mile, and walked out the door, the small bell chiming as he left. I let out a quiet breath and glanced around the café. My mother's café. It had become a sanctuary

so long. And now, here he was, standing in front of me, alive and... real. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move. For a split second, I saw it-confusion. It flickered in his eyes, almost imperceptible. It was like something in him recognized me. Like a distant memory, one he had long buried, clawed its way back to the surface. And then, panic surged through me. A cold rush of fear, the kind that made my knees go weak. "I'm sorry," I blurted, my voice a strangled whisper. I yanked myself away from his grasp as if his touch had burned me. Without thinking, without processing the situation, I turned and bolted for the door. I didn't stop. I didn't dare look back. All I knew was that the past I had tried so desperately to outrun had just caught up to me. Nicholas' POV "What do you mean you can't locate the snitch?" I growled into the phone, my grip tightening around it. My frustration was boiling over, and the need to have this sorted out was starting to consume me. Silence. I closed my eyes and exhaled sharply, willing myself to calm down before I did something rash. I slammed my fist into the nearest wall, the sharp crack of my knuckles against the surface echoing in the empty room. "I want that person found," I continued, my voice dangerously low. "I don't care if you have to tear down all of Italy-find the snitch." I hung up without waiting for a response, my anger still simmering beneath the surface. Ten years of planning. Ten years of waiting. The betrayal still burned like a fresh wound. We had been unstoppable once. Untouchable. But then, someone had decided to play hero, and it had cost us everything. Ten years behind bars. Ten years of planning my revenge. I didn't care if it was a man or a woman. Whoever had ruined my life was going to pay. And when I found them, I wouldn't show mercy. "Hey, Nick," Ken called from across the room, breaking me from my thoughts. "I just found the best coffee shop in town. Let's check it out." I barely spared him a glance, my mind still consumed with rage. "It better be worth my time," I muttered, grabbing my coat as we headed out the door. Fifteen minutes later, we were outside a small café, its warm glow spilling onto the pavement. The smell of fresh coffee was thick in the air, but I hardly noticed it. My thoughts were too clouded. Ken smirked at me. "Told you it was good." I didn't answer, just pushed open the door and stepped inside. The place was buzzing with customers, the clink of cups and laughter filling the air. I scanned the room lazily, my gaze moving over the faces, the chatter. But then, something caught my attention. A flash of movement near the exit. A girl. She collided with me. My body stiffened as she bounced off my chest. Her eyes met mine-wide, filled with an emotion I couldn't place. Fear. Raw, unfiltered fear. And then, before I could say a word, she yanked herself away and bolted for the door. I froze. Something wasn't right. "Did you see that?" I asked Ken, my voice dangerously low. Ken raised an eyebrow. "See what?" I turned toward the door, my heart pounding in my chest. That girl... Why did she run? And mo