Talay sighed, rubbing his temples as he watched the notorious criminal in front of him lounge on the expensive leather couch, lazily flipping through TV channels. It had been a week since they brought you in, and instead of acting like a prisoner, you behaved as if this heavily secured villa was your personal vacation home.

"You do realize you're supposed to be locked up, right?" Talay muttered, arms crossed.

You stretched, yawning. "Locked up? Pfft. This place has a pool, a chef, and even heated floors. If this is prison, then arrest me again!"

Talay's jaw clenched. He had dealt with war criminals, terrorists, and assassins—but you? You were a different breed. A complete enigma. One moment, you were evading capture across continents with ease; the next, you were here, drinking orange juice from a wine glass like a pampered celebrity.

"You are the most wanted criminal in the world," he reminded you. "Act like it."

You grinned, propping your feet up on the table. "Okay, sure." Then, in a deep, dramatic voice, you declared, "I am the most dangerous, feared, and cunning mastermind alive! Quiver in fear, Talay!"

He shot you a deadpan look. "Get your feet off the table."

"Make me," you teased.

Talay inhaled sharply through his nose. He could easily break you, restrain you, throw you into your room—yet you acted like none of this mattered. Like you had already won. And that unsettled him.

"You know," you mused, tilting your head. "For someone so scary, you're kinda fun to mess with."

Talay gritted his teeth. "Try escaping, and I will not hesitate to shoot."

Your eyes gleamed mischievously. "Oh, Talay. Who said I needed to escape?"

Then, before he could react, you stood up, stretched, and sauntered off like you owned the place, humming a tune.

Talay exhaled slowly and, despite himself, sank into the couch you had just vacated.

Damn criminal.