CHAPTER 15

Chapter Fifteen: A Battle of Shadows

The message haunted Elena long after Adrian made the call.

"You can't protect her forever."

The weight of those words settled deep in her chest, a chilling reminder that this war was far from over.

Adrian was eerily silent, his phone clenched in his fist. His jaw tightened, his mind clearly racing. She had seen him angry before, but this was different. This was war.

He turned to her, his stormy gray eyes meeting hers with a promise—one filled with both protection and destruction.

"They just made the biggest mistake of their lives," he said, his voice calm but laced with deadly intent.

Elena shivered, not from fear, but from the raw power in his words.

Adrian wasn't just a billionaire. He was a king in the underworld, and someone had dared to challenge him.

A Dangerous Proposition

The air inside the penthouse was thick with tension as Adrian paced the room. His phone buzzed.

"Speak," he commanded.

His right-hand man, Ethan, responded on the other end. "We traced the number. It's a burner phone, but the location pings near the east docks."

Adrian's grip on his phone tightened. "Send a team. I want eyes on everyone who moves near that area."

"Understood, boss."

He ended the call and turned to Elena. "Pack a bag. We're leaving."

She blinked. "What?"

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "It's not safe here. They know where you are. We can't give them another shot at you."

Elena crossed her arms. "So, what? We just run?"

A muscle ticked in his jaw. "We don't run, we move strategically."

"And what if I don't want to hide?" she challenged.

His gaze darkened. "Then you're not as smart as I thought."

Her heart pounded, frustration and something deeper swirling inside her. "Adrian, I can't keep running from this. If someone wants to get to me, they'll find a way. So instead of running, why don't we fight back?"

A slow, predatory smile curved his lips. "Who said we're not?"

A Night of Fire

Elena had seen Adrian in control before, but never like this. His movements were precise, his focus razor-sharp.

An hour later, they were in a sleek black car, heading toward a private estate outside the city.

Adrian's hand rested on her thigh, his touch possessive even in silence.

"You trust me?" he asked suddenly.

The question took her off guard.

She swallowed. "Yes."

Something flickered in his gaze, something dark, wanting.

"Then trust me to keep you safe," he murmured.

The drive was quiet, but the energy between them crackled like a live wire.

By the time they arrived at the estate, the tension was unbearable.

The place was a fortress, hidden behind towering walls and guarded by men who moved like shadows.

Adrian led her inside, his grip firm but not forceful.

Once they reached the bedroom, he turned to her, his eyes locking onto hers with undeniable heat.

"You think I don't want to fight?" His voice was low, dangerous. "I would burn the world down for you, Elena. But I need to know you're safe first."

Her breath hitched.

"You can't protect me from everything," she whispered.

His jaw clenched. "Watch me."

The air was thick with unspoken words, with unspoken desires.

Then, he kissed her.

It wasn't slow or hesitant. It was desperate, consuming.

His hands tangled in her hair, pulling her closer, as if needing to memorize every inch of her.

She melted into him, her arms wrapping around his neck, holding on as if he were her only anchor.

In that moment, there was no war, no threats—only them.

But reality was cruel.

Because just as Adrian's lips trailed down her neck, his phone buzzed.

And the world came crashing back.

The Trap

Adrian pulled away, his breathing heavy as he answered the call.

Ethan's voice was sharp. "Boss, we have a problem."

Adrian tensed. "Talk."

"The docks—it was a setup."

Adrian's eyes darkened. "Explain."

Ethan cursed. "There was no one there, but we found something. A note."

Silence.

Elena's pulse pounded.

Ethan continued, his voice grim. "It said: 'Tick tock, Adrian. You're running out of time.'"

Adrian's grip tightened on the phone. "They want me to react."

Ethan exhaled. "Yeah. And I think we just walked into their game."

Adrian's mind worked fast. "Double the guards. No one comes in or out without my say."

"Already done."

He ended the call and turned to Elena.

Her heart pounded. "What does this mean?"

He studied her, his expression unreadable. "It means this isn't about scaring us anymore."

Elena swallowed. "Then what is it about?"

Adrian exhaled sharply.

"It's about war."

A Line in the Sand

Hours passed, and Adrian was locked in meetings with his men. Plans were drawn, orders given.

But Elena knew something had shifted.

This wasn't just about her anymore.

Someone wanted Adrian broken.

And they were using her to do it.

That night, as she lay beside him in bed, she whispered, "What happens if we lose?"

Adrian turned to her, his eyes burning with a quiet, lethal promise.

"I don't lose."

The certainty in his voice sent a shiver down her spine.

She believed him.

Because Adrian Black wasn't just a man. He was a storm.

And someone had just dared to challenge him.

To Be Continued…