Lucia’s POV

My breath stilled as the detective’s gaze settled on me. His presence alone made the air feel heavier. I hadn’t expected to walk into this—to see him standing there, looking at me like I was a puzzle he was trying to solve.

The worst part? He was close. Too close.

I forced myself to relax, to smooth out my expression, but it was too late. He had seen my hesitation, and now he was interested.

He smiled. “And who might you be?”

Dante didn’t move, but I felt his ...