Fever dream

Beth's living room was dead quiet, thick with the kind of tension that followed a truly spectacular screw-up. The air itself felt heavy, almost suffocating, broken only by the soft, rhythmic creak of old floorboards as the dangerous man, Rio, shifted his weight.

Then, the front door burst open, and a voice, far too bright for the suffocating atmosphere, chirped, "Hey, I brought lunch!"

Hayden Marks strolled in, a paper bag of takeout in one hand, a tray of sodas in the other. His blond hair was perfectly swept, catching the sunlight like a halo. He scanned the room, his light blue eyes widening as he took in the scene: his sisters, Ruby, and the stranger who now held everyone captive with his quiet presence. Hayden froze.

"Uh..." he managed, an awkward smile plastered on his face. Beth lunged forward, a frantic whisper escaping her lips. "Hayden, no—Go. Go back to your car, okay?"

But it was too late. Rio's eyes, cool and assessing, had already fixed on him.