Serena

Toronto, Canada. Snowflakes drifted slowly over quiet sidewalks as the city wrapped itself in winter’s stillness. Tucked between two old stone buildings was a small, quiet bookstore—where time slowed down and no one asked questions. Serena Blackwood, 22 years old, stepped inside. She had honey-blonde hair that flowed down her back and ice-blue eyes that could freeze or burn. Beautiful, graceful, and deadly. Serena was the daughter of William Blackwood, one of the most feared mafia leaders in Canada. In the underworld, she was known as “Daddy’s Princess.” But behind the elegant clothes and flawless looks, she had been trained to fight, to survive, and to kill—if she had to. Because in her world, beauty was a weakness. And being William Blackwood’s daughter made her a target. Today, though, she wasn’t here to fight. She came for a book. A quiet moment. A breath. And that’s when she saw him. Tall—maybe 6'3". Black hair, slightly messy. Green eyes sharp like blades, calm like still water. Dressed in a black coat, with an unreadable expression. He didn’t look real. Serena froze mid-reach for a worn-out novel. He looked up. Their eyes locked. Time stopped. His name was Damien Vance, 25. What Serena didn’t know was that he was the son of Michael Vance, her father’s deadliest rival. A man who had been trying to destroy the Blackwood empire for years. Damien had been raised in hate, sharpened like a knife. He was born to take down men like William Blackwood. But he hadn’t expected her. He didn’t know her name. Only that she smelled like vanilla and danger. They exchanged a few words. Careful. Tense. Electric. She didn’t know who he was. He didn’t know who she was. But something started that day. Something that burned beneath the surface. They kept meeting at the bookstore. Silent glances. Almost-smiles. Both pretending not to feel what was growing between them. Damien tried to fight it. Tried to ignore the way her voice echoed in his head, th