The silence after he spoke wasn’t hollow. It was sharp dangerous, almost like the room held its breath with her. Alessia just stood there, heart pounding from everything he’d said, everything he hadn’t but somehow meant.
You’ll come again.
That confidence echoed in her chest like a dare she never agreed to, but still felt herself taking up. She released a shaky breath, trying to find her footing.
“I should leave,” she managed.
Except her feet, stubborn as ever, didn’t budge.
Rafael watched her of course he did.
“You should,” he said, completely too calm.
That surprised her. No protest? No attempt to make her stay? It made her suspicious.
“Not going to stop me?” she pressed.
His eyes darkened, and he said, “I don’t need to.”
Her pulse jumped. Arrogant. Absolutely infuriating.
“An
