"Do you think he'll try something again?" Aria asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she and Dante walked side by side through the dimly lit office hallway. The buzz of the day was winding down, and the atmosphere felt heavy with unspoken tension.
Dante's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as he regarded her. "If he does, I'll be ready."
"I don't want you to get hurt because of me," she replied, a knot of anxiety twisting in her stomach.
"Aria," he said, stopping to face her. "You're worth fighting for. I won't let him control you."
She held his gaze, the heat between them palpable, igniting a flicker of desire that warmed her skin. "Thank you," she breathed, feeling the weight of his words wash over her.
