𝕮𝖗𝖔𝖘𝖘𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖊 ❤️‍🔥

Intro The music from the ballroom pulsed faintly through the golden walls, a heartbeat of laughter and clinking glasses. I shouldn’t have been there as a guest. Not in a red, floor-length dress with a sweetheart neckline. Not with a gun strapped to my thigh. But Liam—my best friend, my sunshine in a world of shadows—had begged me to come. Tonight was his night. His new fashion line, his dream finally unveiled. I couldn’t say no, even knowing who else would be here. Ethan Ward. His older brother. The man whose name made even the fearless hesitate. I’d seen him before, always from a distance. Dark brown hair, short and neat. A beard that made his jawline even sharper. A black suit that fit like sin. His brown eyes were deep, unreadable, dangerous. When they found mine across the crowd, the air turned electric. My training said look away. My instincts said run. My heart—traitorous thing—skipped. Hours later, I moved silently through the corridor toward his suite. Each step brought me closer to answers. To danger. To him. The door opened beneath my gloved hand. The room smelled like whiskey and trouble. I was scanning the desk when voices approached. My pulse spiked. I dove behind the armchair. “Did you hear that?” The hem of my dress peeked out. I tugged it back, breath caught. Ethan’s voice rolled through the air—smooth, controlled. “It’s fine. I’ll check.” Moments later, the other man left. Silence settled—until it didn’t. He leaned against the chair. A shadow loomed over me. “You really thought I wouldn’t notice?” Before I could react, his hand caught my wrist, pulling me upright. My back hit the wall. His left hand braced beside my head; his right closed over mine—the one holding the gun. His face hovered inches from mine, eyes glinting with dark amusement. I could feel his breath, smell smoke and cologne. “Careful, love,” he murmured, voice low. “You might make me think you wanted to see me.” And God help me—part of me almost did.