The silence between us was thick with tension. Lucas’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the text, his face a mask of displeasure. I knew the message I’d shown him had hit a nerve. His hands clenched into fists, jaw tight like he was holding back a storm. Whatever was brewing inside him wasn’t quiet.

I reached out, letting my fingers brush against his, small and tentative. His gaze flicked to my hand, then back to my eyes—sharp, searching. Without a word, his fingers curled around mine, ...