley’s POV
Ricardo DeLuca’s smirk burned into my mind long after I turned away. Even as I walked with Caden into the private lounge, I could feel the weight of his gaze, like a predator watching its prey.
But I wasn’t prey.
Not anymore.
Caden’s grip on my hand was firm, his thumb brushing over my skin in silent reassurance. But I could feel the tension in his body, the barely restrained violence coiling beneath his composed exterior.
Inside the lounge, Caden’s most trusted men were already waiting. Luca, his second-in-command, sat at the head of the table, his sharp eyes flickering between me and Caden. Roman, the enforcer, leaned back in his chair, his thick arms crossed over his chest.
The air was thick with power, with danger.
I took my seat beside Caden, keeping my expression
