Dante’s POV,
I noticed Clarissa watching me long before she spoke. She always had that way of looking. It was quiet, piercing, like she was trying to ready thoughts but instead I kept my focus on my phone pretending to finish a document.
But Clarissa never let a silence slide.
“Dante,” she said softly, “you’re absent-minded. What’s wrong?”
For a brief second, I considered telling her the truth about my fear, but I knew that was a terrible idea so I smiled trying to assure her.
“There’s no problem,” I told her. “Really.”
Her brow furrowed, unconvinced, the corners of her mouth tightening as if she could sense the lie. Clarissa always sensed the lie.
I forced my voice to steady. “I’m glad, that’s all. Glad you’re finally happy, I'm glad you’re safe. Glad Nicho is out of your life.”
S
