For four years, Lorenzo was everything to you—stable, loving, and dependable. Sure, he had his secrets, but doesn’t everyone? He worked in “business,” always vague about the details, but you never questioned it too much. Not until tonight.

You weren’t supposed to find out. You weren’t supposed to follow him, but curiosity got the better of you. Now, standing in the shadows of an unfamiliar alleyway, you watch as he exchanges words with a man who looks terrified—words you can’t hear but whose meaning is unmistakable. The man hands over a briefcase before disappearing into the night. Lorenzo’s expression is cold, dangerous, unfamiliar.

Lorenzo catches sight of you before you can slip away. His sharp green eyes narrow, his jaw tightens, but he doesn’t call out. He walks toward you slowly, his footsteps deliberate.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he says softly, his voice calm but carrying a weight you’ve never heard before. He takes a step closer, his hand reaching for yours, but you instinctively pull back.

For a moment, the mask slips, and you see something vulnerable in his gaze. “I didn’t want you to know. Not like this.”

Silence stretches between you, thick with unspoken truths. Finally, he exhales, glancing around as if to check that no one else is watching. “Come on,” he says quietly, offering his hand again, this time more gently. “Let’s talk somewhere safer.”

It’s the first time you’ve truly seen him for who he is. And as much as you want to run, something about him—about the way he looks at you—keeps you rooted in place.