Page 102 of Veil of Obsession

I shake my head. “No.” My voice is sharper now. “That’s impossible.”

Matteo exhales through his nose, his jaw clenching. “It came from her place, Lucio. You tell me what the fuck that means.”

I can’t fucking breathe. The walls inch closer, like they’ve got orders to crush me alive. The air’s thick, heavy, sticking to my throat as I drag in a breath that feels too sharp. My chest tightens, a slow burn crawling under my ribs, and every second, the room feels smaller—like I’m being boxed in, cornered. I can hear the blood in my ears, the hospital lights too bright, too white.

Even the shadows cling to me, leaning over my shoulders like they want a piece.

I don’t move, but I can feel the urge building—an itch under my skin, a pulse in my fists. This place wants to see me crack, and I’m not about to give it the satisfaction.

I push off the wall, my entire body on edge, every muscle tight with something I don’t know how to name. “I need to go.”

Matteo’s voice is cold, sharp. “Lucio?—”

I don’t stay to hear the rest. I don’t wait for Emiliano to demand answers. I just fucking leave.

The cold air hits me the second I step outside, but it does nothing to settle the storm inside me. My hands are shaking.

I grab my phone, my fingers twitching as I pull up her number. I stare at the screen…then shove the phone into my pocket and get into my car.

I need to see her. Now.

38

Princess

The door slams open so hard it nearly comes off the hinges.

I jump, my heart leaping into my throat, my fingers tightening around the edge of the blanket I’d been curled up in.

Lucio. He’s furious.

Not the teasing, cocky kind of mad he gets when I push him too far. Not the annoyed, barely contained irritation when I refuse to listen to him.

No, this is something else. This is lethal.

His face is like stone, his dark eyes burning with something raw and violent, his fists clenched like he’s barely restraining himself.

I stand, slowly, my pulse hammering. “Lucio?—”

“Cut the fucking shit.” His voice is like a whip, sharp, merciless. “I know what you did.”

I freeze. “I don’t?—”

“Don’t fucking lie to me.”

He stalks closer, and I instinctively take a step back because he looks like he’s ready to break something. To break me.

“Lucio, I don’t know what you’re talking abo?—”

“Are you serious right now?” He laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “I traced the fucking signal, Princess. The breach came from your place.”

He knows. And now he can prove it.

I swallow down the panic, force myself to stay calm.

“That’s not possible,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “I wouldn’t do that.”

Lucio’s jaw clenches so tight, I swear I hear his teeth grind. Then, in a flash, he moves, gripping my chin and tilting my face up to his, his grip just shy of bruising.