Chapter 3

Adrian watched her closely, the way her shoulders stiffened, her eyes darting toward the exit like a trapped animal seeking any way out. He had expected this reaction—her defiance, her determination to fight even when the odds were against her. It was one of the things that had drawn him to her in the first place. But now, her fire only fueled his anger.

She thought she could leave him. After everything. After making him fall for her, she vanished without a word, leaving him to piece together the shattered remnants of his heart. And now, seeing her again, disheveled and desperate, was both a balm to his wounded pride and a spark to the fury simmering beneath his calm exterior.

Adrian took a step closer, closing the distance between them. "Do you have any idea what it felt like, Selena?" he asked, his voice low but charged with emotion. "To wake up one morning and realize you were gone? No explanation, no goodbye—just emptiness."  

Selena met his gaze, her own eyes blazing with unshed tears. "I did it for you," she spat, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and sorrow. "You wouldn’t understand."  

His jaw clenched, and his hands curled into fists at his sides. "Oh, I understand perfectly," he said, his tone sharp. "You thought you could protect me by running away. But all you did was show me how little you trusted me. How little you thought of us."  

Her lips parted, but no words came. For a moment, she looked like she might explain, might say something that would bridge the chasm between them. But then, her gaze hardened.  

"You’re right," she said coldly. "I didn’t trust you. And I still don’t."  

The words hit him like a physical blow, but Adrian refused to let it show. He had spent too many nights reliving the pain she’d caused him, and now it was her turn. He would make her feel every ounce of the betrayal and heartache she had left him to endure.

"That’s fine," he said, his voice steady, almost casual. "Because trust isn’t necessary for what comes next."  

Her brows knitted together, confusion flickering across her face. "What do you mean?"  

Adrian stepped even closer, his presence overwhelming. "You made me fall for you, Selena. You made me believe we could have something real. And then you broke me." He paused, his gaze darkening. "Now, I’m going to return the favor. I’ll make you fall for me all over again, and just when you think you’re safe, I’ll destroy you."  

Selena’s breath caught, her hands trembling at her sides. "You’re a monster," she whispered.  

Adrian smirked, a cruel edge to his expression. "Maybe. But you made me this way."  

He turned to his right-hand man, who had been standing silently nearby, watching the exchange. "Take her to the house," Adrian ordered, his tone curt. "Make sure she doesn’t try anything stupid."  

The man nodded, stepping forward to grab Selena’s arm. She flinched but didn’t resist, her fiery spirit momentarily extinguished by Adrian’s chilling words.  

Adrian watched as she was led away, his emotions a tumultuous storm beneath his composed exterior. There was a part of him—a small, vulnerable part—that wanted to pull her into his arms, to demand answers, to find out why she had hurt him so deeply.  

But the rest of him, the part that had been hardened by her betrayal, was set on his path. Selena had played with his heart once. This time, he was in control.  

As she disappeared from view, Adrian turned back to the group of men who had failed to guard her properly. His expression darkened, his fury now redirected.  

"You had one job," he said, his voice dangerously quiet. "And you almost let her get away."  

The men shifted nervously, their earlier bravado replaced with fear.  

Adrian’s lips curved into a cold smile. "I don’t tolerate incompetence. You’ll pay for this."  

And as he dealt with them and finalized the drug deal, his thoughts remained on Selena. She thought she could escape him, but she was wrong.  

This time, Adrian vowed, she would stay. And she would learn what it meant to cross him.

Adrian’s smirk didn’t falter as Selena glared at him, defiance flickering in her eyes despite her situation. He stepped closer, and she instinctively backed away until her heels hit the edge of the plush booth.  

"Selena," he said, his voice as smooth as a predator’s purr. "You seem to forget who you're dealing with. Running from me was your first mistake. Thinking you could escape twice? That’s just insulting."  

Her pulse thundered, and she struggled to maintain her composure. She wasn’t going to let him see her break. Not again. "You don’t own me," she spat, venom lacing her tone.  

Adrian chuckled, a deep, almost amused sound that made her blood run cold. "You keep telling yourself that," he said, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. She flinched away, but he didn’t seem to mind. His gaze darkened, an edge of steel behind the amusement. "But remember this: I always get what I want."  

Before Selena could respond, Adrian’s phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket, his expression turning colder as he glanced at the screen. A quick swipe, and he was answering the call, his tone all business.  

"Yes?" he said sharply, turning his back to her.  

Selena caught snippets of the conversation—words like "shipment," "dock," and "payment." The pieces fell into place, confirming her worst fears. Adrian wasn’t just dangerous; he was part of something far bigger, far deadlier.  

He ended the call and turned back to her, his expression unreadable. "I have business to attend to," he said, gesturing to one of his men standing nearby. "Take her to the house. Make sure she stays put this time. If she tries to run again..."  

The unspoken threat hung in the air, and Selena’s throat tightened.  

Adrian stepped closer, leaning down so that his lips were near her ear. "We’ll continue this conversation later," he murmured, his voice dripping with menace. Then, without another word, he straightened and strode toward the club’s exit, his men falling into step behind him like shadows.  

---

**The Dockyard**  

“The air was thick with the smell of saltwater and oil as Adrian’s convoy of black SUVs pulled into the shadowy dockyard. Under the dim glow of overhead lamps,” crates, and shipping containers stood stacked like forgotten monuments to the underworld dealings that thrived in places like this.  

Adrian stepped out of the car, his tailored suit immaculate despite the gritty surroundings. His sharp eyes scanned the area, taking in the group of men waiting near a large container.  

"Boss," one of his men said, approaching him with a clipboard. "The shipment's here. They’re just waiting for your word."  

Adrian nodded, his expression a mask of calm authority. "Let’s get this done quickly. I don’t have all night."  

As he approached the group, the leader of the other party—a burly man with a shaved head and a thick Russian accent—stepped forward. "Adrian," he greeted, his tone laced with grudging respect. "You’re punctual, as always."  

"And you’re late," Adrian replied coolly. "Let’s not waste time. Do you have the product?"  

The man motioned to one of his associates, who opened the container. Inside were dozens of sealed packages, their contents unmistakable—pure, uncut narcotics worth millions on the black market.  

Adrian examined one of the packages, his sharp gaze scrutinizing every detail. Satisfied, he nodded. "Payment’s in the usual account. My men will handle the rest."  

The deal proceeded smoothly, but Adrian’s thoughts were elsewhere. He couldn’t stop thinking about Selena—her defiance, her fear, and the way her eyes still held that fire, despite everything.  

She thought she could run from him, escape the web he had spun so carefully. But she didn’t understand. Adrian wasn’t just a man; he was a storm, unstoppable and relentless.  

As the last of the crates were loaded onto a truck, Adrian turned to his right-hand man, Viktor. "Handle the shipment. I want everything secured by morning."  

Viktor nodded. "And the men who let her escape?"  

Adrian’s jaw tightened. "They’ll be dealt with. No one disobeys me and walks away unscathed."  

Viktor smirked. "Understood."  

Adrian’s phone buzzed again, a text from one of the men guarding Selena. _She’s at the house. No problems so far._  

Good, Adrian thought. She wasn’t going anywhere. Not this time.  

As he climbed back into his car, the weight of his plan settled over him. He’d make her fall for him all over again, only to shatter her the way she’d shattered him. This wasn’t just about revenge—it was about control.  

And Adrian always had the upper hand.