Fateful Encounter
The rain drummed against the pavement in a rhythm that felt almost like a heartbeat.
Liam tugged his hoodie tighter, shivering—not from the cold, but from a sense of anticipation he couldn't explain. Something about tonight felt dangerous… exciting.
A sleek black car glided silently to a stop beside him. The door opened, and a tall, dark figure stepped out. Dominic "Dom" Valente. Mafia CEO. Dangerous. Gorgeous. And infuriatingly confident.
"You're far from home," Dom said, his voice low and teasing, the kind that could either melt you or burn you alive.
"Maybe I like being lost," Liam replied, smirking despite his racing heart.
Dom's sharp eyes darkened. "Careful. That kind of attitude can get you into trouble."
"And maybe that's exactly the point," Liam shot back.
A spark of attraction ignited immediately—but so did friction. Dom's eyebrow arched, a silent challenge in his gaze. Liam clenched his jaw, refusing to look intimidated, though every inch of him wanted to melt under Dom's stare.
"You have no idea what you're stepping into," Dom murmured, taking a step closer.
"Oh, I have a pretty good idea," Liam replied, standing his ground. "But I'm not afraid."
A flicker of amusement—and perhaps irritation—crossed Dom's face. "Bold… and reckless. I don't know if I like that about you… or if I hate it."
"Maybe it's both," Liam said, smiling despite the tension curling between them.
From across the street, Liam's friends—Ethan, Noah, and Aiden—watched in astonishment. "Uh… he's trouble," Ethan muttered.
"Hot trouble," Aiden added, grinning.
Noah just shook his head, thoughtful. "And yet… something tells me Liam's in deeper than he realizes."
Dom's gaze never left Liam's. "You're tempting fate," he murmured.
"I like temptation," Liam whispered back.
For a long moment, the world seemed to vanish, leaving only two people standing in the rain: one daring, one dangerous. One willing to play, one unwilling to back down. And the sins of midnight had begun.