The hunt’s begin

Roman's fury was like a storm that raged through his veins, unstoppable and fierce. As he stormed through the dark alleyways, his thoughts became a blur of red. Amara was his world, and the fact that she had been taken—whether by Victor or anyone else—left a searing pain in his chest that he couldn't ignore.

Victor had been playing games with him for far too long, but this time, he had crossed a line. Roman knew this game was no longer about business or power; it was personal. His love for Amara was something deeper than mere possession, something sacred, something that was now threatened. If Victor thought he could play this game and come out on top, he was gravely mistaken.

Roman's eyes scanned the dimly lit alleyway, his pulse quickening as he spotted a shadow darting across the corner. His instincts kicked in. "There," he growled, his voice low and lethal. He gave a sharp signal to his men, and they moved quickly, silently as wolves on a hunt.

As they pushed through the labyrinth of alleyways, every inch of Roman's being was focused on one thing: finding her. He couldn't afford to fail. Not again.

---

*Amara's Heartbeat*

Amara's heart pounded in her chest as she followed Victor through the winding streets, the echo of their footsteps ringing in her ears. She tried to steady her breath, but the adrenaline coursing through her made it nearly impossible to remain calm. She had never been in a situation like this before—so far from the world she had known, so far from the man she loved.

But the more Victor spoke, the more she began to doubt everything she had known about Roman. Could he really be as ruthless as Victor claimed? Could the man she thought she loved really sacrifice her for his empire?

Victor glanced back at her, his expression unreadable. "You're in danger, Amara. The deeper you get involved with him, the more you'll be swallowed up by his world. He's not the man you think he is."

Amara clenched her fists at her sides. "I don't believe you."

Victor stopped suddenly, his eyes flashing with something like amusement. "You don't have to believe me. But when you see what he's capable of, you'll understand."

They reached a car parked under the shadow of a tall building, and Victor opened the door for her. Amara hesitated for a moment, torn between the temptation to flee with Victor and the desire to stay and confront Roman. The conflict inside her was almost unbearable.

She glanced back toward the street, but there was no sign of Roman, no sign of anyone following. A sense of coldness settled in her chest as Victor slid into the driver's seat. He was right about one thing—she was in danger. Roman's empire was ruthless, and she didn't know if she had the strength to survive it.

---

*Roman's Rage*

Roman's thoughts were consumed by one person: Amara. He couldn't let her slip through his fingers—not now, not ever. The possibility of losing her, of her being taken from him by someone like Victor, made him see red. His thoughts, once cold and calculated, were now purely driven by his need to protect her at all costs.

As they pushed deeper into the city, Roman's men followed the trail left behind by Victor. The path wasn't easy—Victor was always two steps ahead, but Roman's determination kept him focused. He wasn't going to stop until he had Amara in his arms again.

"Boss," one of his men called out as they reached the outskirts of the city. "We've found something."

Roman's eyes flashed. "What?"

A man approached him, holding up a crumpled piece of paper. "We found this near the warehouse. It looks like a note."

Roman snatched the paper from the man's hand and unfolded it, his eyes scanning the words quickly.

*"Come alone if you want to see her again."*

His jaw clenched as he read the message. It was Victor's doing—there was no doubt about it. The bastard had played him for a fool, but Roman wouldn't fall for his tricks.

He looked at his men, his gaze cold and calculating. "Get ready. We're going after him."

---

*Amara's Doubt*

As the car sped through the streets, Amara's thoughts raced. She couldn't stop thinking about what Victor had said. Was Roman really just using her? Was her love for him misplaced? Every part of her screamed to trust him, but the uncertainty gnawed at her heart.

She glanced over at Victor, who seemed entirely too calm for someone who was supposed to be helping her escape. "Why are you helping me?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Victor's eyes never left the road. "Because you're the only one who's ever had the courage to defy him. And I respect that. Roman doesn't care about you, Amara. He only cares about power. His empire. And when you become an obstacle to that, you'll be discarded."

Her heart ached at the thought of Roman using her, of her being nothing more than a tool to him. But no matter how many times Victor repeated his words, a part of her refused to believe it. Roman had always been kind to her, protective even, and she couldn't fathom that he would turn on her like that.

Victor's voice broke through her thoughts. "This is your last chance, Amara. Come with me, and we can make sure Roman never hurts you again. He won't be able to touch you."

Amara shook her head, her voice strong despite the fear building in her chest. "No. I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving him."

Victor glanced at her, his lips curling into a half-smile. "We'll see how long that lasts."

---

*Roman's Decision*

Roman stood at the edge of the rooftop, the cold night air biting at his skin. His men had found the car, abandoned on the outskirts of the city. The trail was growing colder by the minute, and he knew that time was running out.

He had to make a choice—whether to chase Victor down and bring Amara back, or to call for reinforcements and end the game once and for all. But the moment Amara's safety was threatened, Roman's mind was made up. There was no negotiation, no deal—Victor would pay for every second he kept her from him.

As Roman turned to leave the rooftop, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Roman."

He turned sharply, his gaze falling on the man who had been by his side for years—Sebastian, his most trusted ally.

"We've found her," Sebastian said, his tone grim. "But you need to hurry. She's already in danger.