Chapter 16 – Trust vs. Temptation

The phone slipped from Selene's fingers and hit the floor with a dull thud. Her chest rose and fell quickly, but the air wouldn't go down. The voice still echoed in her head - low, disguised and terrifyingly certain.

You are not safe with him.

Her gaze went to the door. Darius hadn't come up yet. At least she hoped he hadn't. Her hand vibrated as soon as she picked up the burner, but the screen was black. No trace of the number, no missed call, no history. Like it had never happened.

But it had.

And it hit her like a slap in the face.

Everything about tonight, every kiss, every look - it was real. Wasn't it?

She pulled her heels with shaking hands, crossed to the bar, and poured herself a double shot of vodka. It burned all the way down, but it didn't kill the voice.

You are not safe with him.

The door opened behind her.

She spun.

Darius stood there, his jaw tightened, his dark hair messy like he'd been running his hands through it.. "Selene," he said softly, "what happened?"

His eyes locked on her face, then on the shattered look she hadn't yet tucked away.

She didn't answer. She couldn't—not yet. Not until she knew what this was.

He moved closer, and she instinctively stepped back. Just once. Just enough for him to notice.

He froze. "Talk to me."

Selene licked her lips. "What are you hiding from me, Darius?"

His brows pulled together. "Where's this coming from?"

"A call," she said. "Someone warned me. Said I'm not safe with you."

Something in his eyes flickered.

She saw it.

The way he hesitated. A subtle flick of emotion across his face—guilt, anger, something darker.

"Who was it?" he asked. Too fast. Too defensive.

She hated how her heart twisted, how the heat between them raged against the chill creeping into her spine

"I don't know," she said. "They used a voice changer. They hung up after."

He closed the distance, slow and deliberate. "You think I'd hurt you?"

"I don't know what to think." Her voice cracked. "All I know is that the second you touched me, something changed. I stopped thinking straight. You made me feel—"

She cut herself off.

But he didn't let her finish. His hand caught her wrist gently, drawing her forward. "You felt what I felt."

"Did I?"

He didn't answer with words. He kissed her.

Hard.

The kiss was searing, not gentle like before. Like he was trying to rewrite the doubt with heat. Like his mouth on hers could erase the words someone else had planted.

Selene should've pulled away. Should've demanded answers.

But her body didn't listen.

She melted into him.

The Vodka, the fear,the uncertainty - all this had gone up in flames, the second his hands were on her waist drawing her tight against his chest. His lips slid to her jaw, down her neck, and she moaned out softly. 

"Ask me to stop," He said softly.

She didn't say anything.

Instead, she ripped his shirt open, buttons flying. Her hands ran down his chest, across the inked skin that flexed with every breath. She wanted to hate him. Needed to mistrust him.

But right now?

She just wanted to feel.

He lifted her in one seamless move and placed her on the bar counter. Her dress rode up her thighs, and her mouth followed leaving a hot trail down her skin.

"Darius—"

He kissed her inner thigh, eyes locked on hers. "I would never hurt you."

"Then prove it," she whispered.

His hand slid under her dress. Lace and heat.

She gripped the edge of the counter, back arching when his fingers went into her. Soft, slow, Seductively teasing.

Her head fell back, a soft moan escaping her lips. "Don't stop."

"Not a chance."

The world narrowed to sensation - his mouth, his fingers, his breaths were against her skin. She lost herself in it, the way he devoured and sucked her like a starving man.

Then suddenly, he paused.

Pulled back.

Her chest heaved. "What is it?"

He didn't answer. His eyes were on something past her shoulder.

Selene turned.

And froze.

The penthouse window. Across the street. A red laser dot moved along the glass.

Sniper.

Darius yanked her down, throwing them both behind the counter just as the glass shattered.

A bullet ripped through the room.

Selene covered her head, heart pounding like a drum.

Another shot was fired. Then silence.

Only the sound of her breathing. His hand still wrapped around her wrist, holding her down.

When it was clear that no other shots was coming, he slowly lifted his head.

"Stay here," he said through gritted teeth.

"Like hell I will ," she said, adrenaline slamming back into her veins.

He was already moving, gun in his hand, shirt still half-open. The heat between them vanished under the icy grip of danger.

Selene crawled across the broken glass to reach her safe, pulled out her backup pistol, and followed.

They moved together down the hallway, silent, trained. The fire between them had turned into something else—deadly focus, survival.

At the elevator, Darius pressed a code. A hidden panel was opened, which revealed a staircase to the rooftop.

"Snipers would be in the adjacent building," he said. "But this gives us a view."

They burst through the rooftop door, guns raised. The night air hit them like a slap.

Lights. Sirens in the distance.

No one on the roof.

But someone had been there.

A single playing card lay on the ledge. The queen of hearts.

Selene picked it up with gloved fingers.

Darius took one look and cursed under his breath.

"You know who it is."

He hesitated. "It's a message. From someone I hoped was dead."

She narrowed her eyes. "Start talking."

He looked at her then. Really looked.

And whatever truth he'd been hiding—it was in his eyes now.

"He's called Lazarus," Darius said slowly. "And he wants you dead because of me."

Selene's pulse stuttered. "Why?"

But before he could answer, another phone rang.

Not hers.

Not his.

It was hidden behind a vent, taped to the wall. Pre-planted.

Darius answered with a gloved hand.

A robotic voice filled the silence.

"She's already marked. You won't protect her forever."

Then the line went dead.

Selene backed away slowly, heart hammering.

Darius turned to her—eyes dark, jaw clenched.

"Selene…"

But she was already stepping back.

"Tell me everything. Right now. Or I swear to God, I walk."

And he said the last thing she expected.

"I used to work for Lazarus."

She stopped breathing.

Then the rooftop lights went out.