The river glimmered faintly beneath the pale moonlight, its surface broken only by ripples of drifting leaves. Linda tightened her red cloak around her shoulders, the night air cooler than she expected. Each step toward the riverbank echoed in her chest like a guilty drumbeat.
And then—he was there.
David Armani stood waiting, his coat sharp against the shadows, posture as effortless as if the world itself bent to make him comfortable. In his hands rested a small bundle wrapped in cloth. When his eyes met hers, his lips curved in a smile that was gentle yet too polished.
"I was beginning to think you wouldn't come," he said smoothly.
Linda hesitated, her heart clashing between fear and relief. "You said… you had books."
David chuckled softly and unwrapped the bundle, revealing several bound volumes — histories of empires, old philosophies, faded scripts that smelled faintly of dust and secrets. He extended them toward her like an offering.
"They belong in the hands of someone who won't let them rot," he said. "And you, Linda… you strike me as that someone."
Her fingers brushed the covers, trembling. For once, someone wasn't scolding her for wanting knowledge — someone was feeding it. The thought made her chest tighten with a bittersweet ache.
"You risked so much bringing these," she whispered.
David's gaze lingered on her longer than it should. "For fire, one should risk everything. You burn brighter than you know."
-----
From the treeline beyond the river, two figures crouched low, eyes fixed on the red cloak like predators sighting prey. They were David's men — shadows sent not only to guard him, but to report every flicker of the encounter.
"Boss wasn't exaggerating," one muttered. "She's really sneaking out. Like a thief in the night."
The other smirked, teeth flashing in the dark. "The village would hang her if they knew. Perfect leverage."
Their whispers dissolved into the rustle of leaves, unseen by Linda as she carefully tucked the books into her cloak.
David, of course, knew they were watching. He wanted them to watch. This meeting wasn't just about books — it was about binding her tighter into his web.
The river shimmered under the pale moonlight, the ripples carrying a strange calm. Linda hugged the books David had slipped into her hands, the leather spines warm against her chest.
"Why?" she whispered, her brow furrowed. "Why go this far? These books… they don't benefit you. If anything, they could endanger you."
David chuckled, stepping closer. The breeze carried the faint scent of spice and smoke from his coat. "Endanger me? I've danced with danger long before you ever stole a book from a library." His eyes softened, cutting through his mocking words. "But you… you risk everything for ink and paper. That's rarer than gold."
Linda shook her head, uncomfortable under the weight of his gaze. "I'm not rare. Just… different."
"Different?" He reached out, not quite touching her, but his fingers lingered near her sleeve. "No, Linda. You're fire. And when a fire burns in the dark, people either follow it… or they try to put it out." His voice dropped lower, almost intimate. "I'd rather follow."
Linda's breath caught. No one had ever spoken to her like that. For a dangerous moment, she let herself bask in the warmth of being understood.
But then she shook her head firmly. "I'm not… different. I'm just someone who wants to read books. That's all."
David chuckled low, tilting his head. "No, Linda. You're more. And you'll realize it, one day."
A silence stretched—heavy, charged.
Then, unexpectedly, David reached forward, brushing a strand of damp hair that had slipped from her hood. His fingers hovered near her cheek, not touching, but close enough that the ghost of it made her pulse leap.
She jerked back, eyes flashing. "Don't."
He smiled faintly, unbothered by her rejection. "Relax. I meant nothing. Only… you should carry yourself with pride. Even when the world tries to make you small."
Her lips parted, but no words came. She clutched the books tighter, forcing her composure.
"Go," David said at last, voice softer, but laced with something unspoken. "Before the night betrays you."
Linda hurried away, her cloak trailing in the grass, leaving David in the shadows. He watched her disappear into the distance, his expression unreadable—half admiration, half calculation.
And though Linda convinced herself she was only grateful for the books, for the secret support, a chill nagged her heart.
Because David Armani's smile lingered too long.
PLEASE SUPPORT,
LOVE FROM,
♡LINDA AND DANIEL♡