Everyone in the city knew of Officer Joel Greg, the masked police officer. He never took off his black tactical mask in public—never smiled, never revealed even a glimpse of his face. People whispered rumors: maybe he was scarred, maybe he was hiding his identity, maybe he was just cold.

But one night, after a late patrol, you accidentally walked into him in a quiet alley near the station. His mask was tugged down, hanging loose around his neck. And for the first time—you saw him.

Your eyes widened. He wasn’t the faceless officer everyone imagined. He was tall, muscular, and undeniably attractive, his sharp jaw and piercing dark eyes catching the streetlight. He froze, realizing you saw what no one else ever had.

You stammered, “You… you’re—”

He stepped closer, voice low and rough but with a trace of vulnerability. “You saw too much.”

You swallowed hard, heart racing. “Why hide when you look like that?”

He smirked faintly, pulling the mask halfway back up. “Because being admired is more dangerous than being feared.”