"Your greatest enemy will hide in the last place you will ever look." – Caesar

Chapter 1

It didn't take us long to get to the club. Even though it was located on the outskirts of town, Dionis was pretty popular, but not really safe. It had been raided by the police numerous times in the past, mostly due to the well-known fact that many drug dealers did their business there, among other things. To be fair, it was not like that was the only place in town where they operated, you could easily change the name of the city to Narcotown, and no one would even bat an eye, considering that nothing had ever been done to prevent those criminals from running their businesses

We paid for the ride and exited the vehicle. A wave of cold air hit my body and almost made me run after a cab, ready to go home. I thought I was about to die of hypothermia, which wouldn't even be that strange seeing as it was February and I was wearing typical short black dress paired with thigh-high boots that gave me no warmth at all.

Slowly, we came closer to the entrance of the club. Two strong-build men checked our IDs and let us in. I was confused because that was the first time we had to go through any kind of procedure.

 I should really reconsider my decision as soon as possible, preferably right now. 

Nevertheless, the four of us only exchanged glances and, with insecure steps, entered the club.

To start the night, we ordered shots of tequila. What Lena said earlier was nothing but the truth, I wasn't big alcohol fan, I had never really liked the taste of it, but there were times I let myself loose and drink a little. I guess this was one of those nights.

The moment Sarah and Emma finished their drinks, we went to the dance floor. Our form of dancing was a bit provocative. I loved the effect I had on people watching me but I wasn't really sure that I would be able to dance like that with a stranger, or anyone other than Emma for that matter. More often than not she was my partner-in-crime. I could only imagine the things people were thinking when they noticed us dancing that way. The content was definitely explicit, but we've never crossed boundaries. However, this time it was like there were almost no stares coming our way at all, and it wasn't so hard to understand why. Most girls were exactly like us, carefree and living their best life.

I think I'm starting to like this place. I thought

The night was in full swing when, suddenly, I felt someone put their arms around my waist. Utterly confused, I turned around and saw a pair of intense blue eyes looking directly into mine. I needed a moment to realize who that person was, and then it hit me. Luke, my university classmate. Very annoying university classmate. I smiled at him and was about to say Hi but I was rudely interrupted, once again. A moment later, I found myself praying for oxygen, as I was engulfed in a bear hug.

"Girls, we missed you!" I smiled as I realized who the potential killer was and immediately returned the hug. Victor, another one of my classmates. A little less annoying classmate.

"I can't say the same, but it was nice seeing you," I winked at him, but I doubted he even heard me, he was rather occupied as he was hugging Emma with such intimacy and gentleness it felt like the rest of us were interrupting something magical.

Victor and Emma  used to be high-school sweethearts. However, things didn't go as planned. We were sure that they still had feelings for each other, but they kept on denying it.

Suddenly, as I was watching lovebirds in action, I had this intense feeling that someone was watching me. I thought that that was just a cliché thing that only happened in books, but it felt pretty real to me. I couldn't tell where it came from, and that fact made my anxiety grow even more. The feeling was too strong.

I think my wish for adventure is starting to mess with my mind, Was all I could've think of at that moment

"So, Tara, what's up?" I looked at Luke as I was slowly coming back to reality. Emma and Victor were in their own world, and Sarah and Lena were long gone, leaving the two of us standing by ourselves.

Luke was a handsome young man. Tall and well-built with dark-brown hair and beautiful blue eyes that could make any woman swoon. All in all, he was a sight to be seen. Most girls would do whatever to be with him, at least while he had his mouth shut. Opening his mouth would surely pose a problem for his womanizing ways.

I rolled my eyes and left, knowing I was being rude, but I just couldn't stand him. I didn't really have a reason for that, it was just the fact that he had always given me a bad vibe. I was superficial like that.

The feeling of being stared at came back the moment I started walking to the exit of the club to get fresh air. This time, it was even more intense than before but I didn't have the strength to turn around and see who was looking at me. My arms started shaking and I was close to having an anxiety attack.

Finally, after some time that felt like eternity, I exited the club and soon found myself leaning against the bench so I could catch a breath. I didn't know why, but I felt like I was suffocating, like I was about to faint and lose control of my body. I was terrified of experiencing something like that. Losing control of oneself seemed like the worst thing that could ever happen. I didn't know what I was capable of, and I definitely didn't want to find out.

I could hear faint voices in the distance that stopped me from overthinking everything. Slowly, the voices amplified. I rashly turned around and saw two men on the verge of killing each other.

"Where's my money?" one of them screamed. He was of medium height, probably in his early thirties, bald, and built as he had just won WWE championship.

"I told you I've already given you your stupid money, you twat!" the other responded. Even I knew that was the last thing he should've done. Compared to the first guy, he looked helpless. He was tall but very skinny, I wondered if he even had food back home, although that probably wasn't his main worry at the moment.

"What did you say?" WWE guy got into his face and I swear I saw a droplet of sweat pouring down the skin of a poor guy.

"You heard me, you bald-headed imbecile," the skinny man spat in his face.

