Dahlia’s POVHe didn’t say anything as he walked around the room, his movements calm but purposeful. The scent of his cologne—clean and warm with a faint hint of spice—mixed with the soft smell of soap, filling the air around me. I heard him open a drawer and pull something out, then the quiet sound of a bottle cap twisting open. I frowned and lifted my head a little to see what he was doing.A moment later, he came to my side of the bed. “Sit up,” he said quietly. His voice wasn’t demanding—it was steady, firm, and gentle at the same time.I blinked up at him, a little confused. “Why?” I asked softly. My voice came out small, almost uncertain.He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he just waited, his eyes meeting mine. There was something in his gaze that made me obey without thinking. I sat up slowly, my blanket pooling around my waist, and that’s when I saw the sma
Dahlia’s POVLuca had gone out for business earlier that afternoon, and by the time the sun went down, he still hadn’t returned. I tried to distract myself by reading, but the words on the page just blurred together. I even went to the kitchen and sat at the dining table, hoping that eating would help me relax. It didn’t. The house was too quiet without him. Even the clinking sound of my spoon against the plate echoed through the space.After dinner, I made my way upstairs. My whole body ached from the self-defense session with Bjorn earlier. He had been ruthless, showing me move after move, correcting my stance, and making me repeat them until my arms and legs felt like jelly. He kept saying things like “again” and “don’t stop” in that low, gravelly voice of his. By the time the session ended, I could barely lift my arms.I ran a warm shower and stood under it for a long time, letting the hot water wash away the ache in my muscles. Steam filled the bathroom, wrapping around me like a
Dahlia’s POVThe self-defense instructor arrived later that afternoon, just like Luca had promised. I was sitting on the couch, nervously twisting my fingers together when Mrs. Cruz came to tell me he was waiting for me in the training room. My stomach twisted a little. I wasn’t sure what to expect — I’d never done anything like this before. But after what happened on the road, I knew I couldn’t let fear control me anymore.When I entered the training room, the first thing I noticed was how big it was. It had tall ceilings, wide open space, and padded floors that stretched from one wall to the other. There were mirrors, punching bags, weights, and even a rack of what looked like wooden practice weapons. The air smelled faintly of leather and disinfectant.And standing in the middle of the room was a man who looked like he could snap a door in half with his bare hands.He was tall and muscular, with short dark hair and tattoos that crawled up his arms and disappeared under his black sh
Dahlia’s POVLuca looked up from behind his desk, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, without saying a word, he nodded at Dante. Dante understood immediately, closing the laptop in front of him and standing up. He gave me a polite nod before walking out of the office, leaving Luca and me alone. The door shut quietly behind him, and suddenly the air felt thicker. The room was filled with silence, the only sound coming from the faint ticking of the clock on the wall and the soft hum of the air conditioner.Luca rose from his chair slowly, his movements calm and collected, but his eyes never left me. There was something about the way he looked at me — controlled but curious, like he was trying to figure out what I needed before I even said it. He came around the desk, stopping just a few feet in front of me. Up close, I could see how sharp and tired his features looked in the morning light. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up, showing the veins on his forearms, and I realize
Dahlia’s POVI woke up with the dawn like someone pulling a curtain back. The sunlight was soft and pale through the curtains, and for a few slow seconds I only felt the safe, warm quiet of the bedroom. Then the memory of last night slid back in — the bangs, the glass, Liam’s shout. My chest tightened and I sat up, rubbing my face with the heel of my hand until the dreams blurred away.I felt better than I had the night before, but not whole. My hands still trembled a little when I reached for the blanket. Luca’s side of the bed was cold and empty. I remembered falling asleep pressed against him and telling him not to go. I remembered his voice low and steady, and then I had slept. That tiny memory made something flutter in my chest — like relief and trouble mixed together.I climbed out of bed and padded across the cool floor to the bathroom. The tiles were a little chilly under my feet. I turned the shower on and the hot water came like a small kindness. Steam filled the room and fo
Luca’s POVI watched her sleep longer than I should have. The room was dark except for a thin ribbon of light that cut across the bed. Dahlia’s breath was soft and slow now. Her face looked peaceful, almost like the girl I’d seen sometimes when she thought no one was looking — small, quiet, and very human. That sight settled something in my chest and made my hands itch to do something—anything—to make sure nothing like today ever happened again.I stepped out of the room on soft feet and went down to the study. Dante was already there, his laptop open and a map spread out on the table. Liam sat in a chair by the window, one hand pressed near his wound. He had cleaned it himself; the rag smelled like alcohol and metal. Both men looked up when I came in. The air in the room smelled like coffee and cold late-night paper.“How bad?” I asked, because facts kept me steady.Dante pushed the laptop closer and tapped the screen. “They were masked,” he said. “We got a few frames from the highwa