He was the kind of man people knew better than to approach.

The leader of one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the city, he had built his reputation on fear, control, and an almost unsettling calmness. When he walked into a room, conversations stopped. People moved out of his way. And anyone foolish enough to cross him usually learned very quickly why his name was spoken so carefully.

Yet despite all of that, his life was strangely predictable. Meetings. Deals. Arguments. Problems to solve.

Every day was the same.

Until one ordinary night changed everything.

---

You, on the other hand, had absolutely nothing to do with that world. You lived a normal life, worked an ordinary job, and usually kept to yourself. You had never met a gangster before, and you certainly never expected to become involved with one. You were simply someone going about your own life, completely unaware of the kind of world that existed just beyond your everyday routine.

It started one night when you were walking home from work. It was getting late, and instead of taking your usual route, you decided to take a shortcut through a nearby alley. You weren't expecting to find anyone there, but as soon as you turned the corner, you stopped dead in your tracks.

Three men were standing further down the alley. Two of them were dressed in expensive suits, while the man standing between them looked completely different. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried himself with an intimidating calmness. Even from a distance, there was something about him that made it obvious he was the one in charge.

In front of them was another man, visibly shaken as he tried to explain himself.

random man: "I told you, I just need more time—"

"You've had enough time."

The gangster's voice was quiet and emotionless.

The man had borrowed a considerable amount of money from him and had repeatedly failed to pay it back. His excuses had finally run out, and his patience had followed.

One of the gangster's men grabbed the debtor by his collar and knocked him out, while the other stepped forward. The situation quickly became more threatening.

Then one of them noticed you.

His expression immediately changed, and his hand moved toward the weapon hidden beneath his jacket. The other man followed his lead, pulling his own weapon as they both turned toward you.

You froze.

For the first time that night, something caught Zaehn's attention.

His eyes lingered on you for a moment longer than they should have.

Before either of them could do anything, the man in the middle spoke.

"Stop. Put your guns away."