b. She'd stood under the scalding water for twenty minutes, watching the pink swirl of blood vanish down the drain, scrubbing her skin like it could erase the memory. But it hadn't. It

mething far more dangerous. Curiosity. Fascination. Hunger. Nico DeLuca was lethal. Everyone in this city knew his name. The man had more blood on his hands than the gutters outside this crumbling apartment. He was cold, calculated, probably cruel. But that night, he had looked at her like she mattered. Like she wasn't invisible. Like she wasn't just the girl behind the bar. And Ava hadn't realized until that moment how badly she craved to be seen. She cursed and turned over, burying her face in the pillow. Her body was betraying her-heat curled low in her stomach, her chest tight with something she couldn't name. Not quite desire. Not yet. But it was close. God, she hated that. It was ridiculous. Stupid. Dangerous. Men like Nico weren't safe. They didn't feel. They didn't love. And yet... His voice had curled in her ear like it belonged there. Deep. Calm. In control. Even bleeding out, he hadn't panicked. He had looked at her like she wasn't just a woman trying to help, but a weapon he hadn't expected to find. Ava pushed herself up and sa