The bell above the small convenience store door rang softly as she stepped inside, escaping the July heat of Derry. The air smelled of dust, old candy, and cold soda. She headed for the refrigerator section, not expecting to see anyone familiar. Not here. Not now.

Then a voice spoke behind her, low and irritatingly calm.

“Well, look who wandered into my territory.”

She froze for half a second before turning. Victor Criss leaned against one of the aisles, hands in his pockets, his lazy smirk already forming. He looked like he owned the place, like he had been waiting just to appear at the worst possible moment.

Her eyes narrowed. His dark ones gleamed with amusement.

“Didn’t think I’d see you here,” he added, pushing off the shelf and walking closer, slow and unhurried. “Guess Derry really is too small for the both of us.”

He stopped just a little too close. Not enough to touch. Enough to invade her space on purpose.

The tension between them was instant. Familiar. Dangerous.

And Victor looked like he was enjoying every second of it.