Chapter 7: The Line He Crossed
We start to leave.
Mina, Liwa, Sakshi, and Maria walk ahead. I follow a step behind them. Near the exit, I turn back and look at Adrien.
"Next meeting this weekend," I say calmly. "Be ready."
Adrien pauses for a second. Then a faint smile appears at the corner of his lips—like someone who's just been asked out, without the words. He gives a short nod.
I turn to leave.
Suddenly, a hand grabs mine from behind.
The grip is strong. Too strong.
Instinct takes over. I twist his wrist, applying pressure, forcing him a step back. Lorenzo steadies himself and looks at me—not angry, not surprised.
Impressed.
He starts laughing. Not normal laughter—twisted, dangerous.
"I like you even more now," he says, his eyes gleaming like this is all a game.
Before I can react, Adrien is already there. He pulls Lorenzo's hand away from me in one sharp move. His control is perfect, but the warning is unmistakable.
Adrien stares at Lorenzo—cold, sharp, silent.
Lorenzo only smirks.
Then he turns and walks away, as if none of this mattered to him at all.
Adrien looks at me.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I reply evenly. Then I add with a slight smirk, "Looks like your brother has taken a little too much interest in me."
Adrien's expression hardens, but he says nothing.
We all step outside. My team instantly shifts into alert mode—quiet, watchful. I glance down at my hand. The place where Lorenzo grabbed me is already marked.
Maria notices.
"Mansi, you don't bruise easily. How did that—"
"He grabbed me tightly," I cut in. "That's all. Forget it."
I lower my hand, my voice steady.
"But we're not letting our guard down. Not even for a second."
They all nod.
The car engine starts.
And one thing is clear in my mind—
Lorenzo didn't just grab my hand tonight. He crossed a line.
To be continued......