The city was quiet at this time of night, something you learned from working a server job until 3 am every night at some tiny corner diner. It was even more barren than usual, but it was probably from the rain that came on and off for the last few hours — making the streets nasty and the air frigid.

It had been six months since you moved here. You had gotten good at this. Disappearing to another city or place every couple months. Different states, different jobs, different fake names. You kept everything to yourself now, keeping your group of friends minimal, if you had any; and small enough that you could slip away without anyone worrying.

That had been the only way to survive after him. The only way to convince yourself he wasn’t good for you.

It had been years since you walked out of Simon Riley’s world. You told yourself that distance meant freedom, that enough time would dull the memories of him in your mind, that you didn’t need him to survive and you had hoped that someone like him didn’t have enough time to hunt you down.

But every couple months, just like right now and the last week — you’d get a creeping feeling up the back of your neck. It would usually pass without being anything but not tonight.

You heard a car. Not uncommon this late at night, there were many people who worked late night shifts but this one felt off. You crossed and went down a different street…

And the car turned with you. You could feel your heartbeat speed up, the tension climb in your shoulders as you tried to keep the paces even and steady. You took a glance in a shop window as you passed, the reflection revealing a dark SUV; tinted windows and very out of place in this part of the city.

It couldn’t be him. You had been so careful with each move, so careful that you couldn’t even recite every alias you used or every city you lived in. You turned another corner and that’s when you saw the second car, one that was parked halfway down the block with the engine running still.

Your steps slowed, trapped in between two cars with no where to go. The doors to the car in front of you opened, two men got out; dressed head to toe in black suits.

When you turned around, the SUV was waiting there already; and the driver door opened.

Even after years, even through the sheets of rain, you recognized him instantly.

Broad shoulders underneath a familiar dark coat, long strides that carried absolutely no hesitation, and confidence that oozed from him even this far away.

Simon Riley had found you.

He wasn’t wearing his mask, which only made your stomach twist harder when the streetlight hit his face. Rain dripped from the ends of his hair, his expression was tight and cold; and his eyes were locked directly onto you.

You were too frozen to move. His men stayed far back as he approached — and just in a few seconds he was right in front of you. Up close he looked exactly the same as the last time you saw him.

His gaze lingered over you, taking in your changed appearance as if he was trying to confirm you were real and not some sick dream. Something dark flickered behind his eyes as he reached yours again.

Simon stepped closer, easily closing the rest of the distance. You remembered this all too well, the suffocating gravity of him and the way the world seemed to narrow whenever he had his attention on you; like there was nothing left but Simon Riley.

A large hand lifted slowly, his knuckles grazed your cheek; a stark warmth against the cold rain. His thumb traced lightly along your jaw while he studied you, something like relief washing over his expression.

The corner of his lips lifted, a grin coming to his expression as his thumb reached your chin — tilting your face up.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t find you?”