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“Do I have something on my face?”

“Shadows are dancing on your face.”

“Oh yeah? What do I look like?”

“You look like a man preparing for war. A strategic general quietly laying out his attack plans to ensure victory.”

He smirked. “You’re not wrong.”

Oh.What was going on? Who was he going to war with?

Why was he following me?

Before I could ask, he parked the car. “We’re here.”

CHAPTERELEVEN

ARROW

I desperately wantedto know what she was thinking while she studied my face. I’d felt the heat of her gaze and couldn’t resist looking at her to find out. She was good at hiding her emotions. But there was one thing I was certain of: shewasattracted to me. Perhaps not to the same extent as my attraction to her. But it was there, like a whisper surrounding both of us.

After hearing their brief conversation, there was no way I’d let Vivian meet Calvin without my presence. It wasn’t just jealousy warring inside me. Curiosity piqued when he asked to meet her right away. What was so important?

After a thorough research, I knew who Calvin Wong was. He dwelled in a violent and dark world. The Triad wasn’t a place for someone like Vivian. She could get hurt. I didn’t like her hanging out with him. But what could I do? Somehow, they were friends.

I opened the door to Over the Moon Café and accompanied Vivian inside. Two lines of people filled the space. One line had people waiting at the counter for Chinese pastries. The second line was to order pancakes, sausages, eggs, and other regular breakfast items.

I spotted Calvin sitting at a table in the back corner. “He’s over there.”

When he saw me approach with Vivian, surprise and disappointment splashed on his face.

That’s right, fucker. She’s with me.

I pulled out a chair for Vivian and took the seat beside her. “Good morning, Calvin.”

“Morning.” Calvin glanced between Vivian and me. Questions sparked in his eyes, but he didn’t ask them. Instead, a casual question emerged. “Do you guys want anything to eat or drink? They have excellent coffee here.” He lifted his cup.

Vivian turned to me. “You should get something.”

I was hungry, but I didn’t want to wait in line and miss their conversation. “I can wait.”

“Your stomach’s going to growl again.”

I smiled. “Do you want anything?”

“A latte with oat milk, please.” She beamed.

I got up, glanced at the line, and sighed. At this rate, Vivian and Calvin would finish their conversation by the time I got the order and returned. I got to the front of the line. “Ladies and gentlemen, I have an emergency, and I’d like to request a favor from you. I’ll pay for all your orders and buy you a gift card to come back here if I can place my orderright now. You cool with that?”

“Fine with me, sweetheart,” said the old lady, who was next in line to order. “Come here.”

“I’m fine with that!” shouted the group of college kids.

Everyone smiled and agreed. I paid five thousand dollars upfront and told the cashier to ring up everyone’s order to include a hundred-dollar gift card. She could keep the rest or put it toward the pay-it-forward fund, which was in a container on the counter.

“Thank you!” cheered everyone in line.

I returned to the table with Vivian’s latte, my coffee, and three muffins.