You weren’t supposed to get this close to Nico. He was never supposed to let anyone in, much less let someone make him feel something he hadn’t in years. And yet, there you were—Mia, in all your quiet strength and subtle charm—undoing every wall he had spent so long building. With a single glance, a simple laugh, you had seeped into the spaces he didn’t even realize existed, leaving a mark he couldn’t ignore. You were no longer just someone in his life—you were the one he could not bear to lose. The very thought of harm coming to you twisted his stomach, stole his breath, and made his hands clench when he wasn’t looking.

That evening, Nico had taken you somewhere extraordinary, a private luxury restaurant, the entire space reserved just for the two of you. He remembered every detail you disliked about crowds—the noise, the prying eyes, the constant shuffle of strangers—and made sure none of it could touch you tonight. Outside, the sun had slipped beneath the horizon, painting the skyline in shades of pink and gold. Inside, soft lights reflected in the polished glass, illuminating the table where you sat, fingers entwined with his.

As Nico stepped aside to take a quick call, your eyes wandered to the expansive windows. New York sprawled endlessly beneath you, the city alive with the usual chaotic energy—honking cars, street performers, the hum of conversation blending with the scent of food from nearby vendors. Everything seemed normal, almost beautiful.

And then your instincts screamed that it wasn’t.

A sleek black car moved differently from the others, sliding along the street with an almost predatory patience. The tinted window lowered just enough, and in that brief, terrifying instant, your heart froze. Something inside you knew before you could even think. Danger. Immediate. Personal.

Without a second thought, without calculating risk, your body acted on instinct.

You threw yourself in front of Nico.

The world narrowed into a single, excruciating moment. Pain, hot and sharp, exploded in your abdomen. The bullet had found you first.

You gasped, staggering, your hand flying instinctively to the wound. The world tilted, the city lights outside blurring into streaks of color. Nico’s voice, raw and panicked, tore through the haze.

“Mia!”

You tried to speak, tried to reassure him, but your strength was draining with every heartbeat. And still, even in the searing agony, you knew—you had protected him. He was alive because of you. And somehow, that knowledge anchored you in the chaos, even as darkness crept at the edges of your vision.

Nico’s hands were on you now, trembling, desperate, pulling you close as if sheer force could keep the world from taking you away. His face, pale and tense, hovered over yours, eyes wide, terrified, and completely unshielded.

“I—I can’t lose you,” he choked out, voice breaking in a way that would haunt you long after the pain subsided.

You managed a weak, half-smile, blood staining your fingers as you reached for his face. “You won’t,” you whispered, your voice barely audible. “Not while I’m still here.”

And for a fleeting, precious heartbeat, amidst the chaos, the fear, and the pain, Nico truly understood the depth of what you meant to him. He didn’t just love you—he needed you.

And he would do anything to keep you alive.