Tension

Chapter Five

Alex Pov

Thick tension lingered in the room as I tightened my grip over Emma's much smaller fingers, which were slightly trembling in my hand. I needed to get her out of here-away from Rihanna and away from this stifling chaos. My mind preoccupied with finding our getaway, my sight inadvertently strayed to the wide ornamented window that overlooked the driveway.

I stopped dead; my eyes narrowed as the sleek black car pulled up. The heavy weight of recognition hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew that car. And I knew exactly who was inside it.

The doors opened as one, and three men emerged. Their movements calculated, deliberate, menacing, no suits necessary, no obvious weapons to telegraph who they were. It was just the way they carried themselves-the predatory confidence, the subtle smirks-that said enough to get my nerves on edge.

My rival.

Victor Moretti.

Of all the places, what the hell was he doing here?

My grip on Emma's hand tightened involuntarily. She flinched and looked up at me, her wide eyes questioning, but I couldn't focus on her right now. A thousand scenarios swirled through my mind, and none of them were good.

Rihanna stood behind us, sarcasm dripping from her tone. "Oh, look who's decided to drop by. Surprised, Alex?"

I turned to her, my face hard. "What's he doing here, Rihanna?"

Her lips curled into a smirk, and I knew. She wasn't playing games no more; she was setting the board.

"What can I say? I texted him immediately you started blabbering because of her " she drawled, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning against the doorway. "Victor and I have. common interests. He seemed curious about what I've been up to, and I thought, why not invite him over?

My stomach twisted. She knew exactly what she was doing. Victor wasn't a rival; he was a snake, the kind of man who would use any weakness against you. And Rihanna—she was vindictive enough to hand him that weakness on a silver platter.

"Don't push me, Rihanna," I warned, my voice low and sharp. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into."

She laughed then, coldly dismissive. "Oh, I think I know exactly what I'm doing. Maybe it's time someone reminded you that you don't own me, Alex."

I could feel Emma staring at me, but I didn't dare turn around and face her. Not now. Not when I was trying to keep my cool in front of Rihanna, trying not to let her see how deeply this situation had rattled me.

It was then that Victor and his men reached the stairs and started going up the steps, each echo of the steps sounding a bad omen. I knew one slip-up in letting him know about any weak points-Emma, business, or something else-could bring the house down.

I turned to Rihanna, my voice cold and firm. "If you think allying yourself with Victor is smart, think again. He does not care about you. He'll use you, then he'll discard you in the dirt when he doesn't need you anymore."

The smirk twisting her lips wavered before she masked it again. "At least he doesn't treat me like a backup plan.

Before I could answer, the doorbell rang. It was one of those sounds that seemed to reverberate through the house-a herald of chaos to follow.

Rihanna looked at me over her shoulder, a smirk on her face. "I should get that. Wouldn't want to keep our guest waiting."

She vanished down the hall, leaving me standing there with Emma.

"What's going on?" Emma asked softly, her voice shaking.

I finally looked at her, her pale face tilted up to mine, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and confusion. For a moment, I considered lying, brushing it off as nothing. But she wasn't stupid. She had seen the look on my face.

"Stay close to me," I said instead, my tone leaving no room for argument.

We heard Victor's voice before we saw him, as smooth as condescension could manage, greeting Rihanna in the entryway. I could hear the exchange, a false politeness masking what was really said and the reason behind his visit.

And then he entered the room.

Victor Moretti was everything I despised in a man: overwhelming, with a charisma honed to a pointed weapon. He smiled slowly at me, his gaze flicking to Emma and back again.

"Well, well," he drawled. "Alex Kingsley. How fancy that I'd run into you here."

I said nothing. My jaw clenched tighter as I stared him down.