Chapter 4-Part 2
753 Words
Alessia
The guard came for her at nine.
No knock.
No warning.
Just the heavy click of the door unlocking.
“Move.”
Alessia looked up from the chair near the window.
She had barely slept.
Her mind had replayed the courtyard scene over and over.
Marcus watching.
Adrian’s hand around that prisoner’s throat.
And the moment Marcus realized something interesting.
Adrian.
Alessia stood slowly.
“Where are we going?”
“Training wing.”
Her brow lifted.
“For what?”
The guard shrugged.
“Ask Cross.”
Of course.
Adrian.
Alessia slipped on her shoes and stepped into the hallway.
Two guards escorted her down a series of corridors she hadn’t seen before.
The deeper they went, the more the building changed.
The polished marble floors disappeared.
Replaced with concrete.
Steel doors lined the walls.
Some had narrow observation windows.
Others had none.
This was the real compound.
Not the polished upper floors Marcus used for appearances.
They stopped in front of a thick metal door.
One guard opened it.
“Inside.”
Alessia stepped through.
The room beyond was massive.
A training facility.
Black combat mats covered the floor.
Metal weapon racks lined the walls.
Heavy punching bags hung from reinforced beams.
And standing in the center of the room—
Adrian Cross.
He wasn’t wearing his usual jacket today.
Just a fitted black shirt and dark training pants.
For the first time since she met him…
He didn’t look like Marcus’s quiet shadow.
He looked like something far more dangerous.
Something built for violence.
Adrian looked up when she entered.
His expression didn’t change.
“Guards. Leave.”
The door shut behind them.
Now they were alone.
Alessia crossed her arms.
“Marcus’s idea?”
“Yes.”
“Of course it is.”
Adrian walked toward her slowly.
“You’re going to learn how to survive here.”
Alessia tilted her head.
“Survive what exactly?”
“Everything.”
She glanced around the room.
“Am I fighting prisoners now?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Adrian stopped a few feet away.
“But you are learning how to defend yourself.”
Alessia laughed softly.
“You think I can take down men like the ones yesterday?”
“No.”
Her smile faded.
“But you can buy time.”
Alessia studied him.
“And Marcus forced you to do this.”
“Yes.”
“Why agree?”
Adrian answered without hesitation.
“If I didn’t, someone else would.”
She hated that answer.
Because it made sense.
“Fine.”
Adrian nodded toward the mat.
“Shoes off.”
She stared at him.
“You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
Alessia sighed and slipped off her heels.
The mat was cool beneath her feet.
Adrian stepped closer.
“Raise your hands.”
She did.
“Higher.”
Adrian reached forward and adjusted her wrist.
His fingers brushed her skin.
The contact was brief.
But Alessia felt it instantly.
She ignored it.
Adrian stepped back.
“Good.”
“You say that like I know what I’m doing.”
“You don’t.”
“Encouraging.”
Adrian circled her slowly.
Evaluating.
“Push me.”
“What?”
“Push.”
Alessia frowned but stepped forward.
She placed both hands against his chest.
Then pushed.
Adrian didn’t move.
Not even slightly.
She pushed harder.
Still nothing.
His body felt immovable.
Like trying to shove a wall.
She stepped back with a breath.
“That’s unfair.”
“That’s reality.”
Alessia studied him.
“Marcus keeps men like you around so no one escapes.”
“Yes.”
“And now you’re teaching me how to survive his prison.”
“Yes.”
She shook her head.
“This place is insane.”
Adrian’s voice softened slightly.
“You’re still alive.”
Alessia stepped forward again.
This time pushing harder.
Adrian caught her wrists instantly.
Not violently.
But firmly.
The motion pulled her closer.
Suddenly they were inches apart.
Her breath caught slightly.
Adrian’s hands still held her wrists.
His eyes locked onto hers.
For a moment—
Neither moved.
The tension between them was thick.
Dangerous.
Unspoken.
Alessia swallowed.
“You proved your point.”
Adrian released her immediately.
“Yes.”
But he didn’t step away.
Neither did she.
And that was the moment Alessia realized something strange.
Marcus wasn’t the only dangerous man in this compound.
Adrian Cross might be worse.
Because he was the one she might actually start trusting.
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