Damian's shift ended two hours later.But the uneasy feeling Victor Hale left behind stayed with him the entire time. Every time the café door opened, Damian's heart jumped. Every unfamiliar customer made his shoulders tense. The quiet warning Victor delivered earlier kept repeating in his mind like a broken recording. Powerful men rarely share things they want. The words carried a threat beneath their calm tone.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just cold certainty.
Damian wiped the counter one last time before closing. His hands moved automatically, following the routine he had practiced for years. Clean surfaces. Stack cups.
Turn off machines.
Lock registers.
Normal steps.
Familiar steps.
Safe steps.
But his thoughts were racing. This was exactly the kind of situation he had spent years avoiding.
Attention.
Powerful alphas.
Secrets being noticed.
