Welcome to my first novel.

My Dear readers 💝

The rain came down in relentless sheets, drowning the streets of a city that never seemed to sleep. Twenty-six-year-old Elena Voss pulled her coat tighter around her slender frame as she stepped out of the dimly lit bar. The harsh glow of neon lights reflected off the puddles, casting distorted shapes onto the cracked asphalt. She hated the city—its noise, its filth, its unrelenting grip on her—but she couldn’t leave. Not yet.

Her sister, Mia, was still out there somewhere.

Elena’s heels clicked against the wet pavement as she walked toward her motorcycle. The sound echoed, oddly hollow, in the empty alley she had parked in. She wasn’t the type to be easily spooked, but tonight, an unease crept over her.

“Out late for someone so… fragile,” a low, velvety voice murmured from the shadows.

Elena spun around, her hand instinctively reaching for the knife concealed in her boot. A tall figure stepped into the dim light. His black coat swirled like smoke around his powerful frame, and his face was half-obscured beneath the brim of his hat. But what she could see—the strong jawline, the piercing gray eyes—spoke of danger.

“I’m not fragile,” she replied coolly, gripping her knife but keeping it hidden.

The man stepped closer, his presence like a dark tide that threatened to engulf her. “No,” he said softly, his lips curving into a faint smile. “You’re not.”

Chapter 2: The Stranger

Elena learned his name a week later: Adrian Blackwood.

He wasn’t just some mysterious stranger haunting dark alleys. He was a powerful businessman with a reputation as cold and unyielding as the steel towers he owned. At forty-two, he was a man who had carved out an empire through sheer will and ruthless determination.

Their paths crossed again when she infiltrated one of his exclusive charity galas, seeking information on a man who might know something about her sister’s disappearance. She hadn’t expected to see him there, let alone have him recognize her.

“You’re out of place,” Adrian said, his voice low and quiet, as he cornered her near the grand staircase.

“So are you,” she retorted, masking her nerves with defiance.

Adrian’s lips twitched, the faintest hint of amusement in his otherwise unreadable expression. “You don’t belong in this world.”

“And yet here I am.”

There was something magnetic about him, something that both unnerved and intrigued her. Adrian Blackwood was a man who could destroy her with a word, and yet she couldn’t help but feel that same dark pull toward him.

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Chapter 3: A Dangerous Proposition

Adrian wasn’t a man who involved himself in other people’s business. He had rules, boundaries, a carefully constructed life that kept the chaos at bay. But there was something about Elena—her fiery determination, her sharp wit, the shadows in her eyes—that made him break his own rules.

When he discovered the truth about her search for her sister, he made a decision that would change both their lives.

“I can help you,” Adrian said, his voice a smooth rumble as they sat across from each other in a quiet corner of a high-end café.

Elena narrowed her eyes. “And what would you want in return?”

“Your trust,” he said simply.

She laughed, a sharp sound that held no humor. “Trust isn’t something I give away.”

“Then we’ll start with a deal,” Adrian replied, his gaze steady. “I’ll help you find your sister. In return, you stay close. I need to know you’re safe.”

Elena studied him, searching for ulterior motives. But all she saw was sincerity—a quiet, steady loyalty that seemed at odds with his otherwise impenetrable exterior.

“Fine,” she said at last, extending her hand. “But if you cross me, I’ll make you regret it.”

Adrian took her hand, his grip firm and warm. “Fair enough.”

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what wil happen next?

Chapter 4: The Darkness Between Us

The city slept uneasily, its hum of life quieted but never silenced. Elena sat on the worn leather couch in Adrian’s penthouse, her eyes scanning a stack of files he had placed before her. The room was dark, save for the golden glow of a lamp on the corner table. The rain streaked down the glass walls, blurring the skyline beyond. It was a place meant for a king—sleek, cold, and untouchable—but Adrian had offered it to her without hesitation.

“You don’t have to do this,” she said without looking up.

Adrian stood near the window, his broad shoulders framed against the storm outside. “You need answers,” he said simply, his deep voice steady.

Elena set the files down and turned to him. “You don’t owe me anything, Adrian. I don’t understand why you’re helping me.”

