Chapter six: First Rule Broken đź’”
1016 Words
Elena told herself she could live with his rules.
She could keep her head down, avoid danger, and let Adrian Moretti hover like a shadow she pretended not to see.
For two whole days, she did exactly that.
She ignored the whispers on campus about the dark-haired man who had strolled into the café like he owned the place. She ignored the strange number on her phone that sent clipped reminders of his so-called “rules.” She ignored the way her chest tightened whenever she thought of his hand closing around hers, sealing that dreadful deal.
But on the third night, Elena broke.
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The library was nearly empty when she packed her bag. A storm had rolled in, fat drops of rain streaking the tall glass windows, thunder groaning in the distance. She should’ve called for a ride, or at least texted the number she pretended she hadn’t saved under Don’t You Dare.
Instead, she tugged her hood over her head and stepped into the rain.
The streets glistened, slick with water. Her sneakers splashed through puddles as she hugged her bag tighter. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand the danger—she did. But she couldn’t breathe under Adrian’s invisible leash. She needed just one night of freedom, one breath of air that wasn’t dictated by him.
She made it two blocks before headlights flared behind her.
Her heart stuttered. She quickened her pace.
The sleek black car pulled up alongside her, tires hissing against wet pavement. The tinted window rolled down slowly, and her stomach dropped.
“Elena.” His voice was low, sharp as the rain cutting her skin.
Her steps faltered. “Adrian—”
“Get in the car.”
Her breath caught. “I was just walking—”
“Rule number one,” he interrupted, voice calm but lethal. “You don’t walk alone at night.”
The storm seemed to hush around them.
Elena’s pulse thundered in her ears. She shook her head, whispering fiercely, “You don’t get to stalk me.”
Adrian’s hand gripped the steering wheel, knuckles pale. His other rested lazily on the open window, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed him. “This isn’t stalking, Elena. It’s protection. You think I don’t know what hunts these streets? You think I’d let them near you?”
“You don’t let me do anything,” she snapped, rain dripping from her lashes. “I’m not your prisoner.”
Something flickered in his eyes—anger, yes, but also something more dangerous. Fear.
“Elena,” he said softly, too softly. “Get in the car.”
The command slithered into her bones.
For a heartbeat, she thought of running. Just bolting down the street, letting the storm swallow her whole. But when she met his gaze—dark, furious, desperate—her legs betrayed her. She pulled the passenger door open and slid inside.
The leather was warm against her damp clothes. The scent of him filled the car—spice and smoke, intoxicating. Adrian didn’t speak as he pulled back into traffic, the silence between them loud enough to smother her.
Finally, Elena broke it. “You can’t keep doing this. You can’t follow me everywhere, you can’t—”
“You broke the deal,” Adrian cut in. His voice was quiet, but it landed like a blow. “Three days. That’s how long you lasted.”
“I didn’t break anything. I just wanted to walk home.”
His jaw flexed. “You think this is a game?”
“No,” she whispered, throat tight. “I think you’re a control freak who’s using me to feed your ego.”
The car jerked as his grip tightened on the wheel. He pulled over abruptly, tires splashing against the curb. The sudden stillness made her heart pound even harder.
Adrian turned to her, eyes burning into hers. “You think this is about ego?”
Elena flinched under the intensity of his stare, but refused to look away.
“This is about survival,” he said, voice low and raw. “Do you want to know what happens to girls who think they’re untouchable? I’ve seen it. I’ve buried it.” His hand slammed against the dashboard, the sound sharp in the small space. “You don’t get to break the rules, Elena. Not when your life is at stake.”
Tears stung her eyes. She hated that his words made her chest ache, that fear tangled with the faintest thread of understanding.
Her voice trembled. “So what now? Are you going to punish me?”
The question hung in the air, heavy and electric.
Adrian’s gaze dropped to her lips, lingered, then snapped back to her eyes. For a heartbeat, she thought he might lean in, close the distance. Instead, he exhaled sharply and looked away.
“No,” he said finally, though his voice was thick with restraint. “Not tonight.”
The car roared back to life. They drove in silence, the city lights streaking past in blurred rivers of color. Elena’s heart thudded unevenly, torn between fear and something she refused to name.
When they reached her apartment, Adrian killed the engine but didn’t unlock the doors.
“Listen to me,” he said quietly, every word deliberate. “You break my rules again, Elena… and you won’t like the consequences.”
Her pulse hammered. She wanted to spit in his face, wanted to tell him he didn’t scare her. But the truth was, he did. And worse—he fascinated her.
She swallowed hard and nodded. “Fine.”
Only then did he unlock the door.
Elena slipped out into the rain, her knees weak, her heart racing. She told herself she hated him. She told herself she wanted nothing to do with him.
But as she climbed the stairs to her apartment, shivering and breathless, she couldn’t shake the memory of his eyes burning into hers.
She had broken her first rule. And deep down, she knew it wouldn’t be her last.
- Writer
