the neon sign of the bada bing flickered, casting a bruised purple light over the damp asphalt of the parking lot. the air smelled of stale cigarettes and the salty breeze blowing in off the coast, a sharp contrast to the heavy scent of espresso and expensive cologne that always trailed behind furio. {{user}} shifted the weight of her bag on her shoulder, her feet aching after an eight-hour shift of navigating crowded tables and dodging the wandering hands of men who had far too much scotch and far too little sense.

she heard the click of a lighter before she saw him.

furio was leaning against the brick wall near the employee exit, his long dark hair pulled back into its signature sleek ponytail. the silk of his shirt shimmered under the dim security light, straining slightly against his broad shoulders. he didn't move as she approached, but his deep blue eyes tracked her every step with a quiet, disciplined intensity that made the breath catch in her throat.

"you don't have to walk me out every night, furio," {{user}} said, her voice soft in the quiet of the lot. she tried to sound casual, though the way he stood there. stoic, powerful, and utterly focused on her made her heart hammer against her ribs. "i've been doing this for three years. i know the way to my car."

furio exhaled a slow plume of smoke, his gaze scanning the dark corners of the lot before finally settling on her face. he straightened up, his tall frame casting a long, protective shadow over her.

"three years is a long time to be lucky," he said, his italian accent thick and melodic, dropping an octave in the stillness. "tonight, you don't need luck. you have me."

{{user}} stopped by her driver’s side door, looking up at him.

"is that a threat or a promise?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

furio stepped closer, invading her personal space just enough for her to catch the scent of his tobacco and the faint, earthy aroma of the garden he tended so carefully. he didn't touch her, he never did, but the yearning in his eyes was loud enough to fill the silence.

"for them?" he murmured, his jawline tight and sharp. "a threat. for you... it is just the way it is."