The game of control

Elena's heart stumbled violently in her chest as Noah's fingers tightened around her phone.

The name flashing on the screen felt like a death sentence.

Vincent Alvarez.

Her pulse roared in her ears.

Her throat tightened, making it impossible to breathe.

Noah's eyes were locked onto the screen, his jaw ticking with barely contained rage.

The way his fingers curled around the phone, knuckles turning white, made her stomach twist.

And then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he lifted his gaze to hers.

No words.

Just his eyes.

Dark.

Unforgiving.

And murderous.

Her breath hitched.

She inched back slightly, but there was nowhere to run.

The room was too small, and Noah was already in her veins.

---

Noah's POV

The moment he saw Vincent's name, his vision narrowed.

Cold fury churned in his chest, tightening like a vice.

It wasn't the call itself that sent the surge of rage through his blood.

It was the way her eyes widened in fear when she saw the name.

The way her fingers trembled slightly at her sides.

She knew.

She knew exactly who it was.

And she knew she was caught.

His lips curled into a sneer as he slowly lifted the phone, holding it up for her to see.

"Vincent Alvarez?" he drawled mockingly, his voice deceptively smooth.

He cocked his head slightly, his cold eyes gleaming with malice.

"You want to explain this?"

Her lips parted slightly, but she didn't speak.

She couldn't.

Because she knew that no matter what she said…

It wouldn't save her.

Noah's grip on the phone tightened slightly.

And then—

Without looking away from her—

He answered the call.

Her eyes widened in horror.

"No—" she gasped softly, her voice cracking with panic.

But it was too late.

Noah slowly lifted the phone to his ear, his eyes still locked onto hers.

"Speak," he said coldly.

There was a brief pause.

And then Vincent's voice filtered through the line, low and gravelly.

"It's done."

Noah's eyes darkened instantly.

Elena's knees almost buckled.

No. No. No.

She could feel the blood drain from her face as Vincent's words sank in.

Before she could react, Noah snapped the phone shut, his movements sharp and violent.

He tossed it onto the marble countertop with a clatter.

And then he turned to her.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

His eyes gleamed with something dark and predatory.

"Elena…" he murmured softly.

The way he said her name sent a chill down her spine.

Deceptively calm.

Like the eye of a storm.

Her lips parted slightly, her breath shaky.

"Noah, I—"

But she didn't get the chance to finish.

Because he was on her.

---

In a single step, Noah was in front of her.

Too fast.

Too sudden.

His hand shot out, gripping her wrist brutally.

She winced, her breath catching in her throat.

"Don't," he warned darkly.

His voice was low, but the dangerous edge in it was unmistakable.

"Don't you dare lie to me again."

His eyes flashed with fury, but beneath it, there was something far more lethal.

Betrayal.

The raw, merciless kind.

He yanked her closer, his grip unforgiving.

So close, she could feel the violent pounding of his heartbeat against her chest.

"You were working with him this whole time," he hissed, his lips curling into a snarl.

"You lied to my face."

Elena's breath came in shallow gasps, her chest heaving.

She clawed at his wrist, but he didn't let go.

Her voice trembled slightly, but she forced the words out.

"I-I didn't—"

"Don't."

His voice was sharp enough to cut through steel.

Her eyes burned, but she refused to let the tears fall.

Not now.

"I wasn't helping him," she choked out, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I swear—"

But he wasn't listening.

He was too far gone.

The betrayal clouded his eyes, turning them cold and ruthless.

Without warning, he spun her around, shoving her back against the wall.

Her head hit the cold surface, and she sucked in a sharp breath.

Before she could react, his hand shot out, pinning both her wrists above her head.

Her breath caught.

Her chest heaved violently against his.

Noah's face was inches from hers.

So close, she could feel the heat of his breath against her trembling lips.

"Was it all a game to you?" he rasped darkly, his voice barely more than a growl.

"Did you fake every moan just to get close to me?"

His words were cruel.

Deliberately so.

But the raw anguish in his eyes betrayed him.

It was the only sign that he was still human.

Her heart splintered.

And she hated herself for it.

For caring.

For aching for him, even when he was destroying her.

Her voice was hoarse, barely a whisper.

"Noah, please…"

His jaw clenched.

The muscle ticked violently.

For a brief moment, his fingers loosened slightly around her wrists.

As if he was fighting himself.

But then he leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear.

And his voice was a dangerous, low whisper.

"I should break you for this."

She shuddered, but not from fear.

Not entirely.

Her breath came out in a shaky gasp, and she felt her knees weaken beneath his hold.

But she didn't look away.

Even when his eyes blazed with fury, she didn't flinch.

Instead, she stared into his eyes.

Desperate. Raw.

Unapologetic.

And she whispered brokenly,

"Then do it."

For a moment, he stilled completely.

His breath hitched.

His eyes flicked to her trembling lips.

And then he crushed his mouth against hers.

---

The kiss was brutal.

Unforgiving.

Punishing.

His mouth slanted over hers fiercely, demanding everything.

Tasting. Consuming.

It wasn't gentle.

It was desperate and cruel, the way a man kissed the woman he was trying to destroy.

Her hands fisted in his shirt, clinging to him.

But he didn't stop.

He pushed her harder against the wall, his fingers tangling in her hair, pulling slightly.

Dragging a broken gasp from her lips.

She arched against him, the sharp edge of the marble digging into her back.

But she didn't care.

Because he was kissing her like he was trying to ruin her.

And she was kissing him back like she was already ruined.

Her fingers trembled as they slid along his chest, gripping his shirt desperately.

But he was relentless.

Consuming.

And then, suddenly—

He pulled away.

Their breaths mingled.

Both of them were panting harshly, their lips swollen and raw.

Noah's eyes were wild and dark.

But his voice was hoarse.

Trembling slightly.

Like he was breaking apart.

"I hate you," he rasped lowly.

Her chest ached, but she didn't look away.

She didn't flinch.

Instead, she cupped his face, her fingers trembling slightly.

And she whispered brokenly,

"Then hate me. But don't let me go."

His eyes flashed with something raw.

And then his mouth crashed into hers again.

But this time, it wasn't to destroy her.

It was to keep her.

---

As Noah ravaged her mouth, neither of them noticed the small red light blinking across the penthouse.

Hidden.

Subtle.

But very much there.

And on the other side of the screen…

Vincent Alvarez watched.

---

See you in next chapter....