Chapter 5: No Escape

The air in the ballroom thickened, becoming almost suffocating in its oppressive weight as Adrian Carlisle's infuriating smirk lingered, a silent declaration of war. Luna fought desperately to maintain a neutral facade, to keep her features smooth and unreadable, but the tempest of fear and suspicion inside her raged, a chaotic whirlwind.

What was he doing here, in this place, at this precise moment? Why now, after all these years?

Killian's grip on her waist hadn't loosened, but she could feel the palpable tension radiating from him, a silent warning. He wasn't just annoyed, as he often was; he was livid, his controlled anger simmering beneath the surface like a volcano about to erupt.

Adrian cocked his head, a flicker of cruel amusement dancing in his piercing blue eyes. "What, no warm welcome? And here I thought you'd be positively thrilled to see an old friend."

"We were never friends," Killian said coldly, his voice even and low, each word laced with a dangerous undercurrent that promised retribution.

Luna swallowed hard, keeping her posture poised. She could almost hear the murmurs of the surrounding guests, their curiosity ignited by the sudden confrontation.

Adrian's gaze slid back to her, his smirk deepening. "And you, Luna? Have you missed me?"

She forced a smile, her fingers gripping Killian's shoulder tighter. "Not in the slightest."

Adrian chuckled. "Ah, but we shared such... memorable moments. Surely you haven't forgotten?"

Her breath hitched. She knew exactly what he was alluding to, and she wouldn't let him bait her. Whatever game Adrian was playing, she had no intention of losing.

Killian stepped in front of her slightly, his body a shield between them. "Say what you came to say, Carlisle, and leave."

Adrian sighed dramatically. "So impatient. Very well." He took a slow step closer, lowering his voice. "I just wanted to remind dear Luna that secrets have a nasty habit of unraveling when least expected."

Luna felt her stomach drop, but she refused to let the fear show on her face.

Killian's jaw clenched. "You don't scare her. And you sure as hell don't scare me."

Adrian let out a low chuckle. "Oh, Killian. Always so sure of yourself." His eyes darkened. "But you of all people should know that nothing stays buried forever."

With that, Adrian turned and walked away, leaving behind a trail of unease.

Luna exhaled slowly, only realizing then how tightly she had been holding onto Killian. He turned to her, his gaze unreadable. "Are you alright?"

She lifted her chin, masking the turmoil inside her. "Of course. He's just trying to rattle us."

Killian's fingers brushed her arm lightly, his touch warm despite the frost in his expression. "He won't get to you. I won't let him."

Something about his words sent a strange flutter through her chest. But there was no time to dwell on it. Not here. Not now.

Killian, his movements sharp and decisive, led her toward the secluded balcony, a temporary sanctuary away from the prying eyes and gossiping whispers of the gala attendees.

The cool, crisp night air hit her skin like a soothing balm, a stark contrast to the stifling tension that crackled between them.

Luna turned to face him, her eyes searching his for answers. "How long have you known he was back?" she asked, her voice low and steady.

His prolonged silence, a heavy, loaded pause, was answer enough, a confirmation of her worst fears. She exhaled sharply, a frustrated sigh escaping her lips. "Of course. You knew, and you didn't think to tell me?" she repeated, her voice laced with a bitter edge.

"I was handling it," he said, his voice firm and unwavering, a declaration rather than an explanation.

"Handling it?" She let out a short, bitter laugh, the sound devoid of humor. "You don't get to make decisions for me, Killian. Not anymore."

His gaze darkened, a flicker of something dangerous in their depths. "That's where you're wrong, Luna. If Adrian is back, it concerns both of us," he stated, his voice a low growl.

She took a step closer, her anger bubbling beneath her carefully constructed cool facade. "Then start treating me like a partner instead of a liability," she challenged, her voice a low, defiant whisper.

A muscle ticked in his jaw, a sign of his barely contained frustration, but he didn't argue. Instead, he reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a small, folded note. Without a word, he handed it to her. Luna hesitated, her fingers trembling slightly, before unfolding it.

The familiar, elegant handwriting made her blood run cold, a chilling reminder of a past she had desperately tried to bury.

You can't run from the past forever. No signature. No name.

But she didn't need one. She knew exactly who it was from.

Her hands trembled slightly, but she tightened her grip. When she looked up, Killian was watching her intently. "This was left at my office yesterday," he admitted.

Luna's pulse pounded in her ears. "And you thought I didn't need to know?"

His expression hardened. "I thought I could deal with it before it reached you."

She shook her head. "That's not how this works, Killian. We both know Adrian doesn't make idle threats."

Killian exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I won't let him touch you."

Something inside her softened at his words, but she shoved it down. This wasn't about trust or protection—it was about survival.

Luna folded the note and tucked it into her purse. "Then we need to find out what he wants before he makes his next move."

Killian nodded, his jaw set in determination. "Agreed."

But as they stepped back into the dazzling, crowded ballroom, Luna couldn't shake the gnawing, unsettling feeling that Adrian wasn't simply a ghost from their shared past, a specter here to haunt them.

He was a predator, his presence a clear and present danger.

He was here to actively dismantle, to shatter, to utterly destroy any semblance of a future they might have.