His Enemy, His Obsession

A Dangerous Introduction

Serena stared at the number on the card for the tenth time.

She had placed it on her desk.

Then moved it to her bedside table.

Then slipped it into her purse.

Now it was back in her hand.

Ryder Kane.

She shouldn't call him.

Everything about him screamed danger.

Her father's reaction to his name.

The scars on his hands.

The motorcycle.

The Black Reapers.

And most disturbing of all, the way her heart seemed to forget its rhythm whenever he looked at her.

Serena dropped the card onto the table.

"No."

She wasn't calling him.

She wasn't going anywhere near him.

And she certainly wasn't going to let herself become involved in whatever war existed between Ryder Kane and her father.

Her phone rang.

She looked at the screen.

Dad.

She ignored it.

It rang again.

Then again.

Finally, she answered.

"What?"

"Where are you?"

"At home."

"Good. Stay there."

Serena frowned.

"Why?"

"I have people watching the house."

Her heart stopped.

"What?"

"For your protection."

"From what?"

There was silence.

"Dad?"

"You need to trust me."

Serena almost laughed.

Trust him?

After everything she'd discovered?

"Why is Ryder Kane dangerous?"

Another silence.

"Where did you hear that name?"

"Last night."

"Serena, listen to me carefully."

His voice had changed.

It wasn't the commanding voice she knew.

It sounded frightened.

"Stay away from him."

"Why?"

"Because he blames me for what happened to his family."

Serena's stomach tightened.

"Did you do it?"

Silence.

"Dad?"

"You don't understand."

"Then explain it."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because some things are better left buried."

Serena felt a chill move through her.

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one I have."

The call ended.

Serena stared at her phone.

Something was terribly wrong.

And she was tired of being the only person who didn't know the truth.

Across town, Ryder stood inside an abandoned garage.

The photograph of Serena lay on the hood of a black car.

Mack stood beside him.

"Still nothing?"

"Nothing."

Ryder stared at the photograph.

"Trace the number."

"We tried."

"And?"

"Burner."

Ryder's jaw tightened.

"Whoever sent it knows what they're doing."

Mack nodded.

"You think it's Vale?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because if Damon wanted to threaten me, he'd do it himself."

Mack looked at the photograph.

"So who?"

Ryder didn't answer.

There were too many possibilities.

Too many enemies.

But one thing bothered him more than anything else.

How had they known about Serena?

Ryder hadn't told anyone outside the club.

He hadn't even told most of his own men.

Someone had been watching him.

And Serena.

That meant this wasn't simply about revenge anymore.

It was something bigger.

His phone buzzed.

A message from an unknown number.

Tomorrow. 8 p.m. The Blue Rose. Come alone.

Ryder stared at it.

Mack looked over.

"Trap?"

"Probably."

"You going?"

Ryder slipped the phone into his pocket.

"Yes."

Mack sighed.

"I knew you'd say that."

The next afternoon, Serena left the foundation early.

She had spent the entire day distracted.

Every conversation had felt distant.

Every noise had made her look over her shoulder.

She couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her.

When she reached her car, she stopped.

A black motorcycle was parked across the street.

Her heart jumped.

Ryder.

She looked around.

He wasn't there.

She unlocked her car and got inside.

Before she could start the engine, someone knocked on her window.

Serena screamed.

A man in a dark suit stood outside.

She lowered the window slightly.

"Can I help you?"

"Your father asked me to escort you home."

"I didn't ask for an escort."

"It's for your safety."

"I can drive myself."

The man didn't move.

"Miss Vale..."

"I'm fine."

She started the engine.

The man stepped away.

Serena pulled out.

She checked her mirror.

The black motorcycle was gone.

She exhaled.

Then her phone rang.

Unknown number.

She answered cautiously.

"Hello?"

"Don't go home."

Her blood ran cold.

"Who is this?"

"Look behind you."

Serena glanced at her mirror.

A black SUV was following her.

Her grip tightened around the steering wheel.

"Who are you?"

"Someone trying to keep you alive."

The call ended.

Serena's heart pounded.

The SUV remained behind her.

She changed lanes.

It followed.

She turned.

It followed.

She accelerated.

It accelerated.

Panic began taking over.

She reached for her phone.

Then remembered the card in her purse.

Ryder's number.

Her fingers trembled as she dialed.

He answered on the second ring.

"Serena?"

"Ryder."

Her voice cracked.

He immediately became alert.

"What happened?"

"Someone is following me."

"Where are you?"

She gave him the location.

"What car?"

"Black SUV."

"Don't go home."

"I wasn't planning to."

"Good. Keep driving."

"Ryder..."

"I'm here."

His voice was calm.

Steady.

"Stay on the phone with me."

She swallowed.

"Okay."

"Can you see the license plate?"

She looked in the mirror.

"Not clearly."

"Don't worry about it."

"Who are they?"

"I don't know yet."

There was a pause.

Then Ryder said,

"Take the next left."

