Mine to Burn Playing Games

...

Meanwhile upstairs

Mathías walked out of the glass room, brushing past his guards with a curt nod.

His jaw was tight, and his head slightly ached from meeting, but something else nagged at him.

He scanned the crowd out of habit.

Then stopped cold.

Red.

The woman at the bar.

She was laughing at something the bartender said. A soft, sultry laugh that scraped something buried inside his memory.

Mathías Reyes (ML)

(No.)

Mathías Reyes (ML)

(It couldn’t be.)

Mathías Reyes (ML)

*moved down the stairs slowly*

Mathías Reyes (ML)

*eyes locked on her*

Her profile, that mouth, those eyes—but… different. Colder. Sharper. A woman now. But if it was really her…

His steps were silent as he reached the bar.

She didn't even turn.

Mathías Reyes (ML)

*stepped beside her*

Mathías Reyes (ML)

You always drink alone?

She blinked and turned, giving him a bored once-over.

Lyssa Abramov (FL)

Oh *said with perfect indifference*

Lyssa Abramov (FL)

Do I know you?

Mathías Reyes (ML)

*brows knit slightly*

Mathías Reyes (ML)

You look familiar.

Lyssa Abramov (FL)

*sipped her drink with a lazy smile*

Lyssa Abramov (FL)

I get that a lot.

Mathías Reyes (ML)

*eyes narrowed*

Mathías Reyes (ML)

(That voice. That grin. That smug little tilt of the chin. It had to be her. But…)

Something was off.

Mathías Reyes (ML)

Lyssa? *tested*

Lyssa Abramov (FL)

*arched an eyebrow*

Lyssa Abramov (FL)

Is that your girlfriend’s name?

He stared at her, disarmed for the first time in a long time.

Mathías Reyes (ML)

(Is she messing with me? Is this a game?)

Mathías Reyes (ML)

(Or have I finally lost my damn mind?)

Mathías Reyes (ML)

(She looks like her. But... colder.)

Mathías Reyes (ML)

(Not the girl who used to look at me like I hung the stars.)

Mathías Reyes (ML)

(This one looks like she’d devour me whole and lick her fingers clean.)

She slid the rest of her drink toward the bartender.

Lyssa Abramov (FL)

Another. This one’s gone flat.

Lyssa Abramov (FL)

*turned to Mathías*

Lyssa Abramov (FL)

*smiles sweetly* Unless you’re planning to buy it, stranger?

He stared at her for one more second.

Then signaled the bartender.

Mathías Reyes (ML)

Put it on my tab. ❄❄

Lyssa Abramov (FL)

Thanks. Very… gentlemanly of you.

Lyssa leaned against the bar with effortless grace, fingers curling around her second drink.

She sipped it like she had all the time in the world.

Her eyes didn’t spare Mathías a single glance after that.

She didn’t need to.

Because his eyes never left her.

Mathías stood beside her, arms folded, back straight—visibly indifferent but inwardly... watching.

Every. Damn. Move.

The way her lips wrapped around the glass, the curve of her smile when she replied to the bartender

The soft shake of her shoulders when she laughed at something only she found funny.

Mathías Reyes (ML)

(She’s playing me.)

Mathías Reyes (ML)

(I don’t know how, or why, but this is a game.)

Mathías Reyes (ML)

(And I don’t like being the one caught in it.)

A figure slid in beside him. Luis, his second-in-command

Luis Pérez (ML Right-hand)

Damn, she’s dangerous-looking. *said with a grin*

Mathías Reyes (ML)

*didn’t respond*

Mathías Reyes (ML)

*jaw ticked slightly*

Luis Pérez (ML Right-hand)

*nudged him* If you like her, jefe, want me to have her... escorted to your car?

Luis Pérez (ML Right-hand)

*smirked* We’ve kidnapped people for far worse reasons.

Mathías turned slowly to face him, dark eyes glinting like steel.

Mathías Reyes (ML)

No. ❄

Luis Pérez (ML Right-hand)

*raised a brow* No?

Mathías Reyes (ML)

*tone dropped even lower*

Mathías Reyes (ML)

I’m not interested. ❄❄

Luis gave a slow, mocking nod, trying to contain the grin creeping up his face.

Luis Pérez (ML Right-hand)

Claro... [Okay] *drawled*

Luis Pérez (ML Right-hand)

Not interested. Got it.

Luis Pérez (ML Right-hand)

(Right. Not interested.)

Luis Pérez (ML Right-hand)

(￢‿￢ )

Luis Pérez (ML Right-hand)

(Then why are your eyes glued to her like she’s your last breath of air?)

Luis Pérez (ML Right-hand)

(Someone’s lying tonight, jefe. And it ain’t me~)

____________________