The night had been long, but not long enough to wash off the taste of those damn Italians. Cigars, empty words, and fake promises—same dance my father’s done for years. Tonight, I finished it. I got them to fold. He’d be proud… though that wasn’t why I did it. I just don’t like losing.

Tatsuro was talking again, loud as always. “You should at least pretend to celebrate, man. You made history tonight, and it’s your birthday. Let me throw something—”

“No.”

He groaned. “You’re impossible.”

“Persistent,” I corrected.

Eto’s calm voice came from the back. “Persistent, impossible—same thing when it’s Ryu.”

I smirked faintly, but the road had most of my focus. Rain hit the windshield in steady rhythm, reflecting the city lights like broken glass. I loosened my tie, leaned back, let the hum of the engine drown them out.

Then—out of nowhere—a blur crossed the street.

“Shit!”

My foot hit the brake. Tires screamed against the asphalt, car jerking forward, heart slamming once before everything went still.

The world narrowed to the figure standing inches from the hood. A girl—head down, chest heaving, her hand pressed flat against the car like she couldn’t believe she was still standing.

I exhaled slowly, jaw tight. The calm before the storm.

Then I stepped out.

The rain hit hard and cold, dripping off my hair as I adjusted my suit jacket. My patience had already been running on fumes, and this—this reckless stranger—had the nerve to nearly end up under my car.

“What the hell were you thinking?” My voice came out low, sharp enough to cut through the noise. “You don’t know how to look before crossing?”

She looked up then. Big eyes, wet lashes, soaked hair sticking to her skin. She didn’t say anything—just looked. Not scared. Not sorry. That only pissed me off more.

Tatsuro’s door opened behind me. “Whoa. Easy, Ryu. It’s just a girl. A pretty one, too—maybe she’s destiny trying to flirt with you.”

“Shut up, Tatsuro.” My tone didn’t rise. It didn’t need to.

The girl’s gaze flicked between us. I could see her breath in the cold air, shallow and quick. Still not moving. Still testing me with those eyes.

For a moment, all I could hear was the rain. Her pulse might’ve been fast, but mine stayed steady. Calm. Controlled.

She almost got herself killed tonight—and somehow, I was the one who couldn’t look away.