Layla's Pov:

I sat in my fancy penthouse in Beverly Hills, the skyline twinkling outside my windows, as Lucy and Macy, my two adorable dogs, napped at my feet. The hum of the city was a constant soundtrack to my life, but tonight, it felt quieter, more reflective. I looked down at my phone, checking the time, and then glanced over at the dogs. They were content in their little world, and for a moment, I envied them.

By day, I was Layla Forbes, a savvy businesswoman running a multi-million dollar company. I was admired, respected, even envied one of the top players in the corporate world. But by night, I was something else. I was the daughter of a powerful mafia boss. The world I came from wasn't glamorous like my penthouse or the business meetings I attended it was dark, dangerous, and full of secrets. Living two lives at once wasn't easy, but I had gotten good at it.

My phone buzzed in my hand, and I smiled as I saw Olivia's name flashing across the screen.

"Hey, Layla! You ready for our night out?" Her voice was a ray of sunshine, full of energy and excitement.

I chuckled, a wave of warmth sweeping over me. Olivia was the kind of friend who lived for the moment she had a knack for making everything feel like an adventure.

"Totally, Liv! I'll be there in an hour," I said, glancing at my closet. What was I going to wear tonight?

I wanted something that felt like me, but also something that would give me a little escape from the weight of the world I carried. The night was supposed to be carefree, a distraction from the business meetings and the shadows lurking in my life.

As I stepped into my wardrobe, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that tonight would be different something was about to shift, and I had no idea what it was.

Across town, Marco August was deep in his world. He was one of the most talked about FBI agents, always in the news for his sharp mind and impeccable track record. But no one knew that behind that perfectly tailored suit and confident smile, he was haunted by the ghosts of his past.

He'd been working tirelessly on a case, investigating a dangerous mafia syndicate. He was close to breaking it, but he had no idea that the very thing he was hunting was closer than he realized. Closer than he could ever expect.

As I looked at myself in the mirror, I slipped on my favorite Louis Vuitton top and perfectly fitting jeans. There was a moment of satisfaction as I admired my reflection—confident, stylish, ready for the night ahead.

I couldn't stop thinking about Marco August. His name had been buzzing around town for weeks, and I had to admit, his charm and intensity intrigued me. With his dark hair and rugged, almost-too-perfect smile, he was the type of man who made people stop and take notice. I'd seen him around at high-profile events, but we'd never spoken. Not yet.

With Lucy and Macy trailing behind me, I made my way to the door. There was something in the air tonight an electricity that hummed beneath the usual glamour of Beverly Hills. Maybe it was the anticipation of the night, or maybe it was something more.

I met Olivia, Aurora, and Lexi in the bustling streets of the city. We were ready for a night of fun—dinner, drinks, laughter. We moved from one exclusive venue to the next, the glitz and glam of the city streets enveloping us in a world of carefree indulgence.

But even in the midst of the fun, a strange feeling tugged at the edge of my mind. I felt... watched. It was an odd sensation, one I couldn't shake.

Unbeknownst to me, Marco was out there too. He was at a nearby bar, trying to unwind after hours of investigation, but his mind was still on the case. His eyes roamed the crowd, scanning every face, every movement. But something about the city tonight felt different there was a pulse in the air, a rhythm that made him feel as if everything was about to change.

As he stood there, sipping his drink, his gaze unknowingly found me. It was brief a fleeting moment but it was enough. Something about me caught his attention, a magnetism he couldn't explain. He couldn't look away, even though he should have.

The night went on, laughter and music filling the air as we danced from one club to the next. Olivia was as full of life as ever, Aurora was effortlessly cool, and Lexi... well, Lexi was always up for anything. Our girl gang was complete, and we were unstoppable.

Yet, that nagging feeling didn't leave me. It clung to me, just beneath the surface, making my skin tingle.

Marco, meanwhile, was quietly observing from the shadows, his sharp eyes never missing a beat. He wasn't there to party. He was there for a reason. But as the night wore on, his mind kept returning to the mysterious woman he'd seen earlier the one with the piercing eyes and confidence that practically oozed from her.

It wasn't until later in the evening that our worlds collided. Fate, it seemed, had a way of pulling people together, no matter how much they fought against it.

As we made our way to the last venue of the night, I could feel the air shift. It was like something was drawing me to Marco without either of us realizing it. He was there, lurking in the background, his gaze never leaving me. The pull between us was undeniable, magnetic, dangerous.

By the time the night reached its peak, everything had changed. We didn't know it yet, but this was only the beginning. Our paths had crossed, and the collision of our worlds would ignite a storm neither of us was prepared for.

What was supposed to be just another night out in Beverly Hills had turned into something much bigger. A game of hide-and-seek had begun, and neither Marco nor I knew how it would end.