Chapter 6 - the man behind the mask
1339 Words
Elena didn't sleep.
Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered the abandoned room.
The ropes around her wrists.
The stranger's voice.
You're his weakness.
And then Adrian.
The way he'd stormed through the door.
The look in his eyes when he'd seen her tied to that chair.
She hated that memory most of all.
Because for one terrifying moment, she'd felt safe.
With him.
Elena rolled onto her side and stared at the clock.
2:17 a.m.
She sighed and climbed out of bed.
She needed water.
The hallway was dark.
She slipped quietly downstairs, intending to go straight to the kitchen.
Then she heard voices.
She stopped.
They were coming from Adrian's study.
One voice belonged to Adrian.
The other sounded angry.
"You can't keep her here."
Elena froze.
She shouldn't listen.
She knew that.
But she couldn't make herself move.
"She's already become a liability," the stranger continued. "People are talking."
Adrian's voice was dangerously calm.
"Let them talk."
"She's a weakness."
"Choose your next words carefully."
A heavy silence followed.
Then the stranger spoke again.
"You're changing, Adrian."
Elena's heart began to pound.
"Before her, you'd have killed the man who did this without hesitation."
"I still might."
"But you didn't."
Adrian said nothing.
"That's my point."
Elena stepped closer to the door.
Then Adrian spoke.
"Leave."
The man's voice became quieter.
"You know I'm right."
"I said leave."
The door suddenly opened.
Elena jumped backward.
Adrian stood there.
His expression changed when he saw her.
"What are you doing awake?"
She swallowed.
"I was thirsty."
His eyes narrowed.
"You heard us."
It wasn't a question.
Elena looked away.
"Some of it."
Adrian stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind him.
"You shouldn't be wandering around alone."
"I couldn't sleep."
"Because of what happened?"
She nodded.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Adrian noticed her bare feet.
"You're barefoot."
Elena looked down.
"So?"
"The floor is cold."
"I'm fine."
He sighed.
Without warning, he bent down.
Elena's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?"
He picked her up.
"Adrian!"
She instinctively wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"Put me down."
"No."
"I can walk!"
"I know."
She glared at him.
"Then why are you carrying me?"
"Because apparently you're determined to argue with everything I say tonight."
Despite herself, Elena almost laughed.
Almost.
He carried her toward the kitchen.
His grip was firm but careful.
She could feel the warmth of his body through his shirt.
Her heart started beating faster.
She hated that.
She hated how comfortable his arms felt.
When he finally set her down, she immediately stepped away.
Adrian opened a cabinet.
"Tea?"
"No."
"Water?"
"Yes."
He poured her a glass.
She took it.
"Thank you."
He leaned against the counter.
"You should try to sleep."
"I can't."
"Why?"
She hesitated.
"Because every time I close my eyes, I see that room."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"I'm sorry."
Elena looked at him sharply.
"What?"
"I'm sorry you were dragged into this."
She hadn't expected that.
"You didn't drag me into it."
"No."
His eyes lowered.
"Your father did."
Elena swallowed.
"Do you hate him?"
Adrian was silent.
"I don't know."
"That's a strange answer."
"He disappoints me."
"You barely know him."
"I know men like him."
His voice became colder.
"Men who destroy everyone around them because they can't control themselves."
Elena looked at him.
"And you're different?"
Adrian's eyes met hers.
"No."
She frowned.
"I'm worse."
Something about his honesty unsettled her.
"What did you do?"
"Enough."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting."
She studied him.
For the first time, she noticed how tired he looked.
Not physically.
Something deeper.
Like he'd been carrying an enormous weight for years.
"Do you ever regret anything?"
His jaw tightened.
"Every day."
Elena didn't expect that.
"What?"
He looked toward the window.
"Every decision has a price."
"Even becoming a mafia boss?"
A bitter smile touched his lips.
"I didn't choose this life."
"Then why stay?"
"Because once you're born into this world, leaving isn't as simple as walking away."
Elena stared at him.
For a moment, she saw something beneath the ruthless exterior.
A boy who had never been given a choice.
A man who had learned to survive by becoming harder than everyone around him.
She quickly looked away.
She didn't want to feel sorry for him.
He was still the man holding her father's debt over her head.
He was still the reason she was trapped here.
"Thank you for saving me," she said quietly.
Adrian looked at her.
"But I still hate you."
A faint smile appeared.
"I know."
"You're not offended?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I'd hate me too."
She looked at him.
"Sometimes you're strange."
"Sometimes?"
A small smile escaped her.
She immediately tried to hide it.
Adrian noticed.
He didn't comment.
Instead, he took the empty glass from her hand.
"Go upstairs."
She nodded.
She turned toward the staircase.
Then stopped.
"Adrian?"
"Yes?"
"Who was that man?"
Adrian's expression changed.
"Which man?"
"The one in your study."
"Someone you don't need to know."
"Is he dangerous?"
"Yes."
"Is he going to hurt me?"
Adrian's eyes became cold.
"No."
His voice left no room for doubt.
"Because if he tries, he'll have to go through me first."
Elena stared at him.
There it was again.
That feeling.
That dangerous sense of safety.
She hated it.
So she forced herself to look away.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Elena."
She climbed the stairs.
Adrian watched until she disappeared.
Only then did his expression change.
He walked back into his study.
The man he'd been speaking to was still waiting.
His name was Damian Cross.
One of Adrian's oldest allies.
And one of the few people who wasn't afraid to challenge him.
"You care about her," Damian said.
Adrian's gaze sharpened.
"Don't."
"You already know what happens when a man like you starts caring."
Adrian walked toward the desk.
"What happens?"
"Someone dies."
Silence.
Adrian stared at him.
Damian continued.
"Your father cared once."
Adrian went completely still.
"Don't mention my father."
"He had a weakness too."
"Enough."
"His weakness destroyed this family."
Adrian's eyes turned murderous.
"I said enough."
Damian stepped closer.
"And now you've made the same mistake."
Adrian grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
Damian didn't flinch.
"Then prove it."
Adrian released him.
Damian straightened his jacket.
"The girl is already being watched."
"I know."
"And whoever took her wasn't trying to kill her."
"I know."
"They wanted you to understand something."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
Damian looked toward the stairs.
"They can reach her."
Adrian's face became unreadable.
"Then we'll make sure they regret trying."
---
Upstairs, Elena stood outside her bedroom.
She had heard something.
A faint noise from the end of the hallway.
She turned.
Nothing.
The lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then went out.
Elena froze.
The mansion fell into darkness.
Her heart began racing.
"Hello?"
No answer.
She reached for her phone.
No signal.
Then she heard footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
Coming from the darkness.
Elena backed toward her bedroom door.
"Who's there?"
The footsteps stopped.
A whisper came from the shadows.
"Elena."
Her blood ran cold.
She didn't recognize the voice.
Then a hand reached from the darkness.
And before she could scream—
The lights came back on.
No one was there.
Except a small black envelope lying on the floor at her feet.
Elena stared at it.
Her hands trembled as she picked it up.
There was no name.
No address.
Only three words written across the front.
HE CAN'T PROTECT YOU.
Elena's heart pounded.
She looked toward Adrian's study.
Then back at the envelope.
Slowly, she opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Her photograph.
Taken that afternoon.
On the back, someone had written:
Ask Adrian what happened to his first love.
Elena's breath caught.
She had no idea who Adrian's first love was.
But judging from the sudden chill running through her—
she was about to find out.
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