She’s dead the moment she steps past that door.

Clean. Stupid. Gold-hearted girls never survive long in his world. They get used. Broken. Forgotten. Or worse.

Someone sent her here as bait. Or maybe she’s just too reckless to see the trap.

Jake hand hovered near his gun. No softness deserves to live in a room full of knives.

But the boss—Jake—smiled, amused by the helplessness in the air.

“Maybe this one will beg,” he said.

She scanned the room, eyes cold and sharp, like a viper ready to strike. He noticed. That defiant glare from a woman who’d killed in dark alleys and made enemies bleed for power—he could smell the poison on her skin.

Their eyes locked across the smoky haze.

“Jake,” she said, voice hard as steel. “I’m not here to beg.”

He raised a brow, slow, amused.

“Then what are you? Lost? Or a fool?”

She smiled, dangerous.

“I’m exactly where I want to be. And you’re exactly the man I’m here to stop.”

The room froze. Even the shadows leaned in.

Jake’s smile sharpened.

“Bold words. From someone who should be six feet under.”

Her fingers brushed the pistol at her hip.

“Try me.” There was going to be a fight between them, but Jake.. kinda wanted to save her from this hell..