Carlota’s POV
The moment Paxton left and the door finally closed, I felt my whole body freeze. My heart was beating too fast. My hands were shaking. I didn’t even know what emotion was on my face anymore.
I tried to breathe slowly as I walked back into the living room, but Dante was already staring at me the way he always did—like he could see straight through my skin and read all my secrets.
“Who was that?” Dante asked quietly. His voice wasn’t loud, but it didn’t have to be. That tone alone made my stomach twist. “The one at the door. The boy.”
I forced my shoulders to relax. I forced my voice to sound steady. “He is just… a friend.”
I kept my eyes on the floor, afraid that if I looked into his eyes, he would notice the panic hiding behind mine. But it didn’t matter. I could feel h