That was the exact moment when everything stopped. There were a lot of people surrounding them, watching the argument that would most likely end in the bloodbath and every single one of them held their breath in anticipation of what would the bald-guy's next move be.

He slowly raised his arm and wiped away the spit he still had on his face. His lips were curled in a  wicked smile that sent chills down my spine. Before I could even blink, he hit the other guy in the head and at that exact moment all hell broke loose. It seemed like that was what everyone was waiting for. People that surrounded them, mostly men, joined the fight, for reasons they probably didn't know. The whole thing turned into a brawl. I couldn't even tell who was getting beaten and who was winning.

I just stood there, confused and shocked, almost paralyzed. My body didn't even feel like it was my own, I couldn't move any part of it.

The only thing I could see was blood, so much blood. The faces of people fighting were soaked in it. They yelled, punched each other, cried. Chairs started flying around and I knew I should've left, but I wasn't able to move an inch. Never before had I witnessed something even remotely similar, so the way I was supposed to react was unknown to me.

Suddenly, for the third time that night, I felt those damn eyes on me. Was my next move consequence of the state of shock I was in, or some other reason, I would never find out, but that small movement was enough to disrupt my whole life.

I looked up and, right in front of me, leaning against the wall, stood probably the most perfect man I would see in my entire life, and his  gaze was fixed right on me. His dark-brown, nearly black, eyes held such intensity that I felt like I couldn't breathe. He was fascinating, so much so that I physically couldn't look away, it wasn't like he was letting me either.

I wasn't aware of how much time had passed, one second or the whole eternity, but after our little game of staring, he smiled at me. However, that wasn't the real, everyday, happy smile, no, his smile was promising. The kind of smile that urged me to come to him, no matter how wrong and dangerous it would be.

He turned his gaze to the brawl that was still going strong. His calmness shocked me, considering that fight was happening right in front of him. The body of some person was inches away from his foot, but he just stood there, like it meant nothing.

Up until that moment, I didn't even realize that he had a cigarette in his mouth. I've never really liked cigarettes, but the way he brought it closer to his lips and inhaled a bit, made me feel things I only read in books, things I've never felt before.

He was dressed in all black. From pants all the way up to a sweatshirt and leather jacket. He was wearing a hood over his head, but I could still see his emotionless face. He had strong and sharp features. He looked so cold, but in some strange way he put my body on fire. Fire I was craving for so long.

That thought brought me back to reality. I looked around me. My friends were nowhere in sight. The brawl was so destructive I couldn't even recognize body parts, and he, he was just leaning against the wall, smoking his cigarette, calm and disinterested. I wondered if there was a thing in this world that could trigger him to do something.

In a flash, he returned his gaze on me, and seeing me still in the same position, he started walking in my direction. The way he was staring at me sent a chill down my spine. Somehow, my legs decided to work for me again so I started walking backward right until I hit the very same bench I was leaning on just minutes before. I wasn't even surprised. Of course that something cliché like that would happen to me at this point.

There was nowhere I could go, and he was very aware of it. He enjoyed that he had me trapped, It was written all over his face.

He smirked. I had to admit to myself, he looked gorgeous.

I had no idea how he did it, but three steps later, he was invading my personal space. He was so close to me I could feel his warm breath on my face. I had to raise my head up so I could look him in the eyes. I wasn't short, my height was pretty normal for a 20-year-old girl, however, he was still way taller.

His cold eyes were already fixated on mine. He studied my face like it was some riddle he was supposed to solve.

"Name?" I needed a moment to realized that he was speaking to me. I shook the thoughts out of my head and frowned.

"I'm sorry?" I said. He smirked, again. I wondered if it was possible for someone to look so wicked and stunning at the same time.

"Your name," he repeated like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Tara," I whispered, having no idea why I even answered. Maybe I did it because my whole body screamed that he was not a man to joke with. He nodded his head and dreamily shifted his gaze somewhere behind me. It felt like there, on this cold night, on this colder world, were just him and me, nothing else mattered, not even the sounds of the ongoing battle a few meters away.

Why is this happening to me? I thought  He is just a stranger.

"Mateo," he said quietly.

I wanted so bad to hear his name coming from my lips in every possible moment and every possible way. Despite that inexplicable craving, I stayed silent, nodding my head as he did. Even that small movement felt like the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

I could barely hear sirens from police cars approaching us. If I was able to think about anything else at that point, I would probably wonder what took them so long. But no, I was mesmerized, his eyes bewitched me.

"See you soon, Tara," he emphasized my name. The way he said it made it clear that he made a promise, a promise that made me tremble.

He put his cigarette between his lips and inhaled a bit. Then he threw in on the floor and stepped on it. Slowly he lifted his head and looked me directly in my eyes, still standing too close for me to feel comfortable. After a while of his brown orbs staring at me, he blew smoke in my face and left, leaving me paralyzed.

I swear I have never seen something as hot as what he just did.

I felt hands on me, as my friends were trying to snap me out of my thoughts and take me home, but I wasn't really aware of my surrounding. It seemed like I was in delirium, the only things I could think about were his eyes and his promise. I knew that he would keep it.

I guess I just got what I was looking for.