His Enemy, His Obsession

The Enemy's Daughter

Serena Vale had always hated charity galas.

Too many people pretending to care.

Too many expensive dresses hiding uncomfortable truths.

Too many smiles that disappeared the moment someone important walked away.

She had spent the last hour doing exactly what she hated—smiling, shaking hands, and pretending she wasn't counting the minutes

until she could leave.

Her father stood across the ballroom, surrounded by men who laughed too loudly at everything he said.

Serena looked away.

She didn't want to be anything like Damon Vale.

That was why she'd built a life completely separate from his.

Her charity work wasn't glamorous. It didn't make headlines. But the people she helped didn't care about her father's money or

reputation.

They cared that someone had shown up.

Someone had listened.

Someone had cared.

"You're staring."

Serena blinked.

The elderly woman beside her smiled knowingly.

"At what?"

"The man across the room."

Serena nearly choked on her champagne.

"I'm not staring at anyone."

"You've been staring for almost five minutes."

Serena glanced toward the stranger.

He was gone.

Her heart gave an inexplicable little jump.

"See?" she whispered. "He's not even there."

The woman laughed.

"Perhaps he moved because you were staring."

Serena shook her head.

"I don't even know him."

"Sometimes those are the most interesting ones."

Before Serena could respond, someone approached.

"Miss Vale?"

She turned.

A waiter stood behind her holding a silver tray.

"Your father asked me to tell you he needs you."

Of course he did.

Serena sighed.

"Thank you."

She followed the waiter across the ballroom.

But before she reached her father, she felt it again.

That strange sensation.

Someone watching her.

She turned.

And there he was.

The stranger.

Standing near one of the marble columns.

Black shirt.

Dark jeans.

A silver watch.

His sleeves were rolled up, revealing tattoos along his forearm.

He didn't look like anyone else at the gala.

Everyone around him seemed polished.

Expensive.

Predictable.

He looked dangerous.

And yet Serena couldn't look away.

Their eyes met again.

This time, he didn't look away.

Neither did she.

There was something unnerving about his gaze.

It wasn't simply attraction.

It was as if he were studying her.

Memorizing her.

Serena frowned.

Who was he?

"Serena."

Her father's voice broke the moment.

She turned.

Damon Vale stood beside her.

His smile was perfectly controlled.

"Come with me."

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

Serena's expression hardened.

"I'll come when you stop speaking to me like I'm twelve."

Damon's smile disappeared.

"Not here."

"Then don't embarrass me here."

His eyes narrowed.

For a moment, they stared at each other.

Then Damon leaned closer.

"Who is that man?"

Serena glanced toward the stranger.

He was still watching them.

"I don't know."

"Stay away from him."

Serena looked back at her father.

"Why?"

"Because I told you to."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting."

Her father's sudden intensity unsettled her.

Damon wasn't a man who frightened easily.

Yet there was something in his expression she had never seen before.

Fear.

Real fear.

Serena looked over her shoulder again.

The stranger was gone.

Ryder watched Serena leave the ballroom through a side corridor.

He followed at a distance.

Not too close.

Not enough to raise suspicion.

He knew exactly what he was doing.

At least, he kept telling himself that.

He had expected Serena to be sheltered.

He had expected arrogance.

He had expected the daughter of Damon Vale to carry herself like someone who had never heard the word no.

Instead, she had challenged her father in front of half the room.

Interesting.

Ryder stopped near the corridor.

He could hear voices ahead.

Damon's.

"You're leaving with me."

Serena's voice answered.

"No."

Ryder's jaw tightened.

Damon grabbed her wrist.

Ryder moved before he could think.

He rounded the corner.

"Everything all right?"

Damon immediately released Serena.

His eyes landed on Ryder.

For a split second, something flashed across his face.

Recognition.

Then it vanished.

"Who are you?"

Ryder smiled.

"Ryder Kane."

The silence that followed was almost deafening.

Damon's face went pale.

Serena noticed.

"You know him?"

Damon didn't answer.

Ryder watched him carefully.

Twelve years ago, Damon Vale had allegedly ordered the attack that killed Ryder's parents.

And now the man's reaction told Ryder one thing.

Damon remembered the Kane family.

"You have quite a memory," Ryder said.

Damon's eyes hardened.

"Leave."

Serena looked between them.

"Dad?"

"Go upstairs."

"I'm not going anywhere until someone tells me what's happening."

