I was awake long before the sun rose.
My room felt too small,the shadows too sharp ,I kept replaying the message,the man under the streetlight,the way he didn't move as if he wasn't watching me ,but waiting for me .
By dawn my throat was tight,and I forced myself out of the bed the moment Margie knocked.
When I walked downstairs,the cafe was still waking up .Warm lights glowed against the brick wall.Steam curled from the espresso machine.
Margie handed me an apron "Nervous?" She asked . "A little."
"You'll be fine" crescent city feels big at first but calm down once you know where to look".
I forced a smile .She had no I dea how deeply I wished that were true.
The bell over the door chimed. "Morning", Margie said automatically but she froze halfway through the word.
I looked up,A man stepped inside as if he were stepping out of a cooler world than the rest of us lived in.
Tall,straight-backed ,black suit tailored like sin,dark hair brushed back in a way that made him look both clean and dangerous.
His deep eyes were frosty,but they were like a galaxy,deep ,beautiful and dangerous,he exuded a heavy sense of oppression that made people want to obey him unconsciously.
His presence didn't just fill the cafe,it changed the air.
When his eyes found mind,it felt like standing too close to lightning. His gaze didn't slide past me ,it snapped to me . Not curious,not friendly but focused.
Though I didn't know his name yet.
He walked toward the counter slowly like he never rushed anywhere,like the world bent to his pace. "Black coffee" he said. His voice was smooth,deep,the kind that could cut or soothing depending in its purpose. "Extra shot". I nodded quickly. "O…okay one moment."
The machine hissed loudly as I prepared the coffee but all I felt was his eyes on me,not aggressively,not flirtatiously,just noticing…studying.
"You're new", he said finally.
"Yes ,first day". His expression shifted almost imperceptibly,not surprise ,more like recognition. But that made no sense,he didn't know me .
"Your name?" He asked
"Ava". He said is under his breath ,softer than I expected. "Ava", he repeated like he was memorizing it as if he already knew it but needed confirmation. I tried to hand his the coffee without shaking, but my fingers betrayed me,his fingers brushed against mine,cold,controlled,intentional .
He noticed everything. "I'm Elias Hale".
He said casually and almost inaudibly
"You should be careful",he said quietly.
My breath caught, "why?"
His eyes held mine for a long moment like he was thinking about what he should say and what he couldn't say.
"Crescent city can be…..unpredictable".
He didn't look like a man delivering a message. But before I could ask him anything,the door opened again. Another man walked in,so different from Elias
They didn't even feel like the same species.
Warm eyes,messy hair ,paint-stained hoodie ,a gentle energy that contrasted the cold edge in the air, and yet his gaze fell on Elias,something sharp flickered between them.
"Morning", the newcomer said to Margie,then smiled brightly at me "heard there was someone new here".
Elias turned slightly,Jaw tightening.
"This is my brother Rowan", he said .
Brother? These two complete opposites?
Rowan grinned at me "so you're Ava"
I blinked, "How— "small city", Rowan said before Elias could speak, " people talk".
But the way he said it felt too easy , too smooth and too convenient.
My pulse thudded. Both brothers ,both staring at me .
One with cold calculation.The other with warm intrigue.
Margie muttered under her breath as she passed behind me . "Be careful with those two".
Elias lifted his coffee,ignoring Rowan's playful elbow against his arm.
"Ava", Elias said ,voice low, "have a good morning".
Rowan added "see you around", with a wink .
They left together ,yet not together …..one walking like the ground owed him stability, the other like he didn't care where he stepped.
When the bell chimed behind them,my knees finally felt weak enough to wobble.
Margie leaned close " sweetheart….you have no idea what you've just stepped into".
And deep in my chest ,something told me she was right because both brothers looked so me like they knew more than I had said ,more than I has shown and maybe more than I wanted anyone to know.