His Enemy, His Obsession

Her Father's Shadow

Serena woke to the sound of glass breaking.

She shot upright.

For a moment, she didn't know where she was.

Then she heard another crash.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

Someone was inside the house.

She reached for her phone on the nightstand.

No signal.

Of course.

Her hands trembled as she slipped out of bed.

Another sound came from downstairs.

A drawer opening.

Then footsteps.

Serena quietly locked her bedroom door.

Her mind raced.

She needed to call someone.

Her father.

The police.

Anyone.

Then she remembered Ryder.

She grabbed her phone again.

Still no signal.

A shadow moved beneath her bedroom door.

Serena covered her mouth to keep herself from screaming.

The doorknob slowly turned.

Locked.

The person on the other side paused.

Then came three soft knocks.

"Miss Vale?"

Serena froze.

She recognized the voice.

"Mr. Cole?"

"Open the door."

Serena unlocked it.

Mack stood in the hallway.

Behind him were two members of the Black Reapers.

Serena stared.

"What are you doing here?"

"Keeping you alive."

"What?"

Mack stepped inside.

"Your security system was disabled twelve minutes ago."

Serena's stomach dropped.

"How?"

"That's what we're trying to find out."

She looked toward the broken window.

"Someone broke in?"

"Someone tried."

"Where are they?"

"Gone."

Serena wrapped her arms around herself.

"How did you know?"

Mack exchanged a glance with one of the men.

Then he answered.

"Ryder."

Of course.

Serena's heart fluttered despite her fear.

"Where is he?"

"On his way."

Ryder arrived seven minutes later.

He came through the front door like a storm.

His eyes immediately found Serena.

He crossed the room.

"Are you hurt?"

She shook her head.

"No."

"Did you see anyone?"

"No."

"Did anyone touch you?"

"No."

Ryder's shoulders relaxed slightly.

Only then did Serena realize how frightened he looked.

Not angry.

Not cold.

Frightened.

For her.

"You came."

His eyes met hers.

"I told you I'd keep you safe."

Serena swallowed.

"You didn't have to."

"Yes."

His answer was immediate.

"I did."

Something changed inside her.

She looked away.

"Why?"

Ryder didn't answer.

Because he didn't have one that wouldn't expose him.

He had entered her life intending to use her.

Now the thought of someone hurting her made something savage rise inside him.

Mack cleared his throat.

"We found something."

Ryder looked at him.

"What?"

Mack handed him a small plastic evidence bag.

Inside was a silver cufflink.

Ryder studied it.

"Where?"

"Near the window."

Serena stepped closer.

"That's not mine."

Ryder looked at her.

"I know."

He turned the cufflink over.

A tiny symbol had been engraved into the metal.

A snake wrapped around a crown.

Ryder's expression changed.

"You recognize it?"

Mack nodded.

"Unfortunately."

Serena looked between them.

"What does it mean?"

Ryder didn't answer.

Mack did.

"Someone has been watching the Vale family for years."

Serena's eyes widened.

"Who?"

Mack glanced at Ryder.

Ryder's jaw tightened.

"The Vipers."

Serena frowned.

"Who are they?"

"A rival organization."

Ryder looked at the broken window.

"And they don't usually leave warnings."

An hour later, Serena sat in the kitchen with a cup of coffee she hadn't touched.

Ryder stood near the window.

Mack and the others had left.

They were alone.

Serena watched Ryder silently.

"You don't trust me."

Ryder turned.

"What?"

"You keep looking at me like you're trying to figure something out."

He walked toward the table.

"I'm trying to protect you."

"That's not what I mean."

She pushed the coffee away.

"You came into my life suddenly. You know things about my family that I don't know. My father hates you. Someone is watching

me. And somehow you always seem to know when something is going to happen."

Ryder pulled out the chair opposite her.

"You're right."

Serena blinked.

"I am?"

"You should be suspicious."

"Then why shouldn't I walk away?"

"Because whoever broke into your house knows you're connected to me now."

Her stomach tightened.

"So I'm in danger because of you?"

"Maybe."

She stared at him.

He didn't try to lie.

That honesty unsettled her more than a lie would have.

"Then leave."

Ryder frowned.

"What?"

"Leave me alone."

He leaned back.

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because I don't trust the people coming after you."

"And you?"

His eyes held hers.

"You shouldn't trust me either."

Serena's chest tightened.

"That's not very reassuring."

"I'm not trying to reassure you."