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

Serena almost laughed despite her fear.

"You're bossy."

"Serena."

"Fine."

She turned.

Three minutes later, she saw him.

Ryder's motorcycle appeared at the intersection ahead.

He accelerated toward her.

The black SUV immediately changed lanes.

Ryder moved between Serena's car and the SUV.

The driver tried to pass.

Ryder blocked him.

The SUV sped up.

Ryder didn't move.

For several terrifying seconds, Serena watched the two vehicles race beside each other.

Then the SUV suddenly turned down a side street.

Ryder followed.

Serena pulled over.

Her hands were shaking.

Five minutes passed.

Then ten.

Finally, Ryder returned.

He parked his motorcycle and removed his helmet.

Serena stepped out of her car.

"What happened?"

"They got away."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Ryder approached her.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

He looked at her carefully.

"You're shaking."

"I'm scared."

His expression softened.

He stepped closer.

"You're safe now."

Serena looked into his eyes.

"How can you say that?"

"Because I'm here."

The words were simple.

But they affected her more than they should have.

She looked away.

"Why do you care?"

Ryder went silent.

Because the truth was dangerous.

Because she was supposed to be a target.

Because he had planned to use her.

But none of those answers felt right anymore.

"I don't know," he admitted.

Serena looked back at him.

That was the first time Ryder had given her an answer that sounded completely honest.

Later that evening, Ryder took Serena to a small café away from the city center.

She had expected another expensive restaurant.

Instead, he chose a quiet place with wooden tables and terrible coffee.

She looked around.

"This isn't exactly where I'd expect the president of a motorcycle club to bring someone."

"You know who I am now?"

"I searched you."

Ryder raised an eyebrow.

"Did you find anything interesting?"

"Enough."

"Such as?"

"That you're dangerous."

"Anything else?"

"That you have a brother."

"Jace."

"And that your parents died."

Ryder's expression changed.

Serena immediately regretted saying it.

"I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be."

"I shouldn't have searched."

"You had questions."

"You had secrets."

"So did you."

She frowned.

"What secrets do I have?"

Ryder leaned back.

"You tell me."

Serena looked away.

She couldn't tell him about the photograph.

Not yet.

"Why did my father tell me to stay away from you?"

"Because he's afraid."

"Of you?"

"Maybe."

"Why?"

Ryder looked directly at her.

"Because he knows what happened to my family."

Serena's heart tightened.

"Did he hurt them?"

Ryder's eyes became cold.

"I believe he did."

"Believe?"

"I don't have all the answers."

"Then why hate him?"

"Because someone has to pay."

Serena stared at him.

"And if he didn't do it?"

Ryder went completely still.

It was the question he had been avoiding.

"If he didn't..."

He looked down.

"Then I've spent twelve years hunting the wrong man."

Serena could see the pain behind his eyes.

For the first time, she didn't see the feared biker.

She saw a nineteen-year-old boy watching his world burn.

Without thinking, she reached across the table.

Her fingers touched his hand.

Ryder looked down.

Then at her.

Neither moved.

"Maybe you should find the truth," Serena whispered.

Ryder slowly turned his hand beneath hers.

Their fingers intertwined.

A dangerous warmth moved through her.

"Maybe I should."

Their eyes met.

The café suddenly felt too small.

Too quiet.

Ryder leaned closer.

Serena didn't move away.

His gaze dropped to her lips.

"Serena..."

She whispered his name.

He stopped himself.

Barely.

Then pulled away.

"We should go."

She looked disappointed.

"Why?"

"Because if I kiss you right now..."

He paused.

"It won't be part of the plan."

Serena's heart raced.

"What plan?"

Ryder's eyes darkened.

He realized too late that he'd said too much.

"Nothing."

She stared at him.

"Ryder."

He stood.

"I'll take you home."

That night, Ryder returned to the clubhouse.

Jace was waiting.

"How did it go?"

Ryder removed his jacket.

"Someone tried to follow her."

Jace's expression changed.

"Who?"

"Don't know."

"And Serena?"

"Safe."

Jace studied him.

"You look different."

Ryder frowned.

"Different how?"

"Like you care."

Ryder walked past him.

"I don't."

Jace smiled.

"Sure."

Ryder stopped.

"She isn't part of the game anymore."

Jace's smile disappeared.

"What does that mean?"

Ryder looked toward the window.

"It means whoever is after her is going to have to come through me."

Across the city, a man stood in a dark room watching a live feed from a hidden camera.

On the screen was Serena's bedroom.

The man smiled.

Then another screen appeared.

Ryder Kane.

The man's smile widened.

"They're getting closer."

He reached for his phone.

"Start the next phase."

A voice answered.

"And the girl?"

The man looked at Serena's image.

"Let Ryder protect her."

He paused.

"It will make what happens next much more painful."

The call ended.

And somewhere in the darkness, someone began preparing for a war neither Ryder nor Serena knew had already started.