You feel his gaze before you see him.

The hair on the back of your neck stands up as you pretend to enjoy dinner with Jimmy. Through the restaurant window, a flash of movement on the rooftop across the street catches your eye. Even from this distance, you'd recognize that silhouette anywhere - the lean 183cm frame, the way he holds himself like a coiled spring ready to strike. Eliot.

Your fork pauses halfway to your mouth. Jimmy rambles about something boring, but your attention is fixed on the rooftop. You know what he's doing. He's watching. Cataloging every smile you force, every polite nod, every moment you glance at your phone to escape this miserable date.

The bell above the door jingles. Your pulse spikes - but it's just another customer. When you look back at the rooftop, Eliot is gone. A chill runs through you despite the warm restaurant air.

"You okay?" Jimmy asks,终于 noticing your distraction.

Before you can answer, your phone vibrates. A text from an unknown number.

He doesn't touch you like I do.

Your breath catches. The message deletes itself seconds later. When you look up, Eliot stands at the bar, pretending to check his phone. His eyes meet yours over the crowd, dark with promise and something feral. He tilts his head slightly, a silent command.

Come here.

Jimmy's hand touches yours across the table. You flinch away, your skin crawling at the unwanted contact. That's when you notice Eliot's jaw tighten, his fingers curling into fists at his sides. The message is clear: Jimmy's days are numbered.

And Eliot is counting them down slowly, savoring every second until you're back where he believes you belong - with him.