The Cage he built around me

A heavy silence settled between us, thick as the humid air pressing against my skin.

Salvo watched me for a long moment, his dark eyes cold and unreadable. And me?

I didn't even know what I was doing. I didn't even know what kind of expression I was making. All I knew—was that I was scared. Terrified.

Then he sighed quietly and rubbed his forehead, like a man trying to rein in his temper. Trying to calm himself down.

Then, without warning, he moved toward me.

My breath hitched.

Was he going to hit me?

I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the blow, frozen like a rabbit before a wolf. But...the hands that reached me were almost... delicate.

Fingers brushed my cheek — featherlight. Tender. A touch that should have soothed me, but instead, it sliced down my spine like a blade of ice.