ISABELLA
Silence stretched between us, thick and heavy.
Christian was still standing close, his fingers grazing my arms as if he was afraid I would disappear if he let go. His touch burned, sending a conflicting mix of warmth and unease through me.
I should have pulled away.
I didn’t.
His words echoed in my mind. I will protect you. I don’t care what it takes.
I believed him. And that terrified me.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to break eye contact. “What happens now?”
Christian exhaled, his grip tightening for a brief second before he stepped back. “Now, I make sure whoever is behind this regrets ever breathing in your direction.”
His voice was calm. Too calm. The kind of calm that was far more dangerous than yelling.
I watched as he walked over to his desk, picking up his p
