Scarlet Ink

of the unsettling flutter in her chest every time she thought of him. There was something magnetic about him, something that pulled at her even when she was trying to resist. At school, w

his pockets. His presence alone seemed to fill the air, and for a moment, she couldn't breathe. She wanted to look away, to ignore him and pretend he wasn't there, but she couldn't. "Beautiful place to hide," his voice said, smooth and casual, like he had every right to be there. Aria immediately felt her irritation rise. She wasn't hiding-she was just trying to find some peace. Her eyes narrowed as she turned to face him fully. "I'm not hiding," she snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. He smiled at her response, not taking offense. "Good," he said, his voice still casual, "because hiding won't keep you safe." Her pulse quickened, though she wasn't sure why. Safe from what? Her heart raced, though she hated herself for feeling vulnerable in his presence. "Safe from what?" she shot back, crossing her arms over her chest. "You?" Kael's eyes softened for a brief moment, something flickering across his features. For the first time, his smirk faded, replaced with a seriousness that caught her off guard. "Maybe," he said, his voice low, "but not in the way you think." She stared at him, puzzled by the sudden shift in his demeanor. Was this the Kael Romanov she'd heard about-the son of the city's most feared mafia boss? Or was there something more to him than the arrogant, charming playboy she had assumed? "Why are you really here, Kael?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. She didn't want to hear the answer. She was afraid of what he