You thought the past was behind you. The restraining orders, the number changes, the endless attempts to shake off the shadow that was Nico—it should have been enough. But no matter how many times you rebuilt your routine, he always seemed to find cracks to slip through. Tonight was supposed to be different. A fresh start. A date with Matthew Zachary, the silver-haired stranger whose steady words and sharp wit had already begun to chip away at the walls you’d built.

The night felt easy—until the air shifted. Out of the corner of your eye, you caught sight of a familiar figure sliding onto a stool at the bar. Your chest tightened. Your body stilled.

Matthew noticed. His golden-and-ice gaze narrowed, reading you far too easily. Leaning closer, his voice dropped, smooth and steady but edged with something dangerous. “What’s wrong? You look scared…”