I looked away first.
Big mistake.
Because the moment I turned, I felt it—
that heavy, suffocating feeling of being watched.
Not just watched.
Chosen.
My steps quickened as I pushed through the crowd, my breath coming faster now.
"Relax," I muttered under my breath. "You're overthinking."
But deep down…
I knew I wasn't.
I reached the counter, hands slightly shaking as I placed the package down.
"I'm here for delivery," I said quickly, avoiding eye contact.
The man behind the counter barely glanced at me before nodding.
"Leave it."
That was it.
No questions. No checking.
Weird.
Everything about this place was weird.
I turned immediately, ready to leave, ready to forget this ever happened.
But the second I stepped away—
A hand grabbed my wrist.
Firm.
Unyielding.
My heart stopped.
"Running already?"
The voice was low. Calm.
Dangerous.
Slowly… I turned.
Him.
Up close, he was worse.
Sharper. Colder. More real.
His eyes locked onto mine like he could see everything I was thinking… everything I was trying to hide.
"I—I was just leaving," I said, hating how small my voice sounded.
His grip tightened slightly.
"Who sent you?"
"I don't know," I replied honestly. "I was just paid to deliver something."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
His gaze dropped briefly to my lips… then back to my eyes.
"You shouldn't be here," he said.
Something about the way he said it…
Didn't sound like a warning.
It sounded like a decision.
"I said I'm leaving," I snapped, trying to pull my hand away.
Wrong move.
His grip didn't budge.
Instead, he stepped closer.
Too close.
My back hit the wall before I even realized I was moving.
"You think you can walk into my world…" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper,
"…and just walk out?"
My heart was racing now.
Fear.
But something else too.
Something I didn't want to admit.
"I didn't come for you," I said, forcing myself to meet his eyes.
For a second…
Just a second…
Something flickered in his expression.
Interest.
Dangerous interest.
Then he smirked.
"Doesn't matter," he said quietly.
"Now that you're here…"
His fingers loosened just slightly on my wrist, sliding down to my hand.
"…you're not leaving."