His Dangerous Obsession

Chapter 14

The whisper came again.

"Welcome home, Elena."

She froze.

Adrian immediately stepped in front of her.

His entire body went rigid.

"Stay behind me."

Elena gripped the back of his shirt.

"That's Gabriel."

"I know."

"But he's dead."

"I know that too."

Isabel stood near the fireplace, her face suddenly drained of color.

For the first time since Elena had found her mother again, Isabel looked genuinely frightened.

"Don't open the door," she whispered.

Adrian's eyes moved toward her.

"Why?"

Isabel didn't answer.

A soft knock sounded.

Three times.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Elena's heart hammered.

"Mom?"

Isabel looked at her.

"There's something I need to tell you."

Adrian's voice was cold.

"Start talking."

Isabel swallowed.

"Gabriel isn't dead."

Elena stared at her.

"What?"

"He never was."

Adrian's expression darkened.

"You knew?"

"I suspected."

"You told me he was dead."

"I needed you to believe that."

Elena stepped forward.

"You've been lying to me too."

"I was trying to protect you."

Elena laughed bitterly.

"Everyone says that."

Another knock.

This time louder.

Adrian reached for the weapon hidden beneath his jacket.

"How many entrances?"

"Three," Isabel answered.

"Windows?"

"Six."

"Other exits?"

"Basement."

Adrian nodded.

Then he looked at Elena.

"Stay here."

She shook her head.

"No."

"Elena."

"I'm not hiding again."

His eyes narrowed.

"This isn't an argument."

"It is if you're trying to leave me behind."

"I am."

"And I'm saying no."

He stepped closer.

"Do you understand what happens if Gabriel is outside?"

"Yes."

"No, you don't."

His voice lowered.

"He's already tried to kill you once."

"And you think putting me in another room will make me safe?"

"It will make it harder for him to reach you."

Elena stared into his eyes.

"You promised my father."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"I know what I promised."

"Then stop treating me like I'm something you have to lock away."

Something flickered across his face.

Frustration.

Fear.

Possessiveness.

Then he reached for her hand.

His fingers wrapped around hers.

"Fine."

Elena blinked.

"Fine?"

"You stay beside me."

She nodded.

"But you do exactly what I tell you when things go wrong."

She almost smiled.

"You really can't stop giving orders."

"No."

"At least you're honest."

His thumb brushed over her knuckles.

"Stay close."

"I will."

He didn't release her hand.

Neither did she.

Isabel watched them silently.

Then she whispered,

"There's another reason Gabriel came here."

Adrian looked at her.

"What?"

"He doesn't want Elena's memories."

Elena's stomach tightened.

"Then what does he want?"

Isabel looked at her daughter.

"He wants Adrian."

Silence.

Adrian's expression didn't change.

"Why?"

"Because of the inheritance."

Elena frowned.

"The Black Rose?"

Isabel nodded.

"Adrian isn't just the heir."

She looked toward him.

"He's the final authority."

Adrian's eyes hardened.

"That's impossible."

"Your grandfather changed the succession before he disappeared."

"Why?"

"Because he knew someone would eventually try to take control."

"Who?"

Isabel's voice became quiet.

"Gabriel."

The lights flickered.

Adrian raised his weapon.

Then the electricity went out completely.

Elena gasped.

The house fell into darkness.

"Stay with me," Adrian whispered.

"I am."

Something crashed downstairs.

Adrian pulled Elena against him.

"Don't move."

Footsteps echoed through the house.

Slow.

Calm.

Almost casual.

Elena could hear Adrian breathing beside her.

His arm was wrapped firmly around her waist.

She whispered,

"He's inside."

"I know."

"How?"

"The door never opened."

Her heart raced.

Another sound came from the hallway.

A man's voice.

"Adrian."

Adrian's eyes narrowed.

Gabriel.

"I'm impressed."

Elena felt Adrian's grip tighten.

Gabriel continued.

"You always were difficult to surprise."

Adrian stepped forward.

"Show yourself."

A laugh echoed through the darkness.

"You still sound like your father."

Adrian's expression changed.

"Don't mention him."

"Why?"

Gabriel's voice came closer.

"Does it hurt?"

Adrian moved toward the sound.

Elena grabbed his arm.

"Don't."

He looked back at her.

His eyes were darker than she'd ever seen them.

"I'm not letting him walk away."

"That's exactly what he wants."

Adrian stopped.

She whispered,

"He's trying to make you angry."

Adrian looked at her for several seconds.

Then slowly nodded.

"Stay behind me."

They moved together through the darkness.

Isabel followed.

A shadow crossed the hallway.

Adrian raised his weapon.

"Stop."

The shadow disappeared.

Then a light came on.

A single lamp.

At the end of the hall stood a man.

Elena's breath caught.

Gabriel.

He looked different from the last time she'd seen him.

Older.

A scar crossed his cheek.

But it was him.

He smiled.

"Hello again."

Adrian raised his gun.

Gabriel didn't flinch.

"You won't shoot."

"Try me."

