Chapter 5- dangerous proximity
1327 Words
Elena's first thought was that she was going to die.
Her second was that she refused to let them see her afraid.
She lifted her chin and stared at the stranger standing in front of her.
"Where is Adrian?"
The man laughed.
"Still thinking about him?"
"I asked you a question."
"You should be asking yourself why the most powerful man in this city would risk everything for you."
Elena said nothing.
The man's smile widened.
"Interesting."
"What?"
"You don't even realize it yet."
"Realize what?"
"You're his weakness."
Before Elena could respond, a door slammed somewhere outside.
The man's expression changed.
He looked toward the hallway.
"What was that?"
Then came another sound.
A gunshot.
The man cursed.
Elena's heart leapt.
She knew that sound.
She had heard it at Adrian's mansion.
The man rushed toward the door.
A second later—
BOOM!
The door flew inward.
Two men crashed into the room.
And behind them stood Adrian.
His black suit was disheveled, his jaw clenched, and his eyes were murderous.
"Step away from her."
The kidnapper reached for his weapon.
He never got the chance.
Adrian crossed the room in seconds.
A struggle followed.
Elena squeezed her eyes shut.
When she opened them again, the stranger was on the floor, and Adrian was standing over him.
"Adrian."
He turned.
The moment his eyes landed on Elena, something changed.
The fury disappeared.
"Are you hurt?"
Elena shook her head.
He immediately crouched in front of her and began cutting through the restraints around her wrists.
His hands were steady.
"Look at me."
She did.
"Did he touch you?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Adrian's jaw relaxed slightly.
Then he noticed the red marks around her wrists.
His expression darkened again.
"You're bleeding."
"It's nothing."
"It's not nothing."
He carefully touched the skin beside the marks.
Elena flinched.
Adrian immediately pulled his hand away.
"Sorry."
That one word surprised her.
She stared at him.
The feared Adrian Vale had apologized.
He stood.
"Can you walk?"
"Yes."
She tried.
Her legs immediately buckled.
Adrian caught her before she hit the floor.
For one suspended moment, Elena found herself against his chest.
His arm was firmly around her waist.
Her hands rested against his shoulders.
She could feel his heartbeat.
Fast.
Much faster than she expected.
His eyes lowered to hers.
Neither spoke.
Elena became painfully aware of how close they were.
His face was inches from hers.
She could feel his warm breath against her cheek.
For a second, the world seemed to disappear.
Then Elena remembered.
This man had taken her from her home.
She pushed against his chest.
"Let go."
Adrian immediately did.
She stepped away.
"I can walk."
He nodded.
"I know."
She hated how calm he was.
She hated even more that part of her had wanted him to keep holding her.
---
The ride back to the mansion was silent.
Elena sat beside the window.
Adrian sat across from her.
Neither spoke.
Finally, Elena broke the silence.
"You didn't have to come."
Adrian looked at her.
"Yes, I did."
"Why?"
He didn't answer.
She turned toward him.
"You said I'm collateral."
"I remember."
"So why risk your life?"
His eyes remained on hers.
"Because you're under my protection."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
"No."
Elena's voice sharpened.
"You could have sent your men."
"I did."
"And then you came anyway."
Silence.
She studied him.
"You were scared."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"No."
"You were."
"I don't get scared."
"Then why were you shaking?"
His eyes narrowed.
Elena hadn't even realized she'd noticed.
He looked away.
"I was angry."
"That's not what it looked like."
Adrian leaned back.
"Be careful, Elena."
"Why?"
"Because you're starting to notice too much."
Her heart skipped.
"What does that mean?"
He looked directly at her.
"It means you should stop looking at me like that."
She frowned.
"Like what?"
"Like you're trying to understand me."
She looked away.
"I don't care enough to understand you."
A faint smile appeared.
"Good."
"Why?"
"Because understanding me would make things difficult."
Elena's pulse quickened.
"Things are already difficult."
---
Back at the mansion, Adrian led her upstairs.
She stopped outside her bedroom.
"Thank you."
He nodded.
She reached for the door.
"Elena."
She turned.
Adrian was standing behind her.
"What?"
"Your wrists."
He glanced at the red marks.
"You need to put something on them."
"I'll be fine."
"Let me."
She hesitated.
"Let you what?"
"Treat them."
Elena stared at him.
"I can do it myself."
"I know."
There was that answer again.
She couldn't understand why he kept saying it.
He wasn't trying to control her.
Not this time.
He was simply offering.
Against her better judgment, Elena nodded.
"Fine."
They went into her room.
Adrian retrieved a small medical kit from the bathroom.
He sat beside her.
Elena held out her wrist.
His fingers gently wrapped around it.
The contrast was almost absurd.
This was the same man who had terrified everyone downstairs.
The same man whose name made grown men tremble.
Yet he was carefully applying antiseptic to her bruised skin as though she might break.
Elena watched him.
"Why are you different with me?"
His hand paused.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"No."
"You are."
He looked up.
Their eyes met.
"Maybe you just bring out a part of me I don't show anyone else."
Elena's breath caught.
He looked back down at her wrist.
"Don't make that mean more than it does."
"I wasn't."
"Good."
But neither of them moved.
His fingers remained around her wrist.
Her face was close to his.
Too close.
Elena could see the faint scar near his eyebrow.
The sharp line of his jaw.
The darkness in his eyes.
She suddenly became aware of his thumb brushing lightly against her skin.
Her breathing changed.
So did his.
For one dangerous second, neither of them looked away.
Adrian slowly released her hand.
"That's enough."
Elena frowned.
"What?"
He stood.
"Go to sleep."
She stared at him.
"You started this."
"I know."
"Then why are you leaving?"
His eyes darkened.
"Because I know when to stop."
He walked toward the door.
Elena's heart was beating too fast.
"Adrian."
He stopped.
She didn't know what she wanted to say.
She hated him.
She should hate him.
He was the reason her life had become a nightmare.
Yet when he turned around, she couldn't stop looking at him.
"Goodnight," she finally whispered.
His gaze softened.
"Goodnight, Elena."
The door closed.
Elena sat on the edge of the bed, touching the place where his fingers had been.
She immediately pulled her hand away.
"No."
She shook her head.
"I hate him."
But the words didn't sound as convincing as they had yesterday.
---
Downstairs, Adrian entered his study.
Marco was waiting.
"We found the man who ordered the kidnapping."
Adrian removed his watch.
"Who?"
Marco hesitated.
"Someone close."
Adrian looked up.
"Name."
Marco placed a photograph on the desk.
Adrian stared at it.
His expression became completely still.
Then his eyes turned cold.
"You're certain?"
"Yes."
Adrian picked up the photograph.
The traitor wasn't one of his enemies.
It was someone who had worked beside him for years.
Someone who knew every security measure.
Someone who knew exactly where Elena would be.
Adrian's fingers tightened around the photograph.
"Bring him to me."
Marco nodded.
"Alive?"
Adrian looked toward the ceiling.
Toward the room where Elena was sleeping.
Then he looked back at Marco.
"Yes."
A pause.
"I want him alive long enough to tell me who else knows about her."
Marco nodded and left.
Adrian remained alone.
He walked to the window.
For the first time in years, he allowed himself to admit the truth.
Elena wasn't merely collateral anymore.
She was becoming something far more dangerous.
Something he couldn't afford to lose.
And if his enemies had discovered that...
They would keep coming.
Until they destroyed everything he had.
Or until Adrian Vale destroyed them first.
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