The city looked peaceful from Renzo Valenti's penthouse.
Four Years later, Elara would realize that was the last night the city ever felt safe.
Lights stretched across the horizon like scattered stars. From the balcony, everything felt distant. Quieter. Almost unreal.
Elara leaned against the railing, her bare feet cold against the stone floor. The wind brushed loose strands of hair across her cheek. Behind her, she heard the balcony door slide open.
Bare footsteps followed.
Renzo stepped onto the balcony, closing the door behind him. The warm light from the bedroom faded, leaving them wrapped in the soft darkness of the night. Tall, broad-shouldered, his dark hair still damp from the shower, Renzo Valenti moved like someone who had never doubted his place in the world.
"You're avoiding me," he said.
Elara didn't turn around. "I'm enjoying the view."
Renzo stepped beside her, resting his forearms on the railing. "You've been 'enjoying the view' for ten minutes."
"Maybe I like the view more than your company."
He tilted his head slightly, studying her face. "You're lying."
"I am not."
"You always wrinkle your nose when you lie."
She immediately smoothed her expression. Renzo smiled. "See?"
Elara rolled her eyes, her voice softening. "You're leaving tomorrow."
Renzo didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked out across the city, the wind shifting his hair. "Just a few weeks," he said.
"You said that last time."
"And I came back."
She raised an eyebrow. "After three months."
Elara turned away from him. But he moved silently, stepping behind her. She felt his warm hands settle on her waist, pulling her gently back against his chest. His body pressed lightly against her back. Warm and solid.
"That's not helping your argument," she murmured.
"It's not meant to."
"Then what is?"
He paused, his voice lowering.
"Making sure you don't hate me before I leave."
The words settled between them, heavier than they should have been.
His chin rested lightly on her shoulder, his breath brushing the side of her neck. For a moment, neither of them moved.
Elara swallowed. Instead of arguing, she asked the question that had been sitting in her chest all evening. "Why do you have to go?"
Renzo's jaw tightened slightly. "Business." He said.
She looked away. "I hate that word."
"I know."
She turned in his arms. He brushed her hair back, his touch gentler than his reputation allowed. "You worry too much," he told her.
"That's because you don't worry enough."
Renzo chuckled quietly. "That's not true."
"When was the last time you were afraid of anything?"
He thought.
"Elevators."
She stared. "Seriously?"
"They get stuck sometimes."
"You carry a gun."
"That doesn't help with elevators."
Elara shook her head, smiling despite herself. "You're unbelievable."
"Yet you're still here."
Before she could reply, Renzo's phone buzzed on the table near the door. He glanced at the screen. Something dark flickered in his eyes, gone just as quickly, before he flipped the phone face down. Elara noticed.
"You're ignoring it?" She asked.
"It can wait."
"That's unusual."
"Tonight is unusual."
She studied him. Renzo Valenti was not a man who ignored calls, especially not after midnight. "Is something wrong?" she asked.
"No."
"You hesitated."
"I blinked."
"That was not a blink."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice slightly. "You're interrogating me on my own balcony."
"I'm concerned."
"You're suspicious."
"Maybe."
Renzo's gaze softened. "You shouldn't be."
"Your life is literally made of reasons to be suspicious."
"That's unfair."
"You once told me someone tried to poison your uncle."
"He deserved it."
"That doesn't help."
Renzo laughed again, the sound low and warm.
"You think too much."
"And you think too little."
"That's why we balance each other."
For a moment they simply looked at each other.
Then Renzo pulled her closer. Elara's hands rested instinctively against his chest. His hand slid to her waist.
"You'll miss me," he said quietly.
"I absolutely will not."
"You checked your phone six times tonight."
"I was checking the time."
"You were checking for me."
She opened her mouth to argue, then stopped. His thumb traced slowly along the curve of her jaw. The touch was gentle, but it sent a wave of heat through her.
Renzo smirked. "Exactly."
He leaned down and kissed her before she could recover. It wasn't rushed or demanding; it was slow, warm, and familiar, The kind of kiss that dissolved
arguments. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt as it deepened.
When they finally pulled apart, her breath had changed.
The world felt far away. Without warning, Renzo lifted her easily into his arms. She let out a soft laugh of surprise as he carried her inside, setting her down on the edge of the wide bed. The movement was effortless and confident, like everything he did.
Elara leaned back slightly on her hands, looking up at him. "You're very sure of yourself tonight."
"Always."
He stepped closer, standing between her knees. He was close enough that she had to tilt her head back to hold his gaze.
"You can still change your mind," he said .