ATTRACTED TO THE ENEMY

CHAPTER 5

LUNA AVALON

I spin once more in the dance, my movements precise and fluid, as if Damien and I were parts of the same mechanism, a lethal game of power and desire.

When we stop, I stand before him, feeling the surrounding gazes. Everyone is watching. A Widow and a predator, wrapped in a dangerous ballet.

I run a hand through my hair, trying to regain control of myself, but my breathing is erratic.

His hand presses lightly against my neck, his thumb sliding over my skin.

A touch that might seem affectionate to an outsider, but I know better.

Damien is playing with me. And the worst part? I feel something burning inside me. Anger. Confusion. What is happening to me?

Memories of my dead sister cut through any reverie, and before Damien can pull me even closer, before his lips dare to touch mine, I abruptly step away.

I hate the way my body reacts—how it seems to know exactly how to provoke me. My gaze is pure ice when it meets his.

I turn away, leaving the dance floor and walking straight to the bar.

I grab a glass and down the bitter liquid in one gulp. I need to pull myself together. I need to find the right moment to end all of this.

The night continues, and I don’t take my eyes off Damien.

He is at the center of attention, as always. Women throw themselves at him, some kneeling at his feet, submissive as the game of the night demands. Annoying.

Damien lifts his eyes and finds mine across the room.

A malicious smile curves his lips, as if he knows exactly what I’m thinking. As if he’s waiting to see when I will make a move.

Bastard.

And then he moves. Unhurried, he disappears down a side corridor.

My hand slides to my thigh, feeling the outline of the weapon strapped there. My chance.

I finish my drink and follow him, walking through the silent hallway.

He’s playing with me. Letting me follow him, knowing full well that I can’t kill him with so many eyes watching. But here… here might be different.

Then I stop. Damien opens a door and steps inside, accompanied by two women. I watch as he closes the door behind him.

Damn it.

I sigh.

He knows I’m here, knows I’m following him. And he also knows I never kill innocents.

Annoyed, I turn back and head toward the back exit.

The cold night air surrounds me, helping to clear my mind. But it’s only a second of relief before everything falls apart.

Strong hands grab me.

I struggle, twisting my body, but the grip is unbreakable.

My heart races when my eyes meet those of the two men in front of me. Red eyes. Sharp fangs.

Vampires.

"A Widow...", one of them whispers, his lips curving into a predatory smile.

My blood runs cold for a second before I react.

My hand moves swiftly to the weapon strapped to my thigh, but before I can fire, one of the vampires throws me to the ground.

I move fast, aiming the gun directly at his neck.

The shot echoes through the night, and he falls lifeless.

The other lunges at me.

Before I can shoot, another shot rings out, and the vampire collapses beside me.

I lift my eyes, ready to attack whoever it is, but fury takes over when I see who stands before me.

Damien. Holding a pistol, a cynical smile on his face.

He extends a hand to me.

"Need help?"

I growled, standing up without taking his hand.

"I don’t need your help."

Damien laughs, seeming amused by my anger. He reaches out and grabs my arm.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

He arches an eyebrow but doesn’t let go.

I pull my gun, aiming it straight at him.

"Shoot.", Damien challenges, his voice low and dangerously smooth.

My fingers almost squeeze the trigger, but then I notice the surrounding movement.

More of them.

Vampires emerge from the shadows, their gleaming eyes locked onto us.

"Do you want to stay and kill them one by one, or kill me now?", Damien asks, his expression still filled with amusement.

I curse, realizing I have no choice. Damien is setting me up, but if I stay here, I won’t stand a chance against so many vampires.

"I’m still going to kill you.", I mutter through clenched teeth.

He smiles.

"I know you’ll try."

With no other option, I run alongside him.

The vampires chase after us fast, and I feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

Damien points to a car at the corner, keys already in hand.

"Get in.", he orders.

"I’m not getting in your car."

"Now is not the time for your pride. Get in or die out here."

When one of the vampires gets too close, I have no choice but to throw myself into the car.

Damien gets in at the same time and speeds away, leaving the hunters behind.

The silence between us is cutting.

I grip my gun, still watching him. Damien glances at me from the corner of his eye and smirks again.

"I told you this would be fun, didn’t I?"

I growl, looking out the window. I hate being here. I hate that, once again, he’s in control.

Damien drives at high speed, leaving behind the lights and sounds of the club. The silence between us is heavy, but not uncomfortable. I watch him from the corner of my eye, trying to decipher his expression, but he keeps his gaze fixed on the road.

