Morning sunlight filled the café.
Aria moved gracefully between tables, delivering drinks and greeting customers.
Her soft laughter blended with the quiet jazz music playing from the speakers.
Everything about her seemed gentle.
Peaceful.
Normal.
Across the street, a black car remained parked quietly.
Inside the vehicle, Dante Ravencroft watched through the tinted window.
His eyes followed every movement she made.
The way she smiled.
The way she spoke politely to customers.
The way she tilted her head slightly when listening.
Every detail matched the memory he carried.
The girl who once saved his life.
But something about the situation didn't make sense.
Why would someone like her work in a small café?
Why had she disappeared after that night years ago?
Dante closed the tablet slowly.
He didn't have answers yet.
But one thing was certain.
Aria Vale was no longer just a coincidence.
From today onward…
He would watch her carefully.
Protectively.
Silently.
Because the world had become far more dangerous lately.
And somewhere in that same city…
A masked ghost known as Dark Nexus continued preparing for war.
Unaware that two of the most dangerous men alive…
Had begun moving toward her.
For very different reasons.