"What are you trying to do?"

"Keep you alive."

She stared at him.

"Why?"

Ryder looked away.

He couldn't tell her.

Not yet.

That afternoon, Serena went to her father's office.

Damon was standing beside the window.

He didn't turn when she entered.

"You were followed."

Serena stopped.

"By whom?"

"Doesn't matter."

"It matters to me."

Damon turned.

His expression was hard.

"You're staying here."

"No."

"You will have security."

"I already have security."

"Then you need more."

Serena stepped closer.

"Someone broke into my house."

Damon's face tightened.

"I know."

"How?"

"I have people watching."

"People watching me?"

"For your protection."

"You've been spying on me?"

"I'm your father."

"That doesn't give you the right."

Damon slammed his hand onto the desk.

"You don't understand what's happening."

"Then explain it!"

Silence.

Serena's voice broke.

"Please."

Damon looked at her.

For a brief moment, she saw something almost like regret.

Then it disappeared.

"Ryder Kane is dangerous."

"I know."

"He will use you."

Serena's heart stopped.

"What?"

Damon's eyes narrowed.

"Stay away from him."

"Why would he use me?"

"Because that's what men like him do."

Serena stared at her father.

"You don't even know him."

"I know exactly who he is."

"Then tell me what happened."

Damon turned away.

"Not tonight."

"Dad."

"Go home."

"I'm not leaving until you tell me the truth."

Damon slowly looked back at her.

"The truth will destroy you."

Serena's voice became quiet.

"Maybe I'm already being destroyed by the lies."

Damon said nothing.

Serena turned and walked out.

But she didn't see the fear on her father's face after she left.

Damon reached for a locked drawer.

He pulled out an old photograph.

Two men stood beside a motorcycle.

One was Ryder's father.

The other was Damon.

And between them stood a third man.

Someone Serena had never seen.

Someone Ryder believed had died twelve years ago.

Damon stared at the photograph.

"I tried to protect you," he whispered.

Then he looked toward the door.

"But now you know too much."

That evening, Serena sat alone at the foundation.

She couldn't stop thinking about what her father had said.

He will use you.

The words repeated in her mind.

Then she remembered Ryder's eyes.

The way he'd looked at her when he arrived at her house.

The fear.

The concern.

It hadn't looked fake.

Her phone buzzed.

A message.

Ryder: Are you home?

She stared at it.

Then typed:

Serena: At the foundation.

His reply came almost immediately.

Ryder: Stay there. I'm coming.

She frowned.

Serena: Why?

No response.

Five minutes later, the door opened.

Ryder walked inside.

He looked around before his eyes settled on her.

"Are you alone?"

"Yes."

He locked the door.

Serena stood.

"What's wrong?"

Ryder walked toward her.

"I found something."

"What?"

He pulled a photograph from his jacket.

Serena took it.

Her blood ran cold.

It was a photograph of her father.

But Damon wasn't alone.

Standing beside him was Ryder's father.

Serena looked up.

"What's this?"

Ryder's voice was quiet.

"I don't know."

"You didn't know they knew each other?"

"No."

"Then maybe..."

Serena looked at the photograph again.

"Maybe your father and mine weren't enemies."

Ryder's eyes hardened.

"That's what I'm beginning to think."

She looked at him.

"What are you going to do?"

"Find out."

"How?"

He stepped closer.

"By asking the people who were there."

Serena's eyes narrowed.

"Who?"

Ryder hesitated.

"My mother."

Serena frowned.

"Your mother is dead."

"I know."

"Then how can you ask her?"

Ryder looked at her.

"Because someone has been sending me messages claiming she left something behind."

Serena's heart raced.

"What?"

"I don't know."

"Then find it."

Their eyes met.

For the first time, they weren't simply standing on opposite sides of an old war.

They were looking at the same mystery.

Ryder slowly reached for her hand.

Serena let him take it.

His fingers closed around hers.

Warm.

Steady.

Protective.

But neither noticed the small black camera hidden above them.

The red light blinked once.

Twice.

Then a voice came through a hidden speaker.

"They're together."

Another voice answered.

"Good."

The first voice laughed softly.

"Let them find the truth."

A pause.

"Then we'll take it away from them."

Back inside the foundation, Serena leaned closer to Ryder.

Neither knew that every move they made was being watched.

Neither knew that the mysterious enemy was already several steps ahead.

And neither understood the most dangerous truth of all:

Someone had wanted Ryder and Serena to find each other.