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I stare at him, unsure how to interpret his words. Is he talking about my presence in the club? My friendship with Olivia? Or the fact that there’s an energy surging around us that makes it next to impossible to maintain this distance between us.

He narrows his eyes at me, searching for something in my gaze that remains just out of reach—something both painful and intoxicating.

For a heartbeat longer than feels comfortable, we’re caught in this moment. Staring at each other like two moths drawn toward a flame ready to consume us both.

The world fades away until there’s only Zeke and me—tension hanging heavy in the air between us. Unspoken history corners us as if time has twisted into a taut string ready to snap.

Chapter 2

Ghosts of Heartache

Ezekiel

Ilean against the door, arms crossed, watching her. Eve’s eyes blaze with indignation, and I can’t help but feel that spark from before—back when I thought maybe this could be something real. But then I discovered she’s a cop.

She looks even better than I remember. Her anger transforms her beauty into a weapon.

And I love it.

“Are you just going to stare at me?” Her voice cuts through the air like a knife.

“Didn’t think I’d see you again.” The words slip out, laced with more bitterness than intended.

She scoffs, hands on her hips. “Yeah, no shit with the way you ghosted me.”

I force myself to hold her gaze. Her fury pulls at something deep inside me, and I wrestle with the guilt bubbling up to the surface. It’s my fault she feels that way.

“Is that all you have to say for yourself?” she continues, leaning forward as if trying to invade my space. “And then you have the nerve to lock us up like this. Who are you?”

I look down for a moment—a flash of regret breaking through my stony expression—but I quickly mask it. No point in diggingup old wounds or rehashing what’s already been buried beneath layers of bad decisions and shadows from my past.

Eve’s breath quickens as if she’s trying to decipher my unreadable expression. My jaw tightens. That blank mask becomes an instinctual shield. This isn’t about me anymore. It’s about keeping her safe—even if that means keeping my mouth shut.

Her frustration morphs into confusion as I remain silent, waiting for the storm to pass while she tries to make sense of everything swirling between us.

“Why won’t you say something?” She pushes again, eyes narrowing in disbelief.

I meet her gaze again—a dark storm brewing within me—but don’t let anything escape my lips. I can feel her anger radiating, almost palpable, and it makes my heart race in a way that feels both thrilling and dangerous.

But I can’t afford to show weakness now, not when lives are on the line, and everything hangs by a thread around us.

I open the door and wave over Eli, my trusted business partner and occasional bodyguard.

“Eli, please take Olivia and her friend back to the bar,” I order, the words grating against my throat like sandpaper. Eli hesitates, glancing between Eve and me before stepping behind her friends and pushing them toward the door.

He doesn’t know what’s going on or that I have a history with Eve. All he knows is she’s a cop and cops in my club make us all nervous.

Once we’re alone, Eve narrows her eyes at me, every bit the fierce woman I remember. “You think you can keep me in here? Treat me like a problem?”

I can’t meet her gaze directly. Instead, I focus on the way her dark curls frame her face—wild and untamed like the fire in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Right. You just decided to vanish without a word.” Her voice drips with sarcasm. “Use me and then toss me aside like trash. Real nice.”

I take a step closer, closing the distance that felt too far seconds ago. Her scent fills my nostrils, and I regret my decision. It’s just Eve. Her scent is natural, raw and alluring with a hint of vanilla. “It wasn’t like that.”

Her brow furrows in defiance. “Then explain it to me.”

“My life is complicated.” My voice cuts through hers as if slicing through fog.