Chapter 7- the ghost in his past
1324 Words
Elena stared at the photograph.
Her fingers trembled.
It wasn't just a picture of her.
Someone had taken it from across the university courtyard without her knowing.
And beneath it were those words:
Ask Adrian what happened to his first love.
She read them again.
Then again.
Something about them felt like a warning.
Or a threat.
She looked toward the dark hallway.
Nothing moved.
"Maria?"
Her voice sounded embarrassingly small.
No answer.
Elena immediately grabbed her phone and hurried downstairs.
She didn't care about Adrian's rules anymore.
She needed answers.
The door to his study was closed.
Light spilled beneath it.
She knocked.
"Come in."
She opened the door.
Adrian stood behind his desk, speaking quietly with Damian.
Both men turned toward her.
Adrian's eyes immediately dropped to the photograph in her hand.
His entire expression changed.
"Where did you get that?"
Elena had never heard his voice sound like that.
Not angry.
Not cold.
Afraid.
"I found it outside my room."
Adrian crossed the room.
"Give it to me."
She held it out.
His fingers touched hers as he took it.
The moment he saw the writing on the back, his jaw tightened.
Damian swore beneath his breath.
Elena noticed.
"You know what it means."
Neither man answered.
"Adrian."
He looked at her.
"Who was she?"
Silence.
Elena's heart sank.
"Your first love?"
Adrian's expression became unreadable.
"Who told you about her?"
"The person who left this."
She stepped closer.
"Who was she?"
"Elena, this isn't something you need to involve yourself in."
"Someone is threatening me because of your past."
"I'll handle it."
"You always say that."
Her voice broke.
"You keep telling me you'll protect me, but you won't tell me anything."
Adrian stared at her.
"You don't need to know everything."
"Maybe I do!"
The room fell silent.
Elena realized she'd raised her voice.
But she couldn't stop.
"I'm tired of being kept in the dark. I woke up yesterday tied to a chair. Someone sent me pictures today. Now there's a photograph telling me to ask you about some woman."
She held his gaze.
"So tell me."
Adrian looked away.
"Her name was Isabella."
The name seemed to change the atmosphere in the room.
Damian slowly walked toward the door.
"I'll give you two some privacy."
Adrian nodded.
When the door closed, Elena looked at him.
"What happened to Isabella?"
Adrian remained silent for several seconds.
Then he walked to the window.
"She was the only person who ever knew me before I became this."
"Before you became the devil?"
His mouth tightened.
"Yes."
Elena moved closer.
"Did you love her?"
"Yes."
The answer came without hesitation.
Something unpleasant twisted inside Elena's chest.
She didn't understand why.
She shouldn't care.
She certainly didn't have the right to care.
Yet she did.
"What happened?"
Adrian's gaze remained fixed on the city.
"She died."
Elena's breath caught.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
He turned toward her.
"It wasn't your fault."
"I know."
"No."
His voice became quieter.
"You don't."
He walked toward the drinks cabinet but didn't pour anything.
"Isabella was killed because of me."
Elena's eyes widened.
"How?"
"I had enemies."
"You still do."
"Back then, I was young enough to believe I could protect everyone."
He gave a bitter laugh.
"I couldn't."
Elena studied him.
"What happened?"
"They took her."
"Like they took me?"
His eyes snapped toward hers.
"Yes."
The word landed heavily.
Elena swallowed.
"And you couldn't save her."
"No."
His expression hardened.
"They sent me a photograph of her just like the one you received."
Elena looked down at the photograph in her hand.
"That's why you're so afraid."
Adrian's eyes darkened.
"I'm not afraid."
"You are."
He didn't answer.
Elena took another step.
"That's why you watch me all the time."
"I watch you because you're a target."
"And because you're scared I'll end up like her."
His silence answered her.
Elena's anger softened.
Only slightly.
"I'm not Isabella."
"I know."
"Then stop treating me like I'm going to disappear."