Gabriel's eyes moved to Elena.

"You see?"

Adrian stepped in front of her.

"Look at me."

Gabriel smiled.

"Still protective."

"She's not part of this."

"She's the only reason you're part of it."

Adrian's jaw tightened.

Gabriel took a slow step forward.

"Your grandfather doesn't want the Black Rose anymore."

"Then what does he want?"

"You."

Adrian laughed coldly.

"He already tried to kill me."

"Because you refused to become what he wanted."

"And now?"

"Now he's realized he doesn't need you alive."

Elena felt Adrian tense.

"What does that mean?" she asked.

Gabriel looked directly at her.

"If Adrian dies, the organization passes to you."

Elena's blood ran cold.

"What?"

Isabel closed her eyes.

She knew.

Adrian turned toward her.

"You knew about this."

Isabel didn't deny it.

"Yes."

He looked furious.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because knowing would have made you a target."

"I already am a target."

"Now you understand why."

Gabriel smiled.

"That's not the interesting part."

Adrian's gaze returned to him.

"What is?"

Gabriel looked at Elena.

"The succession requires one final condition."

Elena swallowed.

"What condition?"

Gabriel's smile widened.

"The heir must choose his consort."

Adrian went still.

Elena stared at him.

"Consort?"

"The woman who stands beside the heir."

Gabriel's eyes moved between them.

"Without that choice, Adrian's claim can be challenged."

Elena looked at Adrian.

"Is that why they're after me?"

"Partly."

"And the rest?"

Gabriel answered.

"Because Adrian has already chosen."

The room became silent.

Elena's heartbeat pounded.

She looked at Adrian.

He didn't look away.

"Have you?" she whispered.

Adrian's eyes remained fixed on hers.

"Yes."

Her breath caught.

Gabriel laughed.

"See?"

Adrian raised his weapon toward him.

"Enough."

Gabriel took another step.

"You're willing to destroy everything for her."

"Yes."

The answer came without hesitation.

Elena stared at him.

Adrian lowered the weapon slightly.

"I don't care about the Black Rose."

Gabriel's smile disappeared.

"You should."

"I care about Elena."

Her heart stopped.

Adrian continued.

"If choosing her means losing the organization, I'll lose it."

Gabriel looked almost surprised.

"You'd give up an empire for one woman?"

"Without hesitation."

Elena's eyes filled with tears.

Adrian turned toward her.

His expression softened.

"You're not an inheritance."

He stepped closer.

"You're not a key."

Another step.

"And you're not something anyone gets to own."

His hand touched her cheek.

"You're Elena."

She whispered,

"Adrian..."

His thumb brushed away a tear.

"And I'm not letting them take you."

For a moment, the danger surrounding them seemed to disappear.

There was only the two of them.

Elena reached for his hand.

He pulled her closer.

Their foreheads touched.

"You scared me," she whispered.

"I know."

"I thought you were going to get yourself killed again."

"I won't."

"You can't promise that."

"I can promise I'll do everything I can to come back to you."

Her fingers curled into his shirt.

"Why?"

His eyes searched hers.

"Because you're the reason I want to."

Elena's heart broke open.

She leaned closer.

Adrian hesitated for only a second before kissing her.

It wasn't rushed.

It wasn't forceful.

It was quiet.

Almost tender.

His hand rested against her waist while hers moved to his shoulder.

When they separated, Adrian remained close.

His forehead rested against hers.

"Tell me if you want me to stop."

"I don't."

He kissed her again.

Longer this time.

Elena forgot about the mansion.

The Black Rose.

The secrets.

For several seconds, she forgot everything except the warmth of his arms around her.

Then—

A gunshot shattered the moment.

Adrian immediately turned.

Gabriel was gone.

A window stood open.

Isabel rushed toward it.

"He's escaped."

Adrian cursed.

Elena looked at him.

"What was he trying to do?"

Adrian walked toward the window.

He looked outside.

Nothing.

Then he noticed something on the floor.

A black envelope.

He picked it up.

There was a single name written on the front.

ELENA.

Her stomach tightened.

Adrian opened it.

Inside was a photograph.

Elena stared at it.

It showed her and Adrian standing together at the mansion.

But the photograph had been taken only minutes ago.

On the back was a message.

You have until midnight.

Beneath it:

Choose him, and your mother dies.

Elena looked up.

"Mom."

Isabel stood frozen.

Then her phone rang.

She answered.

Nobody spoke.

Instead, a video began playing.

Isabel's face went white.

Elena moved closer.

"What is it?"

Her mother slowly lowered the phone.

"It's your father."

Elena's heart stopped.

"He's alive?"

Isabel nodded.

"But..."

She looked at Adrian.

"They have him."

Adrian's expression became dangerously cold.

Elena grabbed his hand.

"What are we going to do?"

He looked at her.

Then at the photograph.

Then toward the darkness outside.

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

"We're going to take back everything they stole from us."

He squeezed her hand.

"And this time, Elena..."

His eyes darkened.

"I'm not playing by their rules."