BELLA
"This is a mistake."
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Her words were barely a whisper.
But neither of them moved.
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Rico's forehead still rested against hers, his breath steady—too steady for someone who had just lost control moments ago.
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"No," he said quietly.
"It's not."
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Bella should have pulled away.
She knew it.
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But her hand was still gripping his shirt.
And his arm was still wrapped around her waist.
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Like neither of them were ready to let go.
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That was the problem.
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A sound broke through the silence.
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A sharp click.
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Not loud.
But enough.
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Both of them turned at the same time.
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And froze.
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Standing at the entrance—
Watching.
Seeing everything—
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Marco.
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His expression didn't change immediately.
But his eyes?
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They saw too much.
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Too clearly.
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Too quickly.
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Bella stepped back instantly, her heart racing.
Reality crashing down all at once.
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This wasn't private.
This wasn't safe.
This wasn't just them.
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Rico didn't move as fast.
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His gaze stayed on Marco.
Cold.
Unreadable.
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"How long have you been standing there?" Rico asked.
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Marco exhaled slowly.
"Long enough."
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Silence.
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Heavy.
Dangerous.
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Bella felt it immediately—
This wasn't just awkward.
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This was a problem.
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"Say what you came to say," Rico added.
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Marco hesitated.
For the first time since she had known him—
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He hesitated.
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"Ethan," he said finally.
"He got away clean."
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Rico's jaw tightened slightly.
But that wasn't what shifted the air.
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It was what came next.
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"He's not running," Marco continued. "He's sending a message."
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Bella's chest tightened.
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"What message?" she asked.
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Marco's eyes flicked to her.
Then back to Rico.
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"Someone inside helped him."
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Silence dropped like a bomb.
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Bella's breath caught.
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Inside?
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"You're sure?" Rico asked.
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"Yes."
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Another pause.
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Then—
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"And whoever it is… knew exactly where you would be tonight."
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Bella's stomach dropped.
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That meant—
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This wasn't just about Ethan anymore.
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It was deeper.
Closer.
More dangerous.
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Rico finally moved.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
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His gaze shifted—
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To Bella.
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Not accusing.
Not doubting.
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But thinking.
Calculating.
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And somehow—
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That was worse.
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"You think I had something to do with it?" she asked quietly.
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Rico didn't answer immediately.
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Bella's chest tightened.
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"Rico."
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His eyes sharpened slightly.
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"No," he said.
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The answer came firm.
Certain.
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But the delay?
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It stayed.
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"I don't think," he added slowly.
"I know."
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That should have reassured her.
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It didn't fully.
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Because now—
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There was a bigger problem.
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If it wasn't her…
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Then who?
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Marco stepped further into the room.
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"This changes things," he said.
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Rico's expression hardened.
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"No," he replied coldly.
"It clarifies them."
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A pause.
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Then his voice dropped.
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"Lock everything down."
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Bella's breath caught.
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"What do you mean lock everything down?"
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Rico turned to her fully now.
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And the look in his eyes?
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It wasn't just control anymore.
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It was something sharper.
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Protective.
Possessive.
Uncompromising.
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"It means," he said calmly,
"No one gets in."
A pause.
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"And you don't go out."
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Her heart slammed.
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"That's not your decision."
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"It is."
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"Rico—"
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"Someone inside helped him," he cut in. "Which means you're not safe."
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"And locking me up makes me safe?"
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"Yes."
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The certainty in his voice made her chest tighten.
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"That's not protection," she said.
"That's control."
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A pause.
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Then—
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He stepped closer again.
Closing the distance she had just created.
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"It's both."
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Silence.
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Bella held his gaze.
Refusing to back down.
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But inside—
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Everything was shifting.
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Because now she understood something clearly—
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Being close to Rico didn't just come with danger from outside.
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It came with danger from him too.