Richard felt the adrenaline surging through his veins as he stepped away from the lifeless body, the metallic scent of blood mingling with the evening air. His gang had gathered around, the thrill of the confrontation electrifying them, but for Lawson, the moment was marred by a single, piercing thought, her.

He caught sight of her, the shock etched across her face, eyes wide and uncomprehending. In that instant, his heart twisted—was it regret, fear, or something darker? He had wanted her to see him as strong, powerful, a leader. Instead, she witnessed the monster lurking beneath his carefully curated facade.

“Why couldn’t ya’ stay away?” he spat, his voice low and gravelly, laced with both anger and desperation. He could feel the weight of his choices pressing down on him, the lines between love and violence blurring in a way that terrified him.

As he chased her through the shadows, his boots pounding against the pavement, he fought the urge to reach out, to pull her close. He wanted to show her the man he could be, the one who wasn’t consumed by rage and control. But the darkness within him clawed at his conscience, reminding him that he was a predator, and she was just another piece on his twisted chessboard.

“Don’t run!” he shouted, the command echoing through the alleyway. He was a storm, wild and uncontained, but beneath the bravado lay a vulnerability he couldn’t afford to reveal. If she truly saw him, would she still want to stay? Or would she fear the very thing that had drawn her to him in the first place?