Ava walked beside Dominic through the cobbled streets, her steps light and easy, her ponytail swinging slightly behind her with every bounce.
The morning sunlight danced through the tree canopies, filtering golden specks across the pavement.
She wore a soft smile, one that hadn't graced her lips in a long time. Something about the air, the unhurried pace, the color of the buildings and the soft hum of local chatter made her feel free.
She turned her head as they passed a flower stall bursting with every color imaginable. She stopped.
"Oh… this is gorgeous," she breathed, eyes wide.
Dominic followed her gaze, watching as she crouched a little to touch a sunflower.
"You like flowers," he said, almost rhetorically.
"Obviously," she replied, laughing. "I do run a flower shop, remember?"
He gave a subtle smile. She looked alive.
They continued walking, passing small art exhibits, street musicians, and cozy local cafes nestled into alleys with ivy creeping down the walls. Every time she spotted something interesting, she'd tug Dominic's sleeve slightly. She wasn't aware of the habit, but he noticed every time.
They stopped at a little artisan market. Ava tried on hand-woven hats and silver bangles, and Dominic dramatically gave his opinion. He nodded each time, giving vague monosyllables. It didn't matter what he said. She was laughing.
She was happy.
And for once, so was he.
---
Dominic POV
He had planned this beforehand.
The moment she had agreed to walk with him, he spent the his time reviewing online blogs, forums, and local directories for the perfect route.
"Places girls enjoy on travel…" "Hidden gems couples love visiting…" "Safe sightseeing locations near orion."
He wasn't sure what category they fell into, but he had curated every stop.
And yet, he hadn't expected her to enjoy it this much.
Dominic glanced sideways at her as they walked. Her eyes sparkled. Her cheeks were tinged with color. The city looked good on her.
But this wasn't just any city.
This… was where they had met.
She didn't remember. And maybe that was a blessing.
He remembered it too clearly.
The night of chaos. A case gone wrong. Her stumbling into his line of fire. His fury. Her fearless eyes. And later—
The decision to erase her memory.
A breath caught in his throat. Even now, the guilt clung to his chest like a shadow. But he buried it under the image of her smiling beside a fountain, throwing a coin in while making a wish.
He didn't ask what she wished for. But in a selfish moment, he hoped it included him.
---
They stopped at a rooftop restaurant by late afternoon. The view of the city spread endlessly in front of them. Mountains in the distance. The lake to the west shimmered under the fading sun.
They were seated in a private booth, linen curtains dancing slightly in the breeze.
"This place is breathtaking," Ava said, sipping a fresh lemonade.
"So are you," he murmured.
She froze, blinking.
Dominic didn't repeat himself. He just continued skimming the menu. She stared at him, unsure if he'd really said it. Her cheeks warmed involuntarily.
Their food arrived. They ate, laughed, teased each other about weird food preferences. Dominic even stole a bite off her plate, grinning mischievously.
When she stood to go to the restroom, she gave him a look. "Don't run away. I have a dessert to steal."
Dominic gave a smirk. "It's all yours including mine ."
She giggled and disappeared around the corner.
---
But she never came back.
Minutes passed. Then ten. Then fifteen.
Dominic frowned, stood, and went to check.
The waitress said no one was inside the restroom.
Alarm prickled in his veins. He checked the back exits. Nothing. He pulled his phone, traced her location. Signal—gone.
Vanished.
He swore, eyes narrowing.
---
Ava awoke to darkness.
Her forehead throbbed, and her mouth tasted like rust. When she tried to move, a sharp sting shot down her arm—her wrists and ankles were bound tightly. She traced the rough rope, panic lancing through her chest.
Where am I?
Her eyelids fluttered as dim light seeped in—from a small barred window—or was it a crack in the wall? The room was silent except for the distant hum of electricity and the faint drip of water. Something smelled musty… stale.
===
Raiden entered, his steps measured. He wore a black suit so crisp it contrasted with the cold gray walls. In his hand, he held a small vial—something he turned over softly between his fingers.
"Good. You're awake," he said, voice smooth as velvet yet chilling beneath the surface. He crouched and spoke low. "I hope you found the sightseeing enchanting. Your effortless laughter…it reminded me how radiant you can be."
Ava's gaze sharpened. "Raiden," she hissed, straining against her bonds. "What do you want?"
He chuckled, rising. "Straight to business, as always. How very boss-like of you." He let the word linger in the air. "But tonight… I want a moment alone with you. No masks, no fake names. Just you."
He crouched before her, pulling off the gag.
"I didn't expect to find you here. But fate works in beautiful ways."
Ava narrowed her eyes. Her voice cracked but was firm. "What do you want?"
He leaned in, brushing a finger across her cheek. She jerked her head away.
"Oh, darling. I just want you. And you…." he grabbing her chin forcefully said "happen to come to the hell where you had once escaped from"
"And this time I won't let you go" He smirked.
Ava closed her eyes, forcing herself to breathe. Her heart pounded—less from fear, more from confusing recognition. There was something hauntingly familiar in his gaze.
"What do you mean, alone with me?" she whispered.
Raiden circled her slowly. "I've watched you. From the moment you stepped into that upscale rooftop. The way you looked at flowers, the flicker in your eyes. It's… mesmerizing."
"No one gets obsessed overnight," she said, voice trembling yet defiant.
He smiled—calm, predatory. "Oh, I've waited longer than that."
He paused, then crouched again, pressing the vial to her nose. "This… will erase part of your confusion. It'll bring clarity—reminders of things you'd buried."
Ava's breath caught. "You can't—"
"That's not for you to decide," he murmured. "But by the end of tonight, you'll know why you're mine—and why Dominic erased your memory."
Flashes ruptured through her mind: a woman's scream, a car slamming, Dominic's anguished voice… and then a deliberate act: his hand covering her mouth.
Ava gasped, the rope burned against her skin.
"Don't fight it… embrace the truth," Raiden whispered.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
---
Back at the restaurant
Dominic stood on the rooftop, his knuckles white around the phone.
"Track her. I want every camera in the district. I want street feeds. I want faces.If you have to turn the city upside down do it. I want to know where she is?"
He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to.
His aura was thunder.
His voice was cold stark contrast to how he usually his voice was.
As he turned to leave, his phone buzzed.
One image. A still frame.
A man holding Ava by the arm, pushing her into a black maserati. Raiden.
Dominic's jaw clenched.
He had a feeling that raiden was upto no good.
And his instincts were right.
---