The city pulsed with restless energy, neon lights flickering like broken promises in the night. Emma Carter pulled her jacket tighter around her shoulders as the chill of early evening kissed her skin. The bus stop was mostly empty — just an old man smoking, a couple arguing under their breath, and her.
Emma tapped her foot impatiently, eyes on the cracked pavement.
Then, she felt it — a tiny tug at her sleeve.
She looked down.
Big brown eyes, round with tears, gazed up at her. A little boy, maybe six or seven, stood shivering in an oversized hoodie.
"Miss... can you help me?" His voice broke her heart in an instant.
Emma dropped to her knees. "Hey, hey, it's okay. What's wrong?"
"I... I lost my dad," he whispered, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.
Emma scanned the street — no frantic parents in sight. Her instincts screamed at her to help.
"Alright," she said softly, offering her hand. "Let's find him together, okay?"
The boy, whose name she soon learned was Leo, clung to her like a lifeline.
They searched.
Twenty minutes.
No sign of a father. No police nearby. No familiar face.
Emma crouched next to Leo. "Maybe we should call—"
A loud crash cut her off.
Across the street, black SUVs screeched to a stop. Men in suits and dark sunglasses jumped out, surrounding the area like wolves. The tension in the air thickened, pressing against Emma's chest.
And then, from the largest SUV, he stepped out.
Skyler Romano.
Even from across the street, he radiated danger. His black hair was combed neatly, his jaw sharp enough to cut glass, and his eyes — God, those eyes — burned with fury and desperation.
"FIND HIM!" Skyler roared, his voice slicing through the chaos. "FIND MY SON OR I WILL RIP THIS CITY APART!"
Emma froze. Her heart hammered. She knew, instinctively, this was no ordinary man. He was violence wearing a beautiful mask.
Leo's face lit up. "Dad!" he squealed and sprinted toward the chaos.
"Leo!" Emma shouted, instinctively chasing after him.
But Leo beat her to it, throwing himself into Skyler's arms.
Skyler knelt down, his suit crumpling, and hugged the boy fiercely. For a terrifying man, he held his son as if he were the only thing keeping him alive.
Then — it happened.
Skyler's eyes lifted.
And met Emma's.
For a heartbeat, the world stopped spinning.
His stormy gaze locked onto her. His arms tightened protectively around Leo, but his entire body stilled, as if seeing her had struck him harder than a bullet.
Emma couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.
The crowd faded away.
The noise blurred into silence.
There was only Skyler... and her.
Slowly, he rose, setting Leo gently on the ground.
"Who are you?" he asked, voice low, deadly.
Emma straightened her shoulders, trying to hide the fear prickling under her skin. "I'm... I'm Emma. He found me. I just wanted to help."
Skyler stalked closer, each step deliberate, like a panther deciding whether to pounce.
"Help," he repeated, his voice a dangerous purr.
Dante, a tall man with a scar over one eye, moved beside Skyler. "Boss, we can handle this."
Skyler raised a hand — silencing him.
"You helped my son," Skyler said, almost to himself. His eyes searched her face as if trying to uncover hidden motives.
"I don't want anything from you," Emma said, swallowing her fear.
Skyler smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"No one helps without a price, Emma," he murmured. "Especially not in my world."
Emma's heart thudded painfully against her ribs. She should leave. She should run. Every instinct screamed at her that this man was dangerous.
Instead...
She stood her ground.
Skyler's mouth twitched — a hint of admiration, maybe.
"You have courage," he said. "I'll remember that."
He turned back to Leo, ruffling his son's hair, but not before tossing a final glance over his shoulder at her.
And in that glance... Emma knew.
Her life had just changed forever.
And there was no going back.