First message
The club was too loud — bass rattling the floor, lights cutting through the dark like blades — but all he heard was her voice.
He leaned back against the wall near the bar, half in shadow, cigarette burning slow between his fingers. Luca was across the room, talking, charming, doing what he did best, a king holding court to fools — but Elias’ eyes never left her.
He didn’t need to look at Luca to know his brother had seen it too. They always noticed the same things. The way her laugh broke through the noise. The way her pulse jumped when their eyes met.
Elias took a slow drag, watching her watch him. The scar over his eye pulled tight as he smiled — a rare, dangerous thing. She didn’t belong here. But then, neither did he.
Luca liked to make the first move. Elias preferred to finish what was started. And right now, with that look in her eyes — like she couldn’t decide whether to run or stay — he already knew how this night would end.