"Where are we going?", I ask, crossing my arms.

"As far as possible.", he replies without taking his eyes off the road.

"The vampires were after me too."

I let out a low laugh.

"A werewolf afraid of vampires? Never thought I’d see the day."

He narrows his eyes at me for a second before turning back to the road.

"I’m not afraid. I just prefer not to be cornered by a pack of them."

I don’t respond. I just lean back in the seat and stare out the window.

The city lights fade as we drive away, replaced by dark, empty roads. After a while, he breaks the silence.

"I know a safe place."

"I’m not afraid of vampires.", I say without looking at him.

He lets out a short laugh.

"I saw that."

More silence. The only sound is the car engine and the rustling trees as the wind blows outside.

After a while, he glances at me briefly.

"When did you join the Widows’ Club?"

My jaw clenches.

"That’s none of your business."

He doesn’t seem surprised by my answer. He just makes a low sound of understanding.

"Your minds are trained too, aren’t they? Not just your bodies. The way you shut down… it’s fascinating."

I don’t respond. I could ask what he knows about it, but I don’t want to extend this conversation. Instead, I focus on the dark road ahead.

Two hours later, he slows the car and turns onto a narrow dirt road. The forest closes in around us, and soon I see a luxurious cabin in the middle of nowhere. He parks and turns off the engine.

I immediately get out, my senses on high alert. I scan the area for any threats, but all I see are trees and the dark sky above us.

"Relax, Widow.", Damien says, stepping out of the car with a cynical smile.

"If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it already."

I roll my eyes and head inside the cabin.

The place is much more luxurious than I imagined. Leather furniture, an imposing fireplace, and huge windows overlooking the dark forest. I still grip my gun tightly as I scan the room.

Behind me, Damien starts taking off his suit, tossing it casually over a chair.

"What are you waiting for?", he stares at me.

"Are you going to kill me now?"

My mouth opens, but no words come out. I don’t know why I hesitate. He should be dead. I should have ended this before we got here.

I look away and walk to the fireplace, watching the flames dance. Damien steps closer and hands me his suit jacket.

"Here. You must be cold."

I eye him with suspicion.

"Why are you doing this?"

He sits down in front of the fire and shrugs.

"Because, contrary to what you think, I'm not a cold monster all the time."

I let out a sarcastic laugh.

"Yes, you are."

He smiles but doesn’t reply. Instead, he gestures toward the chair in front of him.

"Sit. You're too tense."

I hesitate but eventually sit down, keeping my gun on my lap, my guard still up.

"I wasn’t always like this, you know?", he starts.

"But losing someone you love changes everything."

My breath falters. He’s talking about my sister. I know he is. The weight of emotion tightens in my chest, and I look away from him, staring into the fire, fighting the moisture in my eyes.

"I loved her more than anything.", he continues, his voice lower now.

"But she was human. Fragile. And the world… the world doesn’t forgive the weak. So I became what I needed to be. Cold. Rational. Safe."

My throat tightens. I hate him. What is he trying to do? Justify what he did? Wash away the guilt?

"And you? Did you lose someone too?", he asks.

I keep my eyes on the fire and don’t answer.

"Is that what made you become a professional killer?"

I stand up.

"I don’t want to talk about this."

He stands up too, fast, grabbing my arm before I can step away.

"Your eyes…", he murmurs, tilting his head slightly.

"They look familiar."

My breath catches as he steps closer. My back is against the wall, and he’s right in front of me. His hand moves up slowly, his fingers grazing my skin.

I would never allow this. Never. But for some reason, it’s happening.

"What are you so afraid of, Luna?", his voice is low, husky.

I shake my head.

"I'm not afraid of anything."

I pull away and rush to the bathroom. I grip the sink, take a deep breath, and stare at my reflection in the mirror. My mind is a mess.

Damien loved her?

Then why did he kill her?

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to push the memories away. Trying to remind myself of my goal, my mission. But everything feels more blurred now.

When I step out of the bathroom, Damien is gone. The place is silent. Something inside me stirs uneasily.

I leave the cabin and walk through the forest, following my instincts. And then I find him, standing among the trees, looking up at the sky.

He hears my steps and speaks without turning to me.

"Beautiful night."

I stop behind him.

"I should kill you."

He tilts his head slightly, a faint smile on his lips.

"I know."

Then why haven’t I done it yet?