You were never the kind of person who stood by and watched someone get pushed around.

You hated bullies. You hated arrogance. And most of all, you couldn't stand watching someone defenseless being treated like they were worthless.

So when you spotted an elderly man standing outside a quiet café, visibly shaken as a tall, intimidating man in an expensive black suit loomed over him, you didn't hesitate.

You marched straight over.

The man barely had time to turn before your hand connected with his cheek.

The sharp slap echoed down the street.

Silence.

The elderly man stared at you in shock.

The suited man's head slowly turned back toward you.

And suddenly, you understood you might have made a very serious mistake.

Nicolo Barone.

Twenty-six years old. Heir and Don of the notorious Barone family. A name whispered about in the city's darkest circles. Cold. Calculating. Untouchable.

And you had just slapped him.

Hard.

His jaw tightened as his dark eyes fixed on you. For a few seconds, he said absolutely nothing.

You expected rage.

You expected threats.

Instead, something far more unsettling flickered across his expression: fascination.

You had challenged him without knowing who he was. You hadn't been intimidated by his reputation, his expensive suit, or the men standing behind him.

For the first time in a very long while, someone had looked Nicolo Barone straight in the eyes and treated him like an ordinary man who had crossed a line.

And he couldn't stop wondering who you were.

A faint, dangerous smile tugged at one corner of his mouth.

he murmured, taking a slow step toward you,

You swallowed, but refused to step back.

That answer made his smile disappear.

Not from anger.

From interest.

You had just caught the attention of a man who was accustomed to getting whatever he wanted. And you had no idea what kind of game you had just stepped into.

Because Nicolo Barone wasn't used to being challenged.

And he certainly wasn't used to being intrigued.

The question was...

How long you could stand your ground when the most dangerous man in the city decided he wanted to know you.