The darkness didn't last long.
Before I could react, a metal hand grabbed my arm. Hard. Controlled. I didn't have time to raise the gun.
Another shadow moved behind me.
And then blinding lights.
I squinted.
Armed men. Full tactical gear. Masks. They were fast. Precise. Adrian tried to resist, but one shot grazed his side. He hissed, stumbling.
"Move!" one of them barked.
I didn't argue. I wasn't going to die tonight.
They forced us into a black SUV. I tried to glance at Adrian. His jaw was tight. Eyes dark. Controlled. But there was something in his gaze calculating. Always calculating.
"Who are they?" I whispered, voice trembling.
"They're cleaning up what I left behind," he muttered, gritting his teeth.
I swallowed hard.
Cleaning up… meaning revenge? Or trap?
The SUV sped through winding roads. I pressed myself against the door, silently panicking, but my mind was sharp. Observation matters. Always.
Minutes felt like hours.
Finally, the vehicle stopped.
Metal gates. High walls. Watchtowers. A fortress.
The men dragged us inside.
Inside was cold. Sterile. A place where no light could survive.
And at the center of the room… he waited.
Tall. Brooding. Dark eyes glinting with malice.
"You brought her," he said to Adrian calmly.
"Not exactly," Adrian shot back, voice clipped.
I glanced at him. His wound… still bleeding, but he hid it well.
The man's eyes turned to me.
"You are worth everything your father owed," he said slowly. "And more."
I wanted to scream.
To lash out.
But Adrian's hand brushed against mine. Just a whisper of touch. A silent warning.
My pulse spiked.
And then I understood.
This wasn't just about money. Not just revenge. Not just control.
This was a war.
And somehow… I was in it.