Damon's voice became colder.

"Serena."

She stared at him.

Then at Ryder.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Ryder could see the questions forming in her eyes.

He should have walked away.

Instead, he smiled.

"Your father and I have history."

Damon stepped forward.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Maybe."

Ryder's gaze shifted toward Serena.

"But I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to discuss it."

Damon moved between them.

"You stay away from my daughter."

Ryder looked at him.

Then smiled.

"That sounds like a challenge."

Damon's expression darkened.

Serena stared at Ryder as if she couldn't decide whether he was arrogant or insane.

Maybe both.

Ryder turned and walked away.

But as he reached the end of the corridor, he heard footsteps behind him.

"Wait."

He stopped.

Serena.

He turned slowly.

She stood several feet away.

Her expression was guarded.

"Who are you?"

Ryder studied her.

"The man your father doesn't want you talking to."

"That isn't an answer."

"No."

He stepped closer.

"But it's an honest one."

She crossed her arms.

"Why does my father know you?"

"That's something you'll have to ask him."

"I did."

"And?"

"He wouldn't tell me."

Ryder smiled faintly.

"Then maybe he has something to hide."

Serena's eyes narrowed.

"Are you trying to cause trouble?"

"Usually."

Despite herself, Serena almost smiled.

Almost.

"You're very confident."

"I've been called worse."

She studied him for another moment.

Then asked quietly,

"Should I be afraid of you?"

Ryder had expected the question.

He hadn't expected how much it would affect him.

He stepped closer until only a small distance separated them.

"You should probably be careful around me."

Serena swallowed.

"That's not what I asked."

Ryder looked directly into her eyes.

"No."

His voice lowered.

"You shouldn't be afraid of me."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Serena's gaze dropped to his hands.

She noticed the scars.

There were several.

Old ones.

Deep ones.

She looked back at his face.

"You've been hurt."

Ryder's expression changed.

"Everyone has."

"No. I mean..."

She hesitated.

"Never mind."

She turned away.

Ryder watched her go.

He should have let her.

Instead, he called after her.

"Serena."

She stopped.

He didn't know why he had said her name.

Maybe because he liked the way it sounded.

Maybe because saying it made her feel less like a target.

And more like a woman.

She looked back.

"Yes?"

Ryder paused.

For the first time in years, he couldn't find the right words.

So he chose the safest ones.

"Goodnight."

Serena gave him a confused smile.

"Goodnight, Ryder."

She disappeared around the corner.

Ryder remained still.

Then his phone vibrated.

Mack.

Did you get close to her?

Ryder looked down at the message.

His eyes returned to the corridor where Serena had disappeared.

Yes.

He typed the reply.

Then another message appeared.

And?

Ryder stared at the screen.

He could have written:

She's exactly what we expected.

He could have written:

She's Damon Vale's weakness.

Instead, his fingers typed something else.

She's not what I expected.

He stared at the words.

Then deleted them.

He typed again.

She's perfect.

He sent it.

But even as the message disappeared, Ryder knew he had chosen the wrong word.

Because Serena wasn't perfect for his plan.

She was perfect for something much more dangerous.

She was becoming perfect for him.

And that was something Ryder Kane could never afford.

Across the city, Serena stood in her bedroom staring through the window.

She couldn't stop thinking about Ryder.

His eyes.

His scars.

His voice.

And the way her father had reacted when he heard his name.

She picked up her phone.

Then stopped.

She didn't know why she wanted to search for him.

Curiosity, she told herself.

Nothing more.

She opened her laptop and typed:

Ryder Kane.

The search results loaded.

And Serena's blood ran cold.

The first photograph showed Ryder standing in front of a row of motorcycles.

Beneath it was a name she had heard whispered throughout her childhood.

Black Reapers Motorcycle Club.

Serena stared at the screen.

Then she saw the next result.

A twelve-year-old news article.

KANE FAMILY KILLED IN SUSPECTED ARSON ATTACK.

Her heart began pounding.

She clicked.

And when she saw the name listed among the suspected parties connected to the investigation, her face went pale.

Damon Vale.

Serena slowly covered her mouth.

"No..."

For the first time in her life, she wondered whether the father she knew...

was a stranger after all.

And somewhere across the city, Ryder Kane was already making his next move.

He had found his enemy's daughter.

Now he needed to make her trust him.

He just didn't know that Serena had already begun searching for the truth.

And the truth was coming for both of them.