Without wasting another second, they stepped into the jewelry store.
A soft chime echoed above the glass door, delicate and innocent compared to the heavy presence that followed them inside. The warmth of polished gold and velvet displays suddenly felt colder.
Behind the counter, the older shop owner looked up from the necklace he had been inspecting. The moment his eyes landed on the men in tailored black suits, his hands froze midair.
Money. Power. Trouble.
He had owned the little store for nearly thirty years, and men like these never entered quietly. Their expensive watches flashed beneath the lights, their polished shoes striking the marble floor with slow, deliberate confidence. Even the air around them felt dangerous.
The old man swallowed hard and quickly forced a smile onto his face.
"G-good evening, gentlemen," he greeted, his voice slightly shaky. "How may I help you today?"
