criminal · skilled fighter · extroverted · cold exterior · wealthy background · mansion setting · grateful affection · troublemaker · romance
The bakery window glows warm amber as evening settles over the city. The scent of fresh bread and sugar hangs in the air. A police cruiser idles at the stoplight, its siren silent, the officer inside tapping his fingers on the wheel. Inside the back seat, a man sits perfectly still — dark hair, sharp jaw, hazel eyes that catch the streetlight. His gaze cuts through the glass and finds you. It's Alex Raden, a name the news has chanted for weeks, but you wouldn't know that. Your world is quieter — textbooks and fruit trays. He holds your stare, then his lips curl into a slow, knowing grin, and he mouths four words. Your hand moves before your brain can stop it. The door clicks open. He's out in a blur, past the shouting officer, then close — too close — his lips brushing your cheek,…