Chapter 44

The bell above the bakery door jingled, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced up, my heart skipping a beat as a familiar figure stepped inside. Dimitri.

His presence filled the small space instantly, his tall frame and dark suit cutting a striking figure against the warm, rustic backdrop of the bakery. His eyes scanned the room, locking onto me in an instant. I looked away, hoping he hadn't noticed the panic in my expression.

But of course, he had. Dimitri always noticed.

He crossed the room in a few long strides, pulling out the chair opposite me without asking. He sat down, his movements controlled, calculated. For a moment, he didn't say anything, just watched me with those piercing gray eyes that seemed to see right through me. The silence between us felt charged, like the crackle of electricity before a storm.

"I thought I might find you here," he said finally, his voice low and even.