MINE

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Faiths pov

The barstand was a welcome reprieve from the overwhelming noise and heat of the ballroom. I leaned against it, letting the cool edge of the counter press into my arms, and waved the bartender over. The glass of champagne I’d been nursing wasn’t doing much, and tonight felt like the ind of night that called for something stronger.

As I waited for my drink, I scanned the room. Isabella had disappeared into the crowd, and I felt a small pang of guilt for leaving her alone. But she’d be fine. She always found her footing, even in unfamiliar places. Besides, something about the energy tonight had drawn me here—to the bar, to the swirl of people buzzing with tension.

And then, I felt it.

A presence.

It wasn’t immediate, not at first. But the longer I stood there, the more I became aware of it—a weight, like someone’s gaze was burning into the si

e of my head. I didn’t turn right away. I could feel him before I saw him, a magnetic pull that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

When I finally turned, he was there.

Leaning casually against the far end of the bar, drink in hand, watching me like I was the only person in the room worth noticing. He didn’t even try to hide it, and that sent a thrill through me. Most people were subtle, hesitant. Not him. He was daring me to look back, to hold his gaze and see what I’d find there.

And God, what I found…

Danger. It was written all over him, from the sharp lines of his suit to the quiet confidence in his posture. He looked like he belonged to the shadows, a man who thrived in the spaces most people were too afraid to step into. His dark hair was perfectly combed, and the hint of a smirk on his lips said he knew exactly how intimidating he was—and exactly how much I liked it.

My drink arrived, but I barely noticed. My fingers brushed the glass as I debated my next move. He was the kind of man mothers warned their daughters about, the kind you didn’t just meet—you collided with. And I was stupid enough to want to find out what kind of wreckage he’d leave behind.

“Looking for someone?” His voice cut through the noise like a blade, smooth and sharp, pulling my attention entirely to him.

I raised an eyebrow, lifting my glass to take a slow sip before answering. “Maybe,” I said, keeping my tone light, playful. “Why? Do you think you’re the one I’m looking for?”

He tilted his head slightly, his smirk widening into something more dangerous, more amused. “I don’t think,” he replied, stepping closer. “I know.”

The audacity of him should’ve made me roll my eyes, but instead, I found myself leaning in, just enough to meet him halfway. “Confident, aren’t you?”

“Always,” he said, his gaze never leaving mine. He reached for his drink, the motion unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world to figure me out. “But confidence only gets you so far. You tell me, Faith—what kind of man do you think I am?”

The way he said my name, low and deliberate, sent a shiver down my spine. He already knew he was the kind of man I couldn’t resist, the kind of danger I wanted to dive into headfirst.

“The dangerous kind,” I said simply, tilting my head. “The question is, are you dangerous to yourself… or to me?”

For a moment, his smirk softened into something darker, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he was weighing the answer himself. “Why not both?” he said, his voice a quiet challenge.

And just like that, I was hooked.

His words hung in the air, thick and charged, and I swear my pulse skipped. Why not both? He said it like it was the simplest thing in the world, like he already knew I wasn’t the kind of girl who would back away. And maybe he was right.