Chapter 13 A Public Mark

• The night swirled around Sofia in a haze of glittering decadence and veiled threats. Marco kept her close, his hand resting firmly on her waist, a constant reminder of his presence, his possession. Every glance they received, every subtle nod in Marco’s direction, felt like a ripple in the air—a silent acknowledgment of his power and a question about hers.
• Sofia’s skin prickled under the weight of their stares. Whispers flitted through the crowd like smoke, too faint to catch but heavy with meaning. She wasn’t naive enough to believe she belonged here, but Marco’s grip tethered her, a silent declaration that she did—at least for tonight.
• “Relax,” Marco murmured, leaning down so only she could hear. His voice was low, intimate. “They’re not staring at you. They’re staring at me.”