In the heart of New York City, Jacob Daniel leads a seemingly normal life, running a café near Central Park with his closest friends, Sam and Katie. But when Katie's boss is found murdered and the FBI pulls her into a high-stakes investigation, the...
Jake's ride home was quiet, the hum of the bike beneath him a welcome contrast to the storm brewing in his mind. The streets were sparsely populated, the city beginning to exhale after another restless day. He pulled up to his apartment, killed the engine, and climbed off. It had been a good evening-spent with friends, family-but the weight of what lay ahead lingered in the back of his mind.
As he walked through the front door of his apartment, he immediately noticed the flickering light from the TV, though the room was otherwise empty. His eyes scanned the place quickly. Alexandra wasn't in the living room. He set down his helmet, dropped his keys onto the entryway table, and shrugged off his jacket.
"Alexandra?" he called softly, but the only answer was silence. He walked toward the bedroom.
She wasn't there either.
A knot of unease formed in Jake's stomach. He moved to the guest room next. As he opened the door, his eyes landed on pieces of clothing strewn across the floor-a black dress, a bra, and a pair of panties lay carelessly on the ground. A half-packed bag sat on the bed.
His brow furrowed. Something was off.
Moving swiftly but quietly, Jake glanced down the hallway toward the bathroom but then stopped when he noticed the fire escape window was slightly ajar. His heart quickened. He approached it slowly, pushed it open, and stepped outside.
The sharp bite of the September air hit him immediately, like tiny blades against his skin. It was cold-far too cold for anyone to be out without a jacket. Yet, as he turned, there she was.
Alexandra.
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She sat quietly on the iron staircase, her long legs pulled up just enough to show the curve of her thighs, a cigarette resting between her fingers. The dim city lights played over her slender, almost delicate frame, casting shadows that accentuated her every curve. Her loose t-shirt hung off one shoulder, revealing the smooth line of her collarbone, while her shorts barely clung to her hips, leaving her legs exposed to the cool night air. The skin of her bare legs shimmered faintly in the soft glow from the skyline behind her, the faint rise and fall of her chest drawing Jake's attention for just a second longer than he intended.
She exhaled a slow, smoky breath, the cigarette lazily balanced between her lips, as her eyes met Jake's with a quiet intensity, something unspoken passing between them in the silence.
Jake remained silent, absorbing the scene as he leaned against the railing, watching her without saying a word.
"New York est vraiment belle la nuit..." she whispered through the haze of smoke, her French accent thick.
Jake finally said, "Indeed it is."
Alexandra looked up at him, her eyes dark but curious. She took another drag of her cigarette, exhaling slowly. The smoke curled around her face as she asked, almost cautiously, "What did you mean, Jacob...?"
