Liana sat on the edge of her bed, her knees pulled up to her chest. The city lights flickered faintly through the large window, but her gaze was distant—lost in the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. The events of the night replayed in her mind like a broken record.
Adrian's cold, piercing eyes, the slight smirk on his lips, and the cruel amusement in his gaze kept haunting her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't erase the way his fingers had traced along her jaw with unsettling familiarity—both possessive and threatening.
Her fingers lightly brushed against the faint mark he had left on her wrist. She clenched her hand into a fist, trying to shake off the trembling.
"Get it together, Liana," she muttered under her breath.
But her body refused to obey. She could still feel the lingering chill of his touch. She had faced danger before, but nothing compared to the way Adrian Black made her feel—vulnerable, exposed, and utterly powerless.
---
At the Black Estate
Adrian sat in his office, a glass of whiskey in hand. His sharp gaze was fixed on the burning amber liquid, but his mind was elsewhere.
Leo walked in, his expression grim. "We found the tail," he said, tossing a small black device on the table.
Adrian's eyes narrowed. He picked up the tiny tracker and examined it. His lips curved into a cold smile. "Sloppy," he muttered.
Leo took a seat across from him, leaning forward slightly. "We traced it back to one of Scarlet's men. She's moving fast, Adrian. This was a warning."
Adrian's jaw tightened. Scarlet. He could almost hear her mocking laugh echoing in his ears. The woman was getting bolder.
"She knows too much," Leo continued, his voice low. "And she's not afraid to act."
Adrian placed the glass down and stood up, walking over to the large window. His eyes darkened.
"Then it's time we remind her who she's dealing with."
Leo's lips twitched into a faint smirk. "You're going after her yourself?"
Adrian turned to face him, his eyes cold and merciless. "No. Let her come to me."
---
Back at Liana's Apartment
Liana's phone buzzed for the third time in the last ten minutes, but she ignored it. She knew it was Eric, the persistent lawyer who had been trying to warn her ever since she returned from her disappearance.
With a sigh, she finally picked it up. "Eric, I'm fine. You don't have to keep checking in—"
"You're not fine," Eric cut her off sharply. His voice was tense, urgent. "Liana, I found something… something you need to see."
Her brows knitted. "What are you talking about?"
There was a brief silence before Eric's voice lowered. "It's about Adrian Black. His business deals… they're not just illegal, they're lethal. You have no idea who you're dealing with."
Her blood ran cold. Her fingers tightened around the phone. "I already know," she whispered.
Eric exhaled sharply. "No, you don't. You think you do, but it's worse. He's not just dangerous—he's untouchable. His hands are everywhere, Liana. He's controlling more than you realize."
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. She felt the chill crawl down her spine.
"Please," Eric pleaded. "Get out of there before it's too late."
But before she could respond, there was a loud knock at the door. She froze. Her eyes flickered toward the clock—1:15 a.m.
Who the hell was here at this hour?
Her fingers gripped the phone tighter. "Eric… someone's at my door."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Don't open it."
But the knocking grew louder, more insistent. Her hands trembled slightly as she tiptoed toward the door. She peered through the peephole.
Her heart stopped.
Adrian.
He stood there, dressed in a black shirt and dark slacks, his gaze cold and penetrating.
"Open the door, Liana." His voice was calm but laced with quiet authority.
Her breath caught in her throat. She didn't move.
"Now," he added, sharper this time.
Her hand hovered over the lock, her instincts screaming at her to back away. But her fingers disobeyed, trembling slightly as they unlocked the door.
Adrian pushed the door open, stepping inside with an air of dominance. His tall frame loomed over her, making the apartment feel smaller.
Her throat went dry. "What are you doing here?"
He closed the door behind him slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. "I warned you about running, didn't I?"
She took a step back, but he moved forward, eliminating the distance. His eyes were darker than she had ever seen. "You disobeyed me."
Her back hit the wall. Her hands were slightly trembling, but she lifted her chin defiantly. "I don't belong to you, Adrian."
A dangerous smirk tugged at his lips. He leaned in, his breath warm against her skin.
"That's where you're wrong, Liana."
Her pulse quickened as his fingers lightly traced her jaw. His eyes burned into hers with an intensity that left her breathless.
"You already do."
---
Elsewhere – In the Shadows
Scarlet sat in the dimly lit room, her fingers drumming against the armrest. Her lips curled into a wicked smile as she stared at the images flashing across the multiple screens in front of her.
She zoomed in on one particular frame—the live feed of Adrian entering Liana's apartment. Her eyes narrowed with cold satisfaction.
"You won't win this time, Adrian," she whispered darkly. "Not when I hold all the cards."
She leaned back, swirling the glass of wine in her hand, her eyes glittering with malice.
"Let the game begin."
---
See you in next chapter