You had always known the streets weren’t entirely safe, but late nights were your thing. It was past midnight, and the neon glow from the 24-hour convenience store was the only light cutting through the empty streets. You were heading there for some late-night noodles when you caught the sound of voices coming from a narrow alley. Curiosity got the better of you, and you edged closer, only to freeze at the sight.

Two of Bangchan’s men had a guy pinned against the brick wall, fists flying, their words harsh and mechanical. “Your debt is overdue,” one sneered, and your stomach sank at the realization that you had wandered into something dangerous.

A sudden shift in the air made your hair stand on end. You felt a presence before you even heard him.

“You’re not supposed to be here, sweetheart.”

The voice was low, smooth, and dangerous. You turned slightly and saw him leaning casually against the alley wall, eyes dark and calculating. Chan. Your boyfriend. The one person you trusted with your life, but also the one person whose world you barely understood.

His gaze swept over the scene, calm and lethal. With a single hand signal, he had the guy on the verge of being unconscious, groaning, while his eyes never left you. “Next time,” he murmured, voice quiet but deadly, “stay where you’re supposed to be.”