I'm pretty damn good at what I do – calculating, accurate, and always a few steps ahead. But there's this one golden rule I've sworn by: never blend business with pleasure.

In a city where the neon lights blur the line between right and immoral, I'm just a man of shadows. Known in the underworld as a relentless operative, I'd do anything to keep Nate safe. A mission that's become my life's purpose.

But then he walked into my world.

Jimin, not particularly tall at 1.74 meters, but every inch the temptation I should have steered clear of. In my line of work, allure spells nothing but trouble, a dangerous distraction I can't afford.

Yet, every time I'd step into his bakery, the sweet scent of freshly baked pastries and the warmth of his smile would unravel the carefully constructed walls around my heart.

That's the thing about temptation. It's an irresistible energy that even the most effective willpower can't suppress.

So there I stood, vowing to myself that I wouldn't cross that line. But fate, as they say, has an ironic sense of temper. It tossed us together, straining my resolve with every stolen glimpse, every accidental brush of our hands. The lure was undeniable, a magnetic force more substantial than any I'd ever experienced.

Then came that fatal night, the night I closed the door to a safe house behind us, the outside world fading into nowheresville. Denial wasn't an option anymore. I wanted him, I needed him.

But what I didn't anticipate was the looming darkness, lurking far closer than I'd ever realized. It made me want to pull him closer, shield him from the impending storm.

When danger came knocking at our doorstep, when Jimin's life swung in the balance, I made a vow - nothing, absolutely nothing, would come between me and keeping him safe.

I'm cruel. I'm tainted. I'll always be a killer.

But what happens when a killer becomes ensnared by the one he's sworn to protect?