𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡. 𝐇𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭. She hides behind sharp boots and brighter dresses, yellow loud enough to drown out the cracks in her heart. It almost works. Until the man her papa crossed decides to collect what he's owed. He doesn't ask. He takes. Tattooed hands. Calculated eyes. A ruler of empires built on blood. He closes the distance. She tries to keep it. But he's always liked the chase.

"People aren't scary. They're just repetitive." I see the loops. I read the secrets. I play the game better than anyone because I have no heart in it. My mission was simple: Find his weakness. Break him. I walked into his life to ruin him. I didn't plan on him ruining me first.