The rain came without warning. The city streets glistened under the downpour, neon lights reflecting off the slick pavement. Ryan Steele's car sped through the storm, wipers slashing frantically across the windshield. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His heart pounded in his chest, louder than the rain drumming on the roof of the sleek black car.
He hadn't planned it this way. This wasn't how today was supposed to go. Emily. Her name echoed in his mind, each syllable a painful reminder of the choice he had just made, a choice he could never explain to her.
The wedding. The aisle. Her wide, devastated eyes. He could still see the shock on her face when he walked away, leaving her standing there, alone and confused. It was a betrayal she'd never forgive, but it had been the only way to keep her safe.
He pressed his foot harder on the accelerator, the city blurring around him. His phone buzzed on the passenger seat again. He didn't need to check it to know who was calling. Victor.
Ryan cursed under his breath, a sick feeling twisting in his gut. Whatever his brother had planned, it was already in motion. And Ryan had just made himself a part of it by walking out on Emily. He knew it wouldn't stop there. If Victor wanted to destroy everything Ryan cared about, this was only the beginning.
The phone buzzed again, vibrating against the leather seat. Ryan reached over with one hand and snatched it up. "What do you want?" he growled into the receiver.
Victor's voice slid through the line, smooth as oil and just as slippery. "I see you got my message," he said, his tone almost amused.
Ryan clenched his jaw. "This isn't a game, Victor."
"Oh, but it is," Victor replied, his voice laced with mockery. "And you're not even playing yet. I gave you a choice, little brother. Walk away from her or watch everything you love burn. You did the smart thing, for once."
Ryan's grip on the phone tightened until the plastic threatened to crack. "If you so much as—"
"Relax, Ryan." Victor's laugh was low, a sound that crawled under Ryan's skin. "Emily's safe. For now. But I'm not done with you yet. Not even close."
Before Ryan could respond, the line went dead. He threw the phone onto the seat with a frustrated snarl, his mind racing. Victor's reach was longer than he had imagined, and his timing was impeccable. Ryan knew this was only the beginning of whatever twisted plan his brother had set in motion.
He had walked away to protect Emily from a threat she couldn't see, but now he was no closer to knowing what Victor's endgame really was. The one thing he knew for certain was that Emily was in danger whether she realized it or not. And Ryan had just shattered her heart in the process of trying to save her.
The car screeched to a halt as Ryan pulled into the underground parking garage of Steele Tower, his family's corporate headquarters. The tires squealed against the wet concrete, echoing through the dimly lit space. Ryan cut the engine and sat for a moment, breathing heavily, trying to push down the tidal wave of guilt threatening to drown him.
He hadn't even said goodbye to Emily properly. He had seen the flicker of doubt in her eyes during the ceremony, sensed the unease in her smile. She had known something was wrong. And he had confirmed it in the worst way possible by walking out without a word of explanation.
There was no time for regret. Not now.
Ryan stepped out of the car, his shoes splashing in the puddles collecting on the cold concrete floor. He straightened his suit jacket, water dripping from his hair and collar as he made his way to the elevator. The familiar ding of the doors opening felt hollow tonight.
As the elevator carried him to the top floor, Ryan's mind churned, trying to piece together Victor's plan. His brother was ruthless, cunning, and dangerous. If Victor had gone to the lengths of targeting Emily, it meant one thing, Ryan's enemies weren't just after him. They wanted leverage. And Emily was the perfect pawn.
The elevator doors slid open, and Ryan strode into his office. Floor to ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the storm-drenched city, but he barely noticed the skyline. His focus was on the computer screen glowing on his desk.
He sat down and began typing furiously, pulling up encrypted files and company records. If Victor was involved, there had to be a trail. Something to explain why he was willing to go this far. Something Ryan could use to stop him.
The screen flickered as Ryan scrolled through spreadsheets, transaction histories, and confidential emails. A name caught his eye, Lucas Hayes.
Ryan leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. Lucas wasn't just some charming stranger Emily had met in the coastal town. He was listed as a consultant on one of Victor's shell companies. A cold realization washed over Ryan. Lucas wasn't just a rebound. He was part of the game.
"Damn it," Ryan muttered, raking a hand through his damp hair. Victor had planned this from the start. Lucas was in Emily's life for a reason, and Ryan had walked right into their trap by leaving her.
His phone buzzed again, and this time it wasn't Victor. It was Sophie, Emily's best friend.
Ryan hesitated for a moment, then answered. "What is it?"
"You need to come back," Sophie said, her voice tight with worry. "Emily... she's not okay, Ryan."
Guilt clawed at him, sharp and relentless. "I can't. Not yet."
"Do you even care?" Sophie snapped. "She's sitting in that room alone, Ryan! You humiliated her in front of everyone. If you ever loved her, you'll fix this."
Ryan closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. Of course he cared. But loving Emily meant keeping her out of the crossfire. He couldn't go back not until he knew exactly what Victor was planning.
"I'll fix it," Ryan promised quietly. "But not the way you think."
"Ryan, she deserves an explanation—"
"I know," he interrupted, his voice sharp with frustration. "And I'll give her one. Just not yet."
Sophie exhaled, the sound of her anger simmering on the other end of the line. "You better hope she forgives you, Ryan. Because if she doesn't... you'll have lost her for good."
Ryan ended the call, tossing the phone onto the desk. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. The weight of everything pressed down on him, his love for Emily, his responsibility to protect her, and the ruthless game Victor had dragged them into.
He had made his choice. But he wasn't done fighting.
Not by a long shot.
Ryan stood, pacing the length of his office as the rain continued to hammer against the windows. He needed to get ahead of Victor, find out exactly how deep his brother's schemes ran. And he needed to do it fast, before Emily slipped out of his life for good or worse, fell into the hands of the wrong man.
Lucas.
Ryan's jaw tightened. If Lucas thought he could use Emily against him, he was in for a rude awakening.
With renewed determination, Ryan grabbed his coat and headed for the door. He didn't care what it took, he would protect Emily, even if it meant tearing apart every lie Victor had woven.
He had left her at the altar to save her. Now, he had to fight to win her back.
And this time, Ryan vowed, he wouldn't walk away.
---
The storm raged on outside, thunder rolling through the night sky. In the distance, the coastal town where Emily had sought refuge lay quiet and unaware of the danger creeping ever closer. But it wouldn't stay quiet for long.
Victor's game was far from over.
And Ryan Steele was just getting started.