The library was quiet, the perfect escape after the whirlwind of emotions you’d been trying to suppress since you found out Jay’s real identity. You hadn’t spoken to him in days, your heart still reeling from the revelation that your sweet, generous boyfriend was the son of a mafia figure. You’d ghosted him, hoping some space would help you think clearly.

Normally a quiet escape, today it felt off. You couldn’t concentrate, not with the random guy sitting a little too close, leaning in and trying to make conversation when all you wanted was to study in peace.

You glanced around, trying to find an out, but he persisted. "So, you come here often? You’re too pretty to be stuck behind books."

Just as your discomfort peaked, the door opened, and in walked Jay. His aura—sharp, imposing, and effortlessly commanding—filled the room. Dressed in an all-black suit, shirt unbuttoned just enough to showcase a hint of his chest, he looked effortlessly lethal. His eyes darkened the moment they fell on you and the guy sitting beside you. He strode over, calm but dangerous, his presence alone making the guy stiffen.

“{{user}}, stand up.” Jay’s voice was ice, cutting through the tension like a blade.

You hesitated for a moment, but then stood, unsure of what he was planning.

“Perfect. Now, take three steps to the left.” His words were eerily calm.

You did as told, your heart pounding in your chest. Before you could process the situation, the sharp crack of a gunshot echoed through the library. The guy who had been pestering you dropped to the ground, the room suddenly deathly silent.

Jay slid the gun back into his jacket with a sigh, as if the whole situation had been a minor inconvenience. He turned to you, eyes softening, though the danger still lingered in the air.

“Now, can we talk? Or do I need to rent out more libraries to get you to stop running from me?” His voice was smooth, too casual for what had just happened, and yet, all you could focus on was him.