Vincent's lily

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Chapter 3: Into the Shadows

Lily’s coffee shop had only been open for a week, but it was already drawing a small crowd. Locals wandered in, curious about the new spot on the corner, and tourists loved the cozy atmosphere. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a warm glow over the shelves of books and the few scattered tables.

Despite the shop’s growing success, Lily couldn’t shake the memory of Vincent Roy. His presence lingered like a shadow over her thoughts, tugging at her curiosity. Something about the way he’d looked at her, with those intense, unreadable eyes, made it impossible to forget him. He was dangerous, that much she could tell, but there was more to him—something she couldn’t quite define.

One evening, after closing up, Lily decided to take a stroll through the neighborhood. She loved how alive the streets became at night, the sounds of conversation and laughter spilling from the small cafés and restaurants. It was one of the reasons she had fallen in love with Rome.

As she wandered deeper into the city, however, the lively atmosphere began to change. The streets grew quieter, the alleyways darker. Lily glanced around, realizing she had strayed far from the familiar parts of the city. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to shake off the sudden unease creeping up her spine.

Just as she was about to turn back, she heard voices—low and harsh, coming from a nearby alley. Instinct told her to keep walking, to not get involved, but something made her stop. She peeked around the corner and saw three men, their faces hidden in the shadows. One of them was holding a man against the wall, his arm pressed tightly against the victim’s throat.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she watched, unable to move. The man against the wall gasped for air, his pleas barely audible. Lily felt a surge of panic, but before she could turn and run, a figure emerged from the darkness.

Vincent.

His appearance sent a wave of relief through her, though she didn’t know why. He walked toward the men with a calm, almost lazy confidence, as if the scene before him was just another day in his world. The tension in the air shifted the moment they saw him, their grip loosening on the man they had pinned.

"Boss," one of them said, stepping back quickly.

Vincent’s eyes narrowed. "I don’t remember asking for an audience here."

His voice was low but sharp, and the men immediately released their hold on the victim. The man collapsed to the ground, coughing and gasping for breath. Vincent turned his gaze to him for a moment, then back to the others. "Get out of here," he ordered.

The men didn’t need to be told twice. They scrambled out of the alley, leaving the scene as quickly as they could. Once they were gone, Vincent crouched down next to the man on the ground, who was still trying to catch his breath.

"I warned you, didn’t I?" Vincent’s tone was flat, almost bored, but the edge in his voice was unmistakable. "You don’t cross me and live to tell about it."

The man looked up, fear etched into his face. "I’m sorry, I—"

Before he could finish, Vincent pulled a gun from his jacket and fired. The sound echoed in the narrow alleyway, and the man slumped lifelessly to the ground.

Lily gasped, stepping back in shock. Her heart was racing, and she clamped a hand over her mouth, terrified that Vincent would hear her. But it was too late.

He looked up, his eyes locking onto hers. For a brief moment, neither of them moved. Lily’s pulse pounded in her ears, her mind screaming at her to run, but her feet were frozen in place.

Vincent stood slowly, his expression unreadable as he began walking toward her. Panic surged through Lily, but before she could react, he was already in front of her.

"You shouldn’t have seen that," he said quietly, his voice calm but laced with danger.

"I—I didn’t mean to..." she stammered, her voice trembling. "I was just walking, and I—"

Vincent cut her off, his hand reaching out to gently but firmly grasp her arm. "Lily, this isn’t your world. You shouldn’t be here."

She looked up at him, her wide eyes filled with fear and confusion. "I didn’t know. I just—"

"I know you didn’t," he said, his voice softening slightly, but there was still a warning beneath it. "But you need to leave. Now."

Lily nodded, her mind racing as she stepped back, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t need to be told twice. Without another word, she turned and hurried down the street, not daring to look back.

Vincent watched her go, a strange feeling settling over him. She was so out of place in his world, so pure and untouched by the darkness he lived in. He had no idea why he’d let her walk away, why he hadn’t silenced her like he’d done so many times before. Something about her stirred a part of him he hadn’t felt in years—something he didn’t quite understand.

As Lily disappeared into the night, Vincent stood there, his thoughts swirling in the shadows. She was a danger to him now, a loose thread in his carefully woven world. But for reasons he couldn’t explain, he wasn’t ready to cut her out just yet.

Okay byeeeeeeeeeeee