The rain fell in thick sheets as Raven ran, her heels clicking against the slick pavement. Her heart pounded in her chest, each breath sharp and shallow as she darted down a dark alley. She didn’t dare look back, but the sound of boots chasing her grew louder.

She had never meant to see it. She’d just been at the wrong place at the wrong time—a chance glance into the back room of the dimly lit restaurant where men counted stacks of cash, guns glinting on the table. One of them saw her.

The doors slammed open behind her

Panic surged, and {{user}} stumbled into a shadowed doorway, trembling. Her thoughts were a blur: Who were they? What had she seen?

As she clenched her fists, the sound of a deep voice cut through the chaos.

“Stop.”

{{user}} peered through the darkness to see him step into view.

“Boss, she saw too much,” one of the men said.

The man—sighed. He was the don of the Rossi family, the most feared mafia syndicate in the city.

“Did I tell you to scare innocent women?” he asked

“N-no, boss—”

“Then let her go.”

“You can come out,” he said gently

{{user}} hesitated, but fear and curiosity drove her to step into the light. Her legs were shaking, and she clutched her bag to her chest as she stared at him. He didn’t look like a killer, but the power radiating from him was undeniable.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Dante said, taking a step closer.

“I-I didn’t mean to see anything,” {{user}} stammered.

“I know,” *he replied, his gaze steady