Chapter Seventeen: Shadows of the Past
Silence filled the room.
Elena stared at Adrian, her breath shallow, her mind racing.
"I was the one who started this war."
His words echoed in her head, unraveling the carefully built image she had of him.
Adrian Black—the powerful billionaire, the man who held her with unwavering strength, the one who swore to protect her at all costs—had just confessed to being the reason behind the very danger that now threatened them.
She swallowed hard. "What do you mean?"
Adrian ran a hand through his dark hair, his jaw tight. "It started years ago. Long before you knew me. Long before I built this empire."
His gray eyes darkened with something raw. Guilt. Regret. A storm of emotions he rarely let anyone see.
Elena stepped closer. "Tell me."
He hesitated, then exhaled. "I didn't always play by the rules. When I was younger, I had one goal—to take over the underground and wipe out every corrupt bastard who thought they could own this city."
Her heart pounded. "And?"
Adrian's lips curled into a bitter smirk. "And I did. But I made enemies. One in particular—Victor Langston. He ran a syndicate that thrived on fear, on destruction. I destroyed his empire. Took everything from him. And now..." His voice turned cold. "He's back."
Elena's blood ran cold. "He's the one after us?"
Adrian nodded. "And he's not coming for me. He's coming for you."
The Enemy's Move
The weight of Adrian's words settled between them.
Elena wasn't naïve. She had always known Adrian had a dangerous past, but hearing it like this—knowing she was the target because of it—made everything feel real in a way that sent a shiver down her spine.
"He sent Lucas to warn us," she murmured.
Adrian scoffed. "He sent Lucas to rattle us. To make us question ourselves. He wants me off balance. He wants me angry and reckless."
"And what are you going to do?" she asked softly.
Adrian stepped forward, his fingers brushing against her cheek, a dangerous promise in his touch.
"I'm going to show him what a mistake that was."
The Plan
By the next morning, Adrian was already in motion.
Ethan stood in the center of the security room, scanning the multiple screens displaying surveillance feeds from every corner of the city. His expression was grim.
"They're moving fast," Ethan reported. "Langston's men are gathering near the waterfront. It's a power play. He wants you to know he's here."
Adrian leaned against the table, his expression unreadable. "Then let's give him a welcome party."
Ethan's lips curled into a grin. "I was hoping you'd say that."
Elena watched from the doorway, her arms crossed. "You're going to fight him head-on?"
Adrian turned to her, his gaze unreadable. "I'm going to end this before he has a chance to touch you."
Her heart clenched. "What if he's expecting that?"
Adrian smirked. "Then I'll give him something he won't expect."
A Dangerous Gamble
That night, the city was alive with tension.
Elena stayed at the estate, pacing the grand bedroom, her heart in her throat as she waited. Adrian had insisted she stay behind, but she hated feeling useless.
Then, her phone buzzed.
A blocked number.
She hesitated before answering.
"Elena," a deep voice said.
She froze. Victor Langston.
"You shouldn't have gotten involved with Adrian Black," he continued smoothly. "He might think he can protect you, but tell me, sweetheart—has he told you everything?"
Her grip tightened on the phone. "What do you want?"
He chuckled. "I want you to see the truth. Adrian is a killer. He destroys everything he touches. And you? You're just another pawn."
Anger flared in her chest. "If that's true, why are you so afraid of him?"
Silence.
Then, a low, amused laugh. "Clever girl. Let's see how clever you are when he's not there to save you."
The line went dead.
A chill ran through her.
And then—the lights in the estate flickered out.
The Attack
Everything happened too fast.
Gunshots echoed outside. Shouts rang through the halls. The estate was under attack.
Elena's pulse pounded as she grabbed the small knife Adrian had given her for emergencies. This was it.
A guard burst through the door. "Miss Elena, we have to move—"
Before he could finish, a bullet struck him in the chest.
Elena screamed as the man collapsed.
She spun toward the balcony, her mind racing. She had to get out.
Footsteps thundered outside the room.
Then, a voice. "Don't run, sweetheart. We just want to talk."
Lucas.
She backed away, her hands shaking. There was no way out.
The Reckoning
Then—a crash.
The doors exploded open as Adrian stormed inside.
His suit was disheveled, blood staining his knuckles, his eyes burning with pure, unrelenting fury.
Lucas barely had time to react before Adrian had him pinned against the wall, a gun pressed to his skull.
"You made a mistake coming here," Adrian growled.
Lucas smirked despite the situation. "I'm just the messenger, Black. The real storm is coming."
Adrian's finger twitched on the trigger. One bullet. That's all it would take.
But then Elena touched his arm. "Adrian," she whispered.
He turned to her, his expression torn between vengeance and control.
"Not like this," she said.
For a long moment, he didn't move.
Then, with a sharp exhale, he let Lucas drop to the floor.
But his voice was lethal as he leaned down and whispered, "Tell Langston if he wants a war—he just got one."
The Beginning of the End
Hours later, Adrian sat in the dimly lit study, staring at the glass of whiskey in his hand.
Elena approached him cautiously.
"You should rest," she murmured.
Adrian let out a low chuckle. "Rest? When we're standing on the edge of hell?"
She knelt beside him, placing a hand over his. "You're not alone in this, Adrian."
His gaze softened.
Slowly, he reached out, pulling her into his lap, holding her close.
"I can't lose you," he whispered against her hair.
"You won't," she promised.
But deep down, they both knew—
The war had only just begun.
To Be Continued…