Chapter 4: The First Encounter
The eerie feeling of being watched stayed with Sophia long after she got home. It clung to her like a second skin, making her shiver even under the warmth of her blanket.
She glanced at her little brother, Noah, who was fast asleep in his bed across the room, his tiny fingers clutching his favorite stuffed lion. At only six years old, he was her whole world. The only bright spot in a life that sometimes felt too heavy.
Sophia exhaled slowly, tucking the blanket around him before sliding into bed. She just needed sleep. Maybe tomorrow, she wouldn't feel so paranoid.
But when morning came, her unease only grew.
Later That Day – At the Café
The bell above the café door chimed, but Sophia barely looked up. The place was busier than usual, and she was drowning in orders.
"Hey, Soph, need help?" Liam asked, already reaching for an apron.
She smiled gratefully. "You're a lifesaver."
"I know." He winked, making her laugh.
It was moments like this that made everything feel normal. Safe. She didn't notice the way Liam watched her, the softness in his eyes that was obvious to everyone but her.
Then the café went quiet.
Not fully, but enough for her to notice. The hum of conversation dulled, movements slowed, as if the air had thickened.
That was when she felt it.
That same, suffocating presence.
Slowly, she looked up and her stomach twisted into knots.
Adrian DeLuca stood at the entrance.
Dressed in a crisp black suit, he looked impossibly expensive, dangerously powerful. He was a man who commanded attention without a single word.
Sophia gripped the counter as his gaze locked onto hers.
Why was he here?
She didn't have time to react before he moved, his strides slow, calculated. Predatory.
Liam noticed her tension and stepped closer. "Hey, you okay?"
She barely nodded.
Adrian reached the counter and placed a hand on the polished surface, his fingers tapping lightly. Everything about him was deliberate. Measured.
"Black. No sugar," he said.
The same order as last time. The same deep, controlled voice that sent a strange chill down her spine.
Sophia swallowed and turned to make the drink, aware of every single pair of eyes watching them. When she set the cup in front of him, he didn't move to take it.
Instead, he spoke.
"You should be more careful, Sophia."
Her heart stopped.
She looked up, startled. "What?"
His dark eyes bored into hers. "It's dangerous to walk home so late."
How did he know that?
Liam stiffened beside her. "Who the hell are you?"
Adrian ignored him completely. His gaze never wavered from Sophia's, watching as her fingers trembled slightly against the counter.
She opened her mouth to respond, but he leaned in just a fraction, his voice so low only she could hear.
"There are things in this world you don't understand, little one." His lips barely moved, but the words sent ice through her veins. "It would be wise to remember that."
And just like that, he straightened, took his untouched coffee, and walked out.
Sophia felt like she could finally breathe again.
Liam turned to her, his face tight with concern. "Who was that?"
She didn't answer.
Because deep down, she knew this was only the beginning.