Elegbede_Habeeb

The first time they met, it felt like fate. The second time, it felt like a warning.

She was running from a past that refused to die. He was chasing a future that seemed just out of reach. When their worlds collided, it was more than just love—it was an obsession, a wildfire that threatened to burn them both alive.

But love isn’t always salvation. Sometimes, it’s destruction in disguise.

Bound by Fire: Ashes of Desire

Midnight loomed like a promise and a warning.

Luca stood outside the address Cassian had given him—an abandoned hotel at the edge of the city. The neon sign flickered weakly, casting an eerie glow over the cracked pavement. It was the kind of place where secrets lived and ghosts never left.

Cassian had set the rules. And Luca had chosen to play.

The front door creaked as Luca pushed it open. Inside, the air was thick with dust, the scent of old wood and forgotten memories. Dim light flickered from a chandelier hanging above the grand lobby, its crystals dulled with time.

Cassian sat on a worn velvet chair in the center of the room, legs crossed, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The image of effortless power.

Behind him, two men stood like shadows, silent and motionless.

Cassian smirked. "You actually came."

Luca shrugged. "You knew I would."

Cassian raised his glass. "Curiosity can be a dangerous thing."

Luca stepped closer. "So can playing games with the wrong people."

Cassian chuckled. "That's what I like about you, Luca. You still think you're one of the wrong people."

Luca clenched his jaw, but Cassian didn't give him time to respond.

He leaned forward, setting his glass down on the table beside him. "Let's talk about why you're really here."

Cassian gestured to the seat across from him.

Luca took it, keeping his expression unreadable.

Cassian studied him for a long moment before finally speaking. "We're not so different, you and I."

Luca scoffed. "That line's getting old."

Cassian smirked. "Then let's try something new." He leaned in slightly. "Join me."

The words hung in the air, heavier than the dust coating the room.

Luca's eyes narrowed. "You want me to work for you?"

Cassian shook his head. "Not work for me. Work with me."

Luca searched his expression for deception, for hidden motives. He found plenty. But one thing was clear—Cassian wasn't offering this lightly.

Cassian leaned back, swirling his drink. "I'm offering you a seat at the table, Luca. A way to stop running. To start winning."

Luca exhaled slowly. "And if I say no?"

Cassian's smirk didn't fade. "Then I suppose I'll have to find out how much of a problem you really are."

Next Chapter: A Choice With No Escape.

Walking Into the Trap