Page 38 of The Silent Hour

His attention shifted immediately. "Lila."

Her head snapped toward him as though an invisible string had yanked it.

"My wife is beyond your scrutiny. Always." His voice was calm, which somehow made it sharper. "Julia moves through this building however she pleases. She enters my office whenever she wants. If she decides to march through these halls with an entire orchestra behind her, she can."

His gaze hardened.

"Your job is not to observe, comment on, or question any of it. Understood?"

Red crept across Lila's cheeks. Still, her voice remained steady. "Yes, sir."

"You can go now."

I circled Ethan's desk and stopped beside him. Lila's eyes lingered on me as she rose, taking in the easy way Ethan's arm found my waist and how completely his attention abandoned her the moment I was within reach. There was no need to say another word. I was here for him, not a petty drama, but I would make my stance clear.

"Mrs. Marcelli," she murmured on her way out. The door clicked shut behind her.

Only then did Ethan lean back in his chair. "Feel better?"

I crossed my arms. "Not even close. You better tell me what the fuck that was about, Ethan, otherwise you'll be sleeping right here all fucking night with the door padlocked from the outside, so she can't come scratching when she thinks it's her time to shine."

His smirk disappeared. He knew exactly what it meant when my English started unraveling around my accent. He was also smart enough not to pussyfoot around the issue.

"She hovers," he said. "I've noticed."

My expression sharpened.

"I see it, Julia, but she might as well be invisible to me. She's not worth a second glance or a passing thought, and she has never tried to cross any lines." His hand settled around my hip, drawing me closer. "Trust me. If she ever attempted, I'm addressing it formally. Laurel would be there, and I'd have Knox present too."

"So, you’ve put some thought into this? Is there a reason for that?”

"He shook his head. “No, it would be standard for any women. I chose them because if something were to ever happen, it’s better for Rafa to never get involved." His mouth twitched. "And if Rafa manages to exercise restraint, Serena finds out."

I snorted.

"My sister won't send a bullet wrapped in tissue paper," he continued. "She'll deliver it personally, right between the eyes."

"Good," I retorted. "That saves me a spot in the firing line."

Something dark and appreciative moved through his eyes. "You're breathtaking when you're ready for blood."

"Don't flirt with me right now, Ethan." My voice sharpened. "Explain why I'm only finding out about this now."

"Because there was nothing to tell."

My stare didn't waver.

He sighed. "I know she looks sometimes, I'm not fucking blind." His fingers tightened slightly around my hip. "She isn’t the only woman does that. Men do the same to you. We know not to react "

I searched his face like a crime scene, looking for the smallest piece of evidence that didn't belong.

A hesitation.

A twitch.

A lie.

Nothing. His eyes held mine without wavering.