A game of chance

Chapter 1

This is the best time She moved across the world to escape her past... but she didn't expect her past to be waiting at the airport. The roar of the engine died down, but the air was still thick with the scent of gasoline and rain. There he was, leaning against a sleek black motorcycle like he owned the entire street. When he saw me, a slow, dangerous smirk spread across his face.

"Oh, finally. You're here," Carlos said, checking his watch. "It's been a long time, Daniela. I've been waiting here for two hours. Why are you late?"

I stood frozen, my heart hammering against my ribs.

"Why are you so quiet?" he challenged, tilting his head. "You used to be so talkative. What happened to you?"

"Let me go," I muttered, trying to walk past him like he was a ghost. Like he didn't exist.

But before I could take a second step, his hand shot out, grabbing my arm and pulling me flush against his chest. He smelled like leather and cold air. He leaned down, his voice a low vibration near my ear.

"You can't run away again. I was waiting for you. Your mother told me to pick you up, so don't think you have a choice. I'm the boss here now. Let's go."

I looked up at him, my eyes narrowing. "I have to go to university. I'm already late."

"I really missed you," he added, his voice softening for just a second as he looked at me.

I forced a cold smile. "You missed me? Well... I didn't miss you."

Carlos let out a frustrated huff, his smirk turning into a frown. "Oh, why am I always nice to you? Why!"

The streets of this city used to feel wide open, but as Carlos pulled me close, the buildings seemed to lean in, blocking out the sky. My freedom had been a lie I told myself every morning. I thought I was the one holding the map, but Carlos just proved he was the one who owned the roads. My head-start was over, and the distance I'd put between us had just shrunk to zero.

with her realizing that her "safe space" (the university) is no longer safe.

This is the best time She moved across the world to escape her past... but she didn't expect her past to be waiting at the airport. The roar of the engine died down, but the air was still thick with the scent of gasoline and rain. There he was, leaning against a sleek black motorcycle like he owned the entire street. When he saw me, a slow, dangerous smirk spread across his face.

"Oh, finally. You're here," Carlos said, checking his watch. "It's been a long time, Daniela. I've been waiting here for two hours. Why are you late?"

I stood frozen, my heart hammering against my ribs.

"Why are you so quiet?" he challenged, tilting his head. "You used to be so talkative. What happened to you?"

"Let me go," I muttered, trying to walk past him like he was a ghost. Like he didn't exist.

But before I could take a second step, his hand shot out, grabbing my arm and pulling me flush against his chest. He smelled like leather and cold air. He leaned down, his voice a low vibration near my ear.

"You can't run away again. I was waiting for you. Your mother told me to pick you up, so don't think you have a choice. I'm the boss here now. Let's go."

I looked up at him, my eyes narrowing. "I have to go to university. I'm already late."

"I really missed you," he added, his voice softening for just a second as he looked at me.

I forced a cold smile. "You missed me? Well... I didn't miss you."

Carlos let out a frustrated huff, his smirk turning into a frown. "Oh, why am I always nice to you? Why!"

The streets of this city used to feel wide open, but as Carlos pulled me close, the buildings seemed to lean in, blocking out the sky. My freedom had been a lie I told myself every morning. I thought I was the one holding the map, but Carlos just proved he was the one who owned the roads. My head-start was over, and the distance I'd put between us had just shrunk to zero.

with her realizing that her "safe space" (the university) is no longer safe.