Fate's Collision

Chapter 1: Fate’s Collision

The city of Raventhorn was a place of sharp contrasts—glittery skyscrapers and dark alleyways, high society masked in corruption, and the underworld that thrived beneath it all. It was a city that never truly slept, and neither did its demons.

Emily James had always kept her distance from the shadows that lurked in the Raventhorn. A journalism student with big dreams, she believed in truth, justice, and the power of stories to change the world. But fate had a way of rewriting even the best-planned stories.

An Accidental Encounter

Emily pulled her jacket tighter against the cool night breeze as she walked toward her car. The streets near the upscale district were quieter than usual, but she hardly noticed. She had spent hours at a café, lost in her work, researching the recent surge of violence in the city. There were whispers of a rising mafia war, and though she wasn’t supposed to get involved, her curiosity wouldn’t let her walk away.

As she neared the parking lot, a sudden crash made her freeze. The sound of metal scraping against concrete echoed in the empty streets. Her breath hitched as she turned the corner, coming face to face with a scene she was never meant to witness.

A man stood in the dim glow of a street lamp, his tall, imposing figure outlined against the night. His dark hair was tousled, and his shirt was slightly unbuttoned, revealing a glimpse of a tattoo across his collarbone. His knuckles were bruised, his stance unwavering.

At his feet, another man groaned in pain, blood trickling from his temple. A knife glinted on the pavement, just out of reach.

Emily’s heart pounded. She knew who he was. Everyone in the Raventhorn knew his name.

Sam Wisely.

The city’s most feared mafia leader.

Their eyes met. His piercing gaze locked onto hers, and for a moment, neither of them moved.

Then, in a voice as smooth as silk yet laced with danger, he spoke.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

A Dangerous Warning

Emily’s instinct screamed at her to run, but her feet were glued to the ground.

“I—I didn’t mean to—” she stammered, gripping her phone in her trembling hands.

Sam’s eyes flickered to the device, and in an instant, he moved. Before she could react, he was standing inches from her, his fingers wrapping around her wrist with surprising gentleness, yet firm enough to send a warning.

“Did you take a picture?”

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head.

His grip tightened slightly before he leaned in, his breath warm against her skin. “You’re lying.”

Emily swallowed hard. “I swear, I didn’t.”

For a long, tense moment, he studied her, as if trying to decide whether she was worth the trouble of eliminating. The thought made her stomach twist.

Finally, he released her.

“Forget what you saw,” he murmured, stepping back. “And don’t ever follow shadows that aren’t meant for you.”

With that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the night as if he had never been there.

A Curiosity That Should Have Died

Emily stood frozen for what felt like an eternity before finally exhaling. Her fingers trembled as she unlocked her phone. She hadn’t taken a picture—but the image of Sam Wisely, dangerous yet oddly captivating, was burned into her mind.

She should have listened to his warning.

She should have walked away.

But she didn’t.

Because the moment their eyes met, something inside her had shifted.

And she was about to learn that once you step into the world of the mafia, there is no turning back.

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