Adrian looked at her for a long moment.
"I don't know how."
The honesty in his voice caught her off guard.
He looked tired again.
Vulnerable.
Human.
Elena hated that side of him.
It made hating him difficult.
She stepped closer.
"So what happened to the people who took her?"
Adrian's face became cold.
"I found them."
"And?"
"They're dead."
Elena stared at him.
There was no regret in his voice.
Only certainty.
"You killed them?"
"Yes."
She took a step back.
The man she'd almost begun feeling sorry for suddenly returned.
The mafia boss.
The killer.
The devil.
Adrian saw the fear in her eyes.
"I told you who I am."
"I know."
"Then don't pretend you can change me."
"I wasn't trying to."
"Good."
He turned away.
Elena looked at his back.
"I don't want to change you."
He stopped.
"I just want you to stop making decisions for me."
He slowly turned.
"Then tell me what you want."
She hesitated.
"I want to go back to university."
"No."
Her eyebrows shot up.
"You just said—"
"I said tell me what you want."
"And I'm telling you."
"It's too dangerous."
"Then give me protection."
"I already do."
"Then let me live my life."
Adrian stared at her.
Finally, he nodded.
"Fine."
Elena blinked.
"Fine?"
"You'll go back tomorrow."
"Really?"
"With security."
She sighed.
"Of course."
"And you'll stay with the driver."
"Adrian—"
"That's not negotiable."
She rolled her eyes.
"You're impossible."
A faint smile appeared.
"So I've been told."
For a brief moment, the tension between them eased.
Then Adrian noticed the photograph still in her hand.
His expression changed.
"Give me that."
Elena handed it over.
He studied it carefully.
"There's something wrong."
"What?"
"The photograph was taken today."
"Yes."
"That means whoever sent this was close enough to follow you."
Elena's blood ran cold.
"What are you saying?"
Adrian looked at her.
"I'm saying the person who sent this may have been inside the mansion."
She stared at him.
"No."
"I've increased security."
"But—"
"Until I know who it is, you don't go anywhere without me."
Elena's heart skipped.
"Without you?"
"Yes."
"That's excessive."
"It's necessary."
She opened her mouth to argue.
Then—
BANG!
A gunshot exploded somewhere downstairs.
Elena jumped.
Adrian immediately moved.
He grabbed her and pulled her behind him.
"Stay here."
Another gunshot.
Then shouting.
Adrian's men rushed past the study.
Adrian reached for the gun beneath his jacket.
Elena stared at him.
"Adrian..."
His eyes met hers.
For one brief second, the ruthless mask disappeared.
"Stay behind me."
He opened the door.
Then stopped.
He looked back at her.
"If I tell you to run, you run."
"What about you?"
His eyes held hers.
"I'll find you."
Then he disappeared into the hallway.
Elena stood frozen.
Seconds later, she heard shouting.
Then silence.
She waited.
One minute.
Two.
Five.
Finally, Adrian returned.
His shirt was torn.
A thin line of blood ran along his temple.
Elena rushed toward him before she could stop herself.
"You're hurt."
"It's nothing."
She reached toward his face.
He caught her wrist gently.
Their eyes met.
Neither moved.
His grip loosened.
Elena could feel his thumb against her pulse.
His gaze dropped briefly to her lips.
Her breath caught.
For a moment, the room felt impossibly quiet.
Then Adrian released her.
"We need to leave."
"Why?"
His expression was grim.
"Because the person who attacked us wasn't trying to get inside."
Elena frowned.
"Then what were they doing?"
Adrian looked toward the window.
"They were leaving something."
Her stomach dropped.
"What?"
He reached into his pocket.
And pulled out a small black envelope.
Elena recognized it immediately.
The same black paper.
The same handwriting.
Adrian opened it.
Inside was another photograph.
This time, it wasn't of Elena.
It was of Adrian.
Standing beside Isabella.
On the back were four words:
SHE'S NOT REALLY DEAD. :::
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