Dangerous Desire

Chapter 1: Collision

Evie's POV

The bar was alive with music, laughter, and dim lights as I carried drinks to a rowdy table of customers. I wore my usual smile, the one that everyone counted on. They had no idea that behind it, I was a storm waiting to break. But the mask worked—it always did.

At least until he walked in.

I noticed him the moment he stepped through the door. How could I not? The man was impossible to miss, exuding power and danger with every step. His dark suit, perfectly tailored, screamed wealth, and the cold, predatory look in his green eyes told me he wasn't someone you crossed.

"Who's that?" I whispered to Lily, my coworker, who was taking an order next to me.

"Adrian DeLuca," she muttered, eyes wide. "Stay clear of him. Mafia. Bad news."

Great. Just what I needed—a mafia boss walking into my workplace. I caught his gaze for a second too long, and those green eyes narrowed in on me. I looked away, pretending not to care, but my heart raced. I could feel his presence, heavy and suffocating, as he moved closer to the bar.

"What can I get for you?" I asked with my best fake cheer when he reached the counter.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked me over, like he was assessing whether I was worth his time. "Whiskey. Neat," he said, his voice deep and laced with authority.

"Coming right up," I replied, resisting the urge to roll my eyes at his obvious arrogance.

As I turned to grab the bottle, I heard his voice again, quieter but with a sharp edge. "Keep your eyes to yourself, sunshine."

I froze for a second, gripping the bottle tighter. Sunshine. He had no idea how wrong he was, but it stung nonetheless. I turned back, giving him the most innocent smile I could muster. "I wasn't aware your face was off-limits."

His lips twitched, but his expression stayed cold. "Careful, you don't know who you're messing with."

Oh, I was careful. I'd been careful my entire life. But something about his presence had already put me on edge. I slid his drink over and stepped back, hoping he'd just take it and leave.

But he didn't.

Adrian's POV

She was irritatingly bright. The kind of woman who smiled too much, too easily. I could smell the fake sweetness from a mile away, and yet, there was something about her that gnawed at me. Something wasn't right behind that sunshine smile.

"Do you always serve drinks with that fake grin?" I asked, taking a sip of my whiskey.

Her blue eyes flickered for a moment, betraying the crack in her mask. "Do you always walk into bars trying to intimidate the staff?"

I arched a brow. She had a smart mouth, this one. Not many people had the nerve to talk back to me. "Maybe I like watching people squirm."

"Well, you're not doing a very good job," she shot back, crossing her arms as she stared me down.

Amused, I leaned closer, keeping my voice low. "Oh, I don't know. I think you're squirming more than you'd like to admit."

Her lips parted as if she wanted to snap back, but instead, she clenched her jaw and walked away to another table.

Interesting.

Most people in this city feared me, kept their distance. But this woman—Evie, according to her name tag—had enough fire in her to push back. Still, there was something off about her. Beneath that smile, I could sense something broken.

I could read people. It was my job to know their weaknesses. Hers was hidden, but it was there, and it made me curious.

But curiosity was dangerous in my world. So I should've walked away.

I didn't.

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