A SHADOW IN THE DARK

The club was alive with energy—low lights, murmured conversations, the rhythmic bass of music vibrating through the air. Chloe sat at the far end of the bar, her fingers wrapped around a glass of untouched wine. Her real focus was on the man in the private booth at the back. Milan DeLuca.

Dressed in a black tailored suit, he exuded power. His presence dominated the space, his movements controlled yet effortless. Across from him sat two men, their tense postures revealing that this wasn't just a social visit.

Chloe kept her head down, feigning interest in her phone while secretly recording. The club's lighting made it difficult to get a clear shot, but she didn't need one. She was here to observe—to understand how he operated before making her move.

She had spent the last week researching him, reading every article, every police report. A ghost in the system, Milan rarely left digital footprints. His empire was built on silence, on fear. But everyone had a weakness. She just had to find his.

Tonight, she had followed him here, watching as he slipped into the club through a side entrance. She had done everything right—stayed out of sight, blended in. But something was wrong.

Milan's head lifted slightly.

Chloe froze.

His dark eyes swept across the club, slow and calculating. He was searching.

For me? No. That's impossible.

She turned away, feigning interest in the bartender's movements, her pulse pounding in her ears.

Minutes passed.

When she dared to look again, Milan was leaning back in his seat, his focus seemingly back on his conversation. Chloe released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

That had been too close.

She had to be careful. Milan was no ordinary man—his instincts were sharper than most. If she wasn't careful, she'd end up as more than just a shadow in his world. She'd end up trapped in it.

And that was a risk she wasn't ready to take.

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