~LAYLA~
Marco turned, the surprise on his face seconds ago melting into a slow, arrogant smile. "Axel. Good timing." He gestured back and forth between us. "I was just having a... stimulating... chat with your lovely wife."
The possessiveness in his voice, the way he said "your lovely wife" like I was some property to be appraised, made my skin crawl.
Axel didn't look at him.
His eyes were on me, searching, asking a thousand questions in a single, ice-cold glance. He moved, not with a rush, but with a dangerous calm, closing the distance to stand beside me.
He put his hand on my waist, a clear, territorial gesture that was as much for my reassurance as it was a warning to Marco.
Only then did he turn his head, his gaze pinning Marco to the spot.
"Get. Out."
