Adele had to blink her eyes several times to be sure it wasn't her vision playing tricks on her. She was certain she'd never seen this man before in her life, and even more certain that if she had, she would never have forgotten.
He was, in every sense of the word, striking, no, that was an understatement. The man was beyond handsome, leagues above anyone she'd ever encountered, like a figure sculpted from pure fantasy. No mortal man, not even the most celebrated of celebrities, could compete with the stunning perfection that stood before her. He had the face of a hundred of them put together.
He was tall, with a lean, muscular build that hinted at strength and agility. His dark, inky hair was messy, looking as thought it was combed hastily with his fingers and swept back away from his face in a way that somehow made him look all the more untamed. He had, strong, defined and masculine jawline. His jawline was sharp and defined, his features chiseled in a way that seemed almost unreal. His eyes a deep shade of gray.
The dark coat he draped over his shoulders complimented his skin, adding an edge to his refined but dangerous look, perfection in her eyes. His tan skin looked warm against the cold lighting of the garage, and the dark coat draped over his shoulders added an air of mystery.
Adele was utterly impressed. She couldn't help herself, she was captivated. For a moment there she forgot that she was on the run, that there was blood staining the side of her dress, that each second wasted could be a step closer to being caught.. She had never been so impressed by a man's beauty. Her eyes drank him in, unable to appreciate him enough, it seemed. She refused to think any mortal being would look this good, he was like God's gift to women.It was as if some higher being had fashioned him specifically to bewitch women and leave them breathless.
But as her gaze wandered over his form, she became abruptly aware that he was watching her, no, glaring down at her with an intensity totally aware that her eyes and mind had been appreciating his good looks.
Unlike the casual allure in his voice earlier, his eyes held a hostility so sharp that it sliced through her admiration making her want to shrink into the ground and disappear. She felt her heart skip as his dark, penetrating gaze met hers, fierce and cold, a silent warning she could feel in her bones.
" Move." He ordered, his voice low and hypnotic, carrying a chill that made her shiver. But the meaning of his words was lost on her, his tone so enchanting that her mind clung to it without parsing the command.
Adele sure heard that alluring voice of his but she could not decipher what his words were.
" Hmmm?" She managed, Her voice barely a whisper as she stood rooted.
He moved his feet, walking closer to her, each movement controlled and deliberate. Every step he took towards her felt like a countdown to an apocalypse, his dark sharp eyes scrutinizing her, looking at her like a predator would to its prey.
Adele felt her heartbeat hitch up as he neared her, every nerve screaming at her to back away, but she was frozen in place, held captive by his gaze. It was like being hunted, and he was the predator, closing in with ruthless precision. Somehow, despite her trembling legs, Adele was surprised she was able to keep her balance.
The devilish handsome man stopped less than a meter in front of her, leaning down over her until his face was dangerously close to hers, his lips almost touching her ears. She could feel the heat of his breath against her neck, and it took everything in her not to sway under the intensity of his presence. Her lips parted as she sucked in a quiet breath, trying to steady herself. His lips brushed dangerously close to her ear, sending a shiver racing down her spine. Adele bit her lips as she felt his breath on her neck.
" I said move." He repeated, each word punctuated and laced with a low growl that sent a jolt of awareness through her.
It was then Adele realized that she was standing on his way. She quickly took a shaky step back, heat rushed to her cheeks as she made space for him to pass, finally tearing her gaze away from his piercing stare.
But he didn't move immediately. His gaze lingered on her, the intensity unwavering. Then, in a tone as cold as his expression, he added,
"Stop your bleeding, if you plan to escape safely, you should be in good shape first."
He said before making his way past her. Despite his words, his voice did not carry any hint of care.
The words cut through her gaze and she blinked. Wait, how does he know she was escaping? She gazed down at her blood stained knee, noting the dried blood smeared along her arm and the side of her dress, a stark reminder of her earlier wounds.
and felt a mix of embarrassment and anger.
" Wait, how....?" She trailed off but he was already moving, his perfect figure slipping into the shadows of the garage, his footsteps silent as though he was a specter fading from sight. She wanted to take a step after him, feeling a pull she couldn't explain. But she stood there, unmoving, her gaze following his retreating perfect and graceful figure. His arrogance and confidence trailing after him.
" Wait!!" Adele called out, her voice echoing in the cold garage.
He did not wait but she heard his voice clearly as he floated to her.
" You have less than ten minutes to get out of here safely." And then she lost sight of him, leaving her staring after him, the empty silence filling the space where his presence had been.
Weird person.
"Who are you?" she whispered, though she knew she'd receive no answer. Strange. Fascinating. A man like no other. But she couldn't waste time unraveling the mystery. Shoving thoughts of him to the back of her mind, she took off, hurrying toward the area where Tris had parked the Porsche.
Her hands shook as she pulled the door open and climbed inside, her mind racing over the encounter she'd just had. Even as she gripped the steering wheel and started the engine, she could still feel the residual heat of his breath on her skin, the memory of his piercing gaze.
With one last glance at the shadows where he'd disappeared, Adele steeled herself and drove off, his warning still echoing in her ears.
