The moment Adrian left, the air in Elena's suite felt thinner — like her lungs couldn't figure out how to work without him dominating the room. That unsettled her. No man should have that much effect on her. Not after what life had turned her into… someone who only relied on herself.
But tonight cracked something in her.
She pressed trembling fingers to her lips, still feeling the ghost of his breath, the warmth of his presence, the promise in his voice.
"I don't break what's mine."
Mine.
The word shouldn't thrill her.
A knock tore through the silence.
Elena stiffened. "Adrian?"
No response.
Another knock. More urgent.
She slid her knife from beneath the pillow — a habit formed from too many nights running, hiding, surviving — and approached the door quietly.
"Who is it?" she called.
"It's me." A familiar voice — soft, nervous.
Elena exhaled. Kai.
She unlocked the door, but left the chain on. "What do you want?"
He shifted anxiously, gaze flicking down the hallway. "Can I come in? Please? It's important."
Elena hesitated — until she saw the bruise forming on his cheekbone.
Her eyes widened. "Who hit you?"
Kai swallowed, eyes full of fear. "It's not safe to talk out here."
She unlatched the chain and opened the door fully.
The second he stepped inside, he collapsed into one of the chairs, hands shaking. Elena put the knife down but didn't move far from it.
"Kai… what happened?"
"It's Adr—" He stopped himself instantly, flinching like he'd said something forbidden.
Elena's pulse spiked.
"Adrian?" she finished for him.
Kai paled.
"You don't know who he really is," he whispered.
Elena folded her arms, forcing calm. "Then enlighten me."
Kai shook his head violently. "No… I shouldn't have come. They'll kill me if they know—"
"Kai." Elena stepped closer, jaw tightening. "You came here for a reason. Tell me."
He looked up — and the terror in his eyes chilled her.
"You said you were running from something, right?" he asked.
Elena froze.
"…Yes."
Kai breathed out, like a man confirming his worst fear.
"He's the one."
Elena's heart stopped.
What?
She let out a laugh — strained and incredulous. "That's ridiculous. Adrian saved me. Adrian—"
"Saved you so he could keep you," Kai interrupted. "He doesn't rescue people unless they're useful. Or unless…" He hesitated.
"Unless what?" Elena demanded.
Kai lowered his voice.
"Unless he wants to own them."
Elena's stomach twisted.
"That's absurd," she snapped — but doubt crept like poison.
Kai pushed up his sleeve — revealing deep, faint scars. Chains. Restraints. Shackles.
"I belonged to him." Kai's voice cracked. "There's no escaping Adrian Blackwell once he marks you."
Elena staggered back.
"No," she whispered. "You're wrong."
Kai shook his head. "I wish I was. He's the only son of the Blackwell Syndicate. King of the underworld. He controls governments, militaries — everything. Everyone fears him."
Elena's fingers trembled. "Then why would he help me?"
Kai swallowed. "Because you're important. Someone placed a huge bounty on you. Everyone wants you dead… except him. And when Adrian wants something…"
He met her gaze — hopeless, resigned.
"He keeps it."
Elena stumbled to the window, gripping the frame as panic clawed up her throat. She tried to breathe — but air refused to come.
Her safe house hadn't been safe. Not from him. He knew who she was. What she was running from.
"Why are you telling me this?" she whispered.
"Because I…" Kai's voice cracked, shame flooding his tone. "I tried to warn others before. They're all gone now."
Elena turned slowly. The world felt like it was tilting.
Kai's eyes shimmered — a silent plea. "Please, Elena. You need to run."
Elena's throat tightened. "I've been running my whole life."
Kai stepped forward, gripping her shoulders. "Then run faster."
Her heart pounded so hard she thought she might pass out.
Everything in her wanted to deny it. Adrian — the man who wrapped her in his coat, who held her like she wasn't broken — couldn't be a monster.
Could he?
A sharp beep echoed — and Kai froze.
A blinking light glowed under the collar of his shirt.
Elena's eyes widened. "Kai… what is that?"
He looked as though he might be sick. "A tracker. He knows I'm here."
Elena cursed.
"What do we do?" she hissed.
"We hide," Kai whispered.
Too late.
The lights flickered.
Then everything went silent.
The hotel electronics powered down — complete blackout.
Kai grabbed Elena's wrist in terror. "This is what he does. He cuts off all exits. He—"
A digital lock clicked on the door.
A slow, deliberate sound.
The door opened.
Adrian stood there.
Black suit. Cold eyes. A predator released from its cage.
Not a single trace of the warmth he showed her before.
"Get your hands off her." His voice was lethal.
Kai released Elena instantly — staring at Adrian like a wild animal cornered.
"Please…" Kai breathed. "Don't—"
Adrian pressed a button on a small remote in his hand.
Pain shot through Kai — he screamed and collapsed, convulsing as a shock ripped through the tracker embedded in his neck.
Elena tried to rush toward him, but Adrian stepped in front of her, blocking her path with an extended arm.
"Don't touch him," Adrian commanded.
Elena shoved his chest. "Stop it! You're killing him!"
Adrian caught her wrists, grip steel-strong. "I warned him what would happen if he touched what belongs to me."
"What belongs to you?" Elena spat, fury rising. "I don't belong to anyone."
His jaw ticked.
"You do," Adrian said — quiet but terrifyingly sure. "And deep down, you know it."
"No." Elena glared up at him. "You only helped me so you could trap me."
Adrian leaned in — eyes burning with a dark truth.
"No. I helped you so I could protect you."
A dangerous pause.
"Because someone powerful wants you dead. And I'd rather destroy the world than let them touch a single hair on your head."
Elena trembled — trapped between terror and the pull toward him she couldn't stop.
Kai groaned on the ground — barely conscious.
Adrian's voice dropped lower, darker.
"You should be thanking me, Elena."
Another click — the tracker stopped shocking Kai.
"But instead… you're listening to a coward who already betrayed me once."
Kai whimpered. Elena flinched.
Adrian stepped closer, hand sliding up to cup her jaw — gentle and possessive all at once.
"And now," he whispered, lips inches from hers,
"you're going to tell me everything — who you are, who you're running from — and why they'd pay a fortune to see you dead."
Elena's eyes widened — breath caught.
"How… did you know?"
His lips curled — a dangerous, wicked smirk.
"I've always known."
Her blood ran ice cold.
"I know exactly what you're worth, Elena."
His mouth brushed her ear, voice dropping into a threat and a promise all at once:
"And I'm not letting anyone else have you."
Cliffhanger.