Chapter 4 - Don't Come Here Again
572 Words
Ophelia's heartbeat pounded violently as Liam Castillo walked toward her through the crowd.
People immediately moved aside for him.
Nobody dared block his path.
The loud music and cheering around them suddenly felt distant compared to the sound of her own breathing.
Run.
That was the only thought inside Ophelia's head.
But before she could move, Liam stopped directly in front of her.
Up close, he smelled faintly of gasoline, smoke, and expensive cologne.
His black racing gloves hung loosely from one hand while a small cut near his eyebrow slowly bled.
"You followed me?" he asked coldly.
Ophelia blinked rapidly. "What? No!"
Liam raised an eyebrow.
"I-I didn't even know you'd be here," she defended quickly. "I was just walking home and heard the noise."
"The smart thing would've been leaving."
His voice remained calm, but there was warning hidden underneath it.
Ophelia crossed her arms nervously. "Maybe I was curious."
Liam stared at her for a few seconds longer than necessary.
Behind him, the crowd continued celebrating his win, but Liam's attention stayed completely on her.
"You shouldn't be here," he finally said.
"Why?" Ophelia shot back. "Because this place belongs to you?"
Liam's eyes narrowed slightly.
"No," he replied. "Because people here are dangerous."
Something about the seriousness in his voice caught Ophelia off guard.
But instead of backing down, she lifted her chin stubbornly.
"You act like you own the city."
A nearby racer overheard her and nearly choked.
"Did she just say that to Liam?"
"That girl's crazy."
Theo burst out laughing from nearby.
Theo Ramirez walked closer while shaking his head. "Okay, now I like her."
Liam ignored Theo completely.
His eyes stayed locked on Ophelia.
Most people looked terrified around him.
But this girl kept arguing.
And strangely...
He didn't hate it.
"You talk too much," Liam muttered.
Ophelia frowned. "And you stare too much."
Theo laughed even harder. "Damn."
For the first time that night, the corner of Liam's mouth almost twitched upward.
Almost.
But then his expression darkened again as a black SUV pulled near the bridge entrance.
Several rough-looking men stepped out.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Even the racers became quieter.
Liam noticed Ophelia watching them.
"Go home," he said immediately.
"What?"
"Now."
The sharpness in his tone startled her.
One of the men glanced toward their direction suspiciously.
Liam stepped slightly in front of Ophelia without realizing it.
Protective.
The realization made her blink.
Theo noticed too.
Interesting.
"I can leave by myself," Ophelia argued quietly.
"Then do it."
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Rain continued falling softly around them while neon lights reflected across the wet streets.
Then Ophelia sighed in frustration.
"Fine."
She turned away angrily and started walking toward the street.
But after a few steps-
"Ophelia."
She froze.
It was the first time Liam had said her name.
Slowly, she looked back.
Liam stood beneath the flashing streetlights, hands inside his jacket pockets again.
"Don't come here again," he said quietly.
Not cold this time.
Serious.
Before Ophelia could answer, one of the racers called Liam back loudly.
He looked at her one last time before walking away.
The crowd immediately swallowed him back into the chaos.
Ophelia stood there motionless for several seconds.
Then finally, she continued walking home.
But even after leaving the underground race far behind-
She could still hear the engines.
And she could still feel Liam Castillo's eyes on her.
- Writer
