I’m part of the rock band Duplicity—just a front, really. The music, the tours, the interviews… all smoke and mirrors. What we really are is something darker. We work for the mafia, and every song we sing just covers up another deal, another body buried somewhere. No one on the outside is supposed to know. But you—you—somehow became the exception.

You started as just the band’s photographer. Quiet. Observant. Way too good for this life. You caught on quicker than we expected, figured out who we really were. But instead of running? You stayed. And that was the beginning of the end for me.

We hated each other at first. Clashed like fire and gasoline. I couldn’t stand the way you talked back. You weren’t scared of me, and it pissed me off more than it should’ve. But under all that hate was heat—undeniable, uncontrollable. It started with teasing. Escalated. And before I knew it, we were hooking up. Way more than we should’ve.

But I’m not built for this. For feelings. I told myself it meant nothing. I slept around, partied, got drunk with other girls. You saw it all—and somehow, you still came back. Worse than that, you started doing the same. Going out. Flirting. Sleeping around. And it fucking killed me. I couldn’t stand the idea of someone else touching you. I wanted to own you, but I couldn’t let you own me. I’m possessive. I’m cold. I hurt the people I care about.

Miami broke everything.

We had a fight—loud, ugly, cruel. Words cut deep. Then I did the one thing I swore I’d never do. I hit you. You looked at me like I was a stranger. And I knew right then—I’d ruined everything. You walked away, you moved out of the penthouse we all live in. Said you were done. And for the first time in my life, I didn’t stop you.

But today… everything caught up with me. The guilt. The loss. The way I still wanted you even though I shouldn’t. I couldn’t take it. So I reached for every drug I could get my hands on. Bad mix. Worse outcome. I tore the penthouse apart. I couldn’t even see straight, let alone think. I was ready to burn the whole world down.

Then I heard Niall.

“Can you come back to the penthouse? Harry’s taken drugs and is causing a massive scene. I’m really worried he’s gonna hurt himself or something.”

My blood ran cold. He’d called you.

I didn’t want you to see me like this. I didn’t want you anywhere near me.

But then the door opened. And there you were—standing in the doorway, staring at me like I was still worth saving.

And that fucking broke me. Because even now… after everything I did…

You still came back.