of the night still fresh in her mind. Adrian's rage, his possessive grip on her wrist, the way his enemies cowere

minder of how easily he could break her. Yet, what disturbed her more than his v

t slightly, only to find an unfamiliar face, a woman, tall and elegant, dressed in blac

a," the woman said, stepping insid

ed her shoulder

a smirk. "Bianca Moreno. A

ore. Bianca was a shadow in the underworld, known for her ruth

a drink. "You've caused quite the stir," she mused. "Adr

soner," Valent

all prisoners in Adrian's world. So

lenched into fists.

warn you. Whatever game you think you're playing with Adrian, you won't

t she didn't let her expressio

oice. "Good. Because the last woman w

t. She wanted to ask more, but before sh

rstand, Valentina," Bianca warned.

eaving Valentina with mo

*********

hall. He looked unaffected by the previous night's chaos, sipping

he said witho

chair opposite him. "B

is cup tightened.

me to stay a

etting his cup down. "Yo

s. "Why? Because you don't

forward, his voice low and dangerous. "Bianca speaks from exp

wed hard. "Then

mile. "Because you fascinate me. And I

o let him see her fear. Instead, she met hi

. But that doesn't m

the fact that Adrian was a monster, or the terrifying real

*********

her mind, along with Adrian's cryptic warning. There was someth

red through the mansion's dimly lit corridors. If she was go

nside, Adrian stood with his back to her, speakin

he said. "Find him. And when y

She had no idea who Adrian was hunting, but she knew one thin

y, Adrian turned, his sha

't be here,"

self to stay calm. "

usement. "Curiosity is a d

chin. "So is ke

her to come closer. Against her better judgment, she ste

th?" he murmured, reachin

ble. Valentina hesitated

her blood

t unmistakable. Images of her fathe

looked up at Adrian, horror dawn

eadable. "It's the beginnin

d her fists

oice a whisper that sen

sn't as innocen

g she thought she knew w

was the one hol