A Dangerous Reunion

Evelyn's hands were ice-cold as she gripped the steering wheel. The city lights blurred past her as she sped through the streets, her mind racing.

She needed to find Luca.

She had called him a dozen times—no answer. But she knew where to look. The one place he always went when things got bad.

Her tires screeched as she pulled up to the abandoned pier. The ocean waves crashed against the docks, the night air thick with salt and tension.

And there he was.

Luca stood at the edge, his silhouette dark against the moonlit water. His shoulders were tense, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

Evelyn swallowed hard. He looked like a man standing on the edge of something—something dangerous.

She slammed the car door shut. "Luca."

He didn't turn at first. Didn't move.

Then, slowly, he exhaled and faced her.

His expression was unreadable. Cold.

But his eyes—his eyes told another story.

They burned with something raw. Something broken.

Evelyn stepped closer, heart hammering. "What's going on? Who was that man?"

Luca let out a dry laugh. "You don't want to know."

She narrowed her eyes. "Try me."

He shook his head, running a hand through his hair. "Evelyn, you need to leave. You can't be part of this."

Her stomach twisted. Not this again.

"Stop pushing me away." Her voice cracked, but she didn't care. "You don't get to decide what's safe for me."

Luca's jaw clenched. "This isn't a game, Evelyn."

She took another step, closing the distance between them. "Neither is love."

Something flickered across his face—guilt, longing, regret.

Evelyn reached up, cupping his face. "Tell me the truth."

Luca's breath hitched. His hands hovered over hers as if he wanted to pull away—but couldn't.

And then, finally, he whispered, "I don't know how to keep you safe."

Evelyn's heart shattered.

But she refused to back down.

"Then don't. Just let me stay."

The silence between them stretched. Heavy. Electric.

Then, before she could say another word, Luca crushed his lips against hers.

It wasn't soft.

It was desperate. Wild.

Like a man kissing someone for the last time.

And Evelyn kissed him back, holding onto him like he was the only thing keeping her from falling.

Because maybe he was.

—

Next Chapter: A Love Worth Fighting For