The air in the VIP lounge of The Obsidian didn't just feel cold; it felt expensive.
Lily Willems adjusted the collar of her server's vest, her fingers grazing the small, concealed blade she kept tucked into her waistband. She wasn't supposed to be here as a waitress. She was here to retrieve the ledger that proved her father hadn't gambled away his life—he'd been executed for what he knew.
Across the room, silhouetted against the floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the neon-soaked city, sat Dante Vane.
The "Alpha" of the Vane Syndicate. To the public, he was a billionaire real estate mogul. To the underworld, he was a ghost who dealt in blood and high-interest debt. He sat with a glass of neat bourbon, his presence so heavy it seemed to warp the light around him.
"You're staring," a voice hissed. Lily's coworker, Sarah, nudged her. "Don't look him in the eye. That's how people disappear."
"I'm not afraid of a suit with a god complex," Lily whispered, her jaw tightening.
The Encounter
Lily stepped forward, balancing a tray of crystal glassware. As she approached Dante's table, the two bodyguards—hulking men with visible holsters—moved to intercept. Dante raised a single, gloved hand. They froze.
"Let her through," Dante said. His voice was a low, melodic rasp that sent an involuntary shiver down Lily's spine.
She set the drink down with practiced precision. As she leaned in, she caught the scent of sandalwood and gunpowder. She also saw it: the black leather folder tucked under his thigh.
The ledger.
"You're new," Dante remarked, not looking at her, but at the city below. "And you're vibrating with a very specific kind of energy, Lily Willems."
Lily froze. How does he know my name?
"I'm just doing my job, Mr. Vane."
"Your job is to serve drinks. Your mission is to steal from me." He finally turned his head. His eyes were the color of a winter sea—beautiful, but capable of drowning everything in their path. "Which one are you going to prioritize tonight?"
The Clash
Lily didn't flinch. She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous silk. "I'll prioritize whichever one gets me out of this room without having to look at your arrogant face for a second longer."
The room went silent. The bodyguards reached for their weapons. Dante's lips curved into a predatory, mirthless smile. He stood up, towering over her, the sheer physical scale of him designed to intimidate.
"Stubborn," he murmured, reaching out to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. Lily slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch me."
"A kitten with claws," Dante chuckled, though his eyes remained icy. "I could have you buried in the foundation of my newest skyscraper by dawn. Or, I could make you a deal. You want the ledger? Earn it."
"I don't make deals with monsters," Lily snapped.
"In this city, Lily, the monsters are the only ones who keep their word."