—
The glass flew across the room, narrowly missing Zachary Reid's head and shattering against the wall in an explosion of crystal shards. For a second, the room stood still, frozen in shock at the violent outburst. Zachary barely blinked, remaining stoic as he felt the stray pieces brush against his cheek.
" What the hell do you mean she hasn't come home?" Tris roared, his voice filled with venom. His face was flushed, his jaw clenched, and his fists were balled so tightly his knuckles had turned bone white.
" Are you f***ing dumb? Why would that f***ing sl*t crawl back here after pulling a stunt like this?" Tris yelled. His laughter was cold, hollow, a sound that made the hairs on Zachary's neck stand on end. "That pathetic little sl*t probably thinks she's gotten away."
He had been found in his pool of blood ten minutes after Adele left.
The threat hung heavily in the room, pressing down like the weight of a coming storm. Zachary didn't flinch. As he observed Tris' boiling rage, he was reminded why most people in this city feared Tris's name. He was a tempest barely contained within a polished exterior, the kind of man who could reduce anyone to ashes without a second thought.
"Mr. Anders," Zach began, keeping his voice calm and measured. " I have made all preparations to find her. We have mobilized our resources. My men are combing every corner of the city. She hasn't left. She's still in the city, I assure you, as long as she's within my reach, we will find her. I'll have her brought to you before the day ends."
Tris' eyes narrowed, and he let out a bitter chuckle. He leaned forward, his voice dripping with menace.
"It's been f***ing five hours already. Don't feed me that hollow bulls**t." He jabbed a finger in Zachary's direction, his face contorted with rage. "You listen here, and you listen good. You better put that waxed brain of yours to use cause If she isn't back in my hands in the next twenty-four hours, I'll rip your life to shreds, starting with that precious little son of yours. Then, I'll burn every single thing you've built to ashes and dust."
"Zachary's jaw tightened, his anger carefully masked beneath an expression of practiced neutrality. It took every ounce of self control to keep from retaliating; he belonged to one of the most powerful families in the city, and it was only for Adele's sake that he tolerated the insults from this spoiled, entitled brat. But he knew better than to underestimate Tris. The man's cruelty had no boundaries, and there was a madness in his eyes that promised he wouldn't hesitate to make good on his threats.
Tris paused, exhaling heavily, his fury momentarily reigned in as he met Zachary's gaze. "When she's found, I want her brought to me… untouched. You hear me? I'll drain every last drop of life from that little traitor myself. Slowly. Painfully." His voice dropped to a cold whisper, each word sharp and deliberate, "So she knows what it feels like to suffer."
Zachary clenched his fists behind his back, letting the anger simmer beneath the surface, his once calm, expressionless face forming a frown. He watched silently as Tris's convoy revved up outside, a fleet of gleaming black cars that glided down the mansion's driveway with ruthless precision, engines humming like a warning. As the last car disappeared from view, the carefully controlled mask of calm on Zachary's face cracked, and a scowl darkened his features. This was not how things were meant to be. If it weren't for Adele and the delicate situation she'd placed him in, Tris would be the one paying for his arrogance. The insult was more than he could bear, but for now, he had no choice.
Taking a deep breath, Zachary turned to the men standing silently in the shadows of the room. "Where was her last known location?" he asked, his voice clipped, each word laced with restrained fury.
One of his men, a lean, sharp eyed man named Viktor, stepped forward and bowed slightly. "V-Town, sir. We traced her movements to the edge of the city. She abandoned the car she l stole there, but… no sign of her since."
Zachary's eyes narrowed as he mentally sifted through the possibilities. V-Town was one of the rougher parts of the city, a labyrinth of alleys and forgotten streets, where someone could disappear if they knew the right places to hide. But Adele? She wasn't prepared for this. She'd never had to survive alone, not without the safety net of her adopted family's wealth and privilege. She had no money, no allies, and no means of escape.
"She doesn't have a passport," he muttered, half to himself, half to his men. "She wouldn't be able to leave the city. She must have acted on impulse, she couldn't have thought this through. This was a desperate, last minute decision, not something planned. Adele's not a fool, but she's inexperienced. She has nowhere to go, nowhere to hide… and she couldn't have gone far."
He straightened, his posture commanding authority. "I want a full sweep of the city. Search every slum, every abandoned building, every godforsaken corner. If you have to burn the entire city to the ground to find her, then do it. I want her alive and unharmed. Bring her to me the moment you have her."
"Yes, sir." Viktor bowed once more before retreating, already barking orders into his earpiece as he organized the search.
Zachary watched as the men filed out, leaving him alone in the grand, empty room. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he allowed a fleeting moment of irritation to cross his face. Adele… he could almost picture her as she had been that last night when Tris offered to take her out, eyes wide with terror, her once gentle face marked by a fiery determination. She hadn't begged or pleaded. No, she'd looked at him, almost defiantly, as though daring him to try and break her spirit. The memory stirred anger in him. He should have known, he had never seen that look on her before.
For all her inexperience, she had spirit, a strength he hadn't anticipated. She had endured the weight of her family's expectations, the constant pressure to conform, and now, she had taken this daring step toward freedom, however short-lived it would prove to be.
But for Zachary, this was a matter of honor. He had to restore the order she had disrupted, she wasn't his daughter, never had been. Letting her go was out of the question; it would be a mark on his reputation, one that neither he nor his family could afford.