Dangerous Attention

Chapter 1: The Beginning of Chaos

The air inside Eclipse, the most exclusive nightclub in the city, was thick with tension and intrigue. The dark, moody lighting flickered in sync with the beat of the deep bass, creating an intoxicating rhythm that pulsed through the veins of everyone inside. But beyond the music, beyond the elegant glasses of champagne and the whispers of the powerful men and women gathered around the VIP booths, was a presence that made the room buzz with silent fear. Daou had arrived.

Daou, the cold, calculating leader of one of the most dangerous mafia families in the region, sat in the corner, his broad shoulders relaxed against the deep leather of the booth, but his eyes were anything but calm. His buzz cut was sharp and clean, as was his tailored suit, a symbol of the control he maintained over everything in his life. He didn’t need to say a word to command attention. His very presence did the talking.

"Everything set?" Daou asked in a low voice, his words cutting through the hum of the club like a knife.

Kai, his right-hand man, leaned forward slightly. “Yes, Boss. The deal goes down at midnight.”

Daou nodded, but his eyes weren’t on Kai. They were on the bar. More specifically, on the bartender who moved behind it, pouring drinks with practiced ease. There was something about him that Daou couldn’t quite place. He wasn’t like the usual faces that dotted the city’s nightlife. His confidence stood out—sharp, unapologetic.

The bartender, Offroad, didn’t look like the kind of man who cared who was watching him. His brown hair fell into his eyes as he tossed a bottle in the air, catching it smoothly before pouring a shot. He had a lean build, almost delicate in his appearance, but there was a silent strength behind his carefree movements. He wore a plain black t-shirt that clung to his body in all the right places, and there was a spark in his dark eyes—a spark that only seemed to grow more intense as he worked.

Daou’s gaze sharpened. Interesting.

He wasn’t a man who wasted time on distractions, and yet something about this young man called to him in a way he hadn’t felt in years. Offroad’s defiant demeanor, the way he moved through the crowd as if he owned the space, caught Daou off guard. And Daou never liked being caught off guard.

“Boss?” Kai asked, raising an eyebrow as he noticed Daou’s lingering gaze.

Daou’s lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile. “Call him over.”

Kai hesitated for just a second. “The bartender?”

“Yes,” Daou said, his tone final. “Now.”

Kai didn’t argue. With a quick gesture, he sent one of the guards to fetch Offroad. Within moments, the bartender was stepping into the VIP section, completely unruffled by the intimidating atmosphere. There was no hesitation, no fear in his eyes as he approached Daou’s table, apron still tied loosely around his waist.

“What can I get you?” Offroad asked coolly, his eyes locking with Daou’s without an ounce of submission.

Daou didn’t answer right away. He studied the man in front of him, taking in every detail—the way Offroad’s lips quirked slightly at the edges, as if daring him to make a move. The sharp angles of his face, softened only by the teasing glint in his dark eyes. Offroad wasn’t just unafraid. He was amused.

This was new. This was a challenge.

“What’s your name?” Daou asked, his voice a low rumble.

“Offroad,” the bartender replied simply, folding his arms across his chest. “You?”

Daou’s brow lifted slightly. He wasn’t used to people not knowing who he was. “You don’t know?”

Offroad’s lips twitched into a smirk. “I know. I just don’t care.”

The tension in the air grew thicker. Everyone in the VIP section, from Kai to the other lieutenants, went silent, waiting for Daou’s response. The audacity of this bartender was enough to earn a death sentence in most situations. But instead of anger, Daou felt something far more dangerous—a flicker of interest, a pull he hadn’t felt in a long time.

“You should care,” Daou said softly, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward. “In this city, knowing who I am can mean the difference between life and death.”

Offroad met Daou’s gaze head-on, his smirk fading slightly, replaced with something more serious. “Maybe. But I’m not like everyone else.”

The moment stretched between them, heavy with unspoken tension. Daou could feel the weight of Offroad’s words, and he knew, deep down, that this man was different. The world around them seemed to blur as they locked eyes, two forces colliding in the shadows of the underworld.

“Then stay,” Daou said, his voice dropping an octave. “I want to know more about you.”

For the first time, Offroad hesitated. His bravado flickered for a split second before he regained control, raising an eyebrow. “I’m not for sale.”

Daou chuckled, low and dangerous. “Who said anything about buying?”

Offroad stood his ground, but there was a new energy between them now, something raw and electric. He could feel Daou’s eyes boring into him, and though he refused to back down, he couldn’t ignore the way his pulse quickened, his skin tingling under the intensity of the mafia boss’s gaze.

“If you change your mind,” Daou said, voice smooth as silk, “you know where to find me.”

Without another word, Offroad turned and walked away, his back straight, but the heat from Daou’s eyes followed him long after he disappeared into the crowd.

Kai leaned in, frowning slightly. “What are you planning, Boss?”

Daou’s smile widened, dark and calculating. “Nothing yet.”

But in the pit of his stomach, Daou knew that this was only the beginning. The moment Offroad had walked into his world, something had shifted. And whether he liked it or not, the game was about to change.