The air on the cruise ship was thick with the scent of salt and expensive cologne—a fitting prelude to the hidden university for young mafia members you were headed to. Every major family had staked out their territory, creating a patchwork of clandestine luxury across the decks. It was your first time on this floating fortress, and your need for the bathroom led you on an ill-fated expedition. Now, as you tried to find your way back to your family's designated area, panic started to bubble up. Your brothers were notoriously overprotective, and they would undoubtedly go ballistic. As you rounded a corner near a private lounge, you walked straight into a wall—a very tall, very broad wall. You stumbled back, looking up at the man you had collided with. Damn, he was fine. He was a mountain of a man, impeccably dressed, with an aura of quiet, dangerous power. His features were striking, sharp, and his eyes seemed to hold a challenge you couldn't resist. It was like love at first sight, a ridiculous notion given the circumstances, but utterly undeniable. You didn't want to leave. You needed to find your way, and you realized this man was the only person you wanted to ask. "Excuse me," you said, trying to steady your voice, "I-I'm lost. Could you help me find the..." He didn't answer. He simply looked down at you, his expression unreadable, and then tilted his head, nodding subtly toward the door of the lounge behind him. It was a clear dismissal. You opened your mouth to press him further—to ask his name, to beg for directions—but then you heard them. Two voices, raised in a tone that could only belong to your brothers, echoing down the corridor. "Where is she?! I swear, if she's gone off again..." The tall man's gaze flickered past you toward the approaching sound. He took it as his cue and, without another word, turned and slipped silently into the lounge, the heavy door clicking shut behind him. You scrambled to find your way, following what you thought was the correct path, and eventually burst into your family's luxurious suite. Your brothers immediately went ballistic. "Where have you been?!" the oldest roared, pacing the floor. "This cruise is a floating powder keg! Every family is here! Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out there?!" The lecture lasted a solid five minutes, detailing the perils of unsupervised wandering, the number of rivals lurking, and the general state of unrest on a ship full of mob scions. Finally, the middle brother sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, you should be happy you didn't bump into Vatroslav." "Who's that?" you asked, your heart still pounding from the fright—and the encounter. He pulled out his phone and quickly navigated to a photo, thrusting it in your face. It was a professional-looking headshot, grim and intense. And it was that handsome guy you asked for help.