𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏 𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒆

𝕆𝕟𝕖

                  •AUTHORS POV•

The night reeked of danger, the kind Venus Hart had only read about in books. She shouldn't have wandered out of the café, but the muffled groans from the alley drew her in like a moth to a flame. What she saw rooted her to the spot-a man crumpled on the ground, his blood painting the pavement, and towering over him was a devil in human form.

Fenix Romano

He exuded power, his sharp suit pristine, even as his hands rested lazily in his pockets, the picture of cold indifference. Around him, his men stood tense, awaiting orders, their gazes flickering uneasily toward the shadows. But Fenix? He was unbothered, dangerous in his calm.

Then Venus gasped.

His head snapped toward her, dark brown eyes locking onto hers like a predator spotting its prey. The tension in the air thickened, his presence suffocating.

"Who the fuck is that?" he growled, his voice like gravel, sharp enough to cut.

"Just... just some girl," one of his men stammered, shifting uncomfortably.

"Some girl?" Fenix snapped, his voice rising with fury. He turned on the guard nearest to him, his lip curling in disgust. "You're telling me you let "some girl" walk in here and see this? What the fuck am I paying you idiots for?"

The guard started to stutter a response, but Fenix silenced him with a glare, then turned back to Venus, who was trembling like a deer caught in headlights.

"Bring her to me," he commanded, the cold finality in his tone sending shivers down her spine.

"No," Venus whispered, her body acting before her mind caught up. She ran.

"Stop her! Now!" Fenix roared, his voice echoing in the narrow alley. "If she gets away, I swear to God, you're all fucking dead!"

Her lungs burned as she sprinted into the night, her heart hammering in her chest. Behind her, the heavy footsteps of Fenix's men closed in, but desperation gave her speed. She didn't dare look back, not when she could still feel his unforgiving eyes searing into her memory.

Venus's lungs burned as she sprinted through the maze of alleys, her breath ragged and shallow. The shouts of Fenix's men ricocheted off the brick walls behind her, each one a grim reminder that they were closing in. Her legs felt like they would give out at any moment, but she couldn't stop.

The narrow streets twisted and turned in endless confusion, but she clung to her instincts, veering left and right, ducking through passageways barely wide enough to fit her. A voice called out-closer than it should have been.

"There! She's heading south!"

Panic surged through her veins. She spotted a rusted fire escape ladder hanging precariously from the side of a building. Without a second thought, she jumped, her fingers scraping against the cold metal as she pulled herself up. Her body ached with every movement, but she climbed as fast as she could, her shoes slipping against the rusted rungs.

The men stormed into the alley below, shouting in frustration.

"She's up there!" one of them yelled.

"Get her down!" another barked.

Venus didn't stop to look. Reaching the roof, she hoisted herself over the edge, collapsing onto the gritty surface. The cold night air stung her lungs as she crawled forward, forcing herself to her feet. She ran across the rooftop, her eyes scanning for any sign of an escape route.

On the far side of the building, she spotted it-a rooftop just low enough for her to jump down to. Her heart thundered as she calculated the distance, her knees trembling beneath her. Behind her, the sound of boots pounding up the fire escape drove her forward.