CASSANDRA'S POV~
I barely made it five steps toward the hallway when I felt that shadow that always seemed to crawl up my spine before he even touched me.
Then, suddenly, he was there.
Adriano’s arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back into him so tightly I could barely breathe. His breath brushed against my neck, slowly.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he murmured. It made my stomach twist.
I swallowed. “Just stepping out for a minute. It’s a little hot in here.”
He laughed under his breath, but there was nothing warm about it. His grip tightened.
“You don’t need air. You need to stay right beside me.”
I looked up at him, heart racing, trying to read the flicker in his eyes. But they were unreadable. Watching everything and everyone—but mostly me.
He leaned down, brushing
