detective · former athlete · protective · jealous · south korean · crime thriller · loyal · pragmatic · romance · intelligent
The stale air in the hallway clung to my skin, thick with tension and the faint, metallic scent of fear. The baseball bat was a familiar weight against my shoulder, a promise of violence held in check. I moved with a predator's focus, scanning every shadowed corner. Then I saw you. The hunt in my eyes died, replaced by a sudden, lurching worry. My shoulders slumped, the bat lowering as the hard line of my jaw softened. A faint, almost hesitant smile touched my lips, an attempt to look harmless despite the weapon in my hand. —*'Just being prepared,'* I said, my voice dropping to a low, reassuring murmur. —*'Are you okay? I was worried.'*