He turned then, his gray eyes locking onto hers. In the dim light, they looked like steel, hard and unyielding. “Maybe I see too much of myself in you.”

The words caught her off guard. Adrian rarely spoke about himself. In the weeks since they had joined forces, she had come to know him as a man of action, not words. He didn’t waste time explaining himself, and he certainly didn’t open up.

“And what is it you think we have in common?” she asked, folding her arms.

“You don’t trust anyone,” he said, stepping closer. “You’ve built walls so high, no one can see over them. But I know what that’s like. I know what it’s like to rely on no one but yourself because trusting someone feels like handing them a weapon to use against you.”

The truth of his words settled in her chest like a stone. She wanted to deny it, to argue, but how could she when he had seen through her so completely?

“You don’t know me,” she said, her voice quieter now.

Adrian’s lips twitched in the faintest shadow of a smile. “I know enough.”

The tension between them thickened, a silent pull that neither seemed willing to break. He was too close now, the scent of him—smoke and something faintly earthy—filling her senses.

“You don’t have to do this,” she repeated, but this time her voice wavered.

“Yes, I do,” he said softly. “Because I can’t stand the thought of something happening to you.”

Elena’s breath hitched, and she hated how much those words affected her. She had built her life around being untouchable, invulnerable. But Adrian had a way of slipping past her defenses without even trying.

“And what if I don’t want your protection?” she asked, her tone sharper now, defiance rising to the surface.

Adrian didn’t flinch. Instead, he stepped even closer, his gaze never leaving hers. “You don’t have to want it. I’m giving it to you anyway.”

For a moment, they stood in silence, the storm raging outside mirroring the turmoil inside her. Elena didn’t know whether to push him away or let herself fall into the safety he offered.

“Fine,” she said at last, her voice barely audible. “But don’t expect me to make this easy.”

Adrian’s smile was fleeting but genuine. “I wouldn’t expect anything else.”

As she turned back to the files, the weight of his presence lingered, heavy and warm. For the first time in years, Elena wondered if trusting someone might not destroy her—but save her.

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Chapter 5: The Serpent's Bite

The investigation led them down a labyrinth of dark alleys, smoky backrooms, and opulent penthouses. Elena, fueled by a mixture of adrenaline and grief, proved to be a formidable ally. Her street smarts, honed by years of navigating the city’s underbelly, were invaluable. Adrian, on the other hand, provided the resources and the connections—the ability to open doors that would otherwise remain firmly shut.

Their partnership was a strange and unexpected one. Elena, the lone wolf, found herself relying on Adrian more than she would have ever admitted. He, in turn, seemed to relish the challenge of her independence, pushing her limits while always ensuring her safety.

One evening, they found themselves in a dimly lit club, the air thick with the scent of sweat and cheap perfume. The music pounded, a relentless beat that vibrated through Elena’s bones. They were hunting for a man known as “Serpent,” a notorious arms dealer with ties to the criminal underworld.

“He’s always in the shadows,” Adrian murmured, his eyes scanning the crowd. “Look for the eyes.”

Elena nodded, her gaze sweeping across the room. The club was a hive of activity—dancers grinding against each other, couples lost in drunken embraces, men in expensive suits whispering deals into the ears of nervous-looking women.

Suddenly, she saw him. A tall, slender figure perched on a raised platform, his face obscured by the shadows. His eyes, however, were unmistakable—cold, calculating, and predatory. They glittered like polished obsidian, surveying the room with a chilling intensity.

“There,” Elena whispered, pointing.

Adrian moved with a silent grace, his long strides carrying him through the throng of bodies. Elena followed, her senses on high alert. As they approached the platform, the music seemed to fade, replaced by the pounding of her own heart.

Serpent didn’t look up as they approached. He remained still, his gaze fixed on a point beyond them, his lips curved in a predatory smile.

“Mr. Blackwood,” he finally said, his voice a low, silken drawl. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Adrian inclined his head. “We have business, Mr. Serpent.”

Serpent’s smile widened. “Ah, business. Always a pleasure.” He gestured towards a nearby booth. “Join me.”

As they sat down, Elena felt a shiver crawl down her spine. The air around Serpent crackled with a dangerous energy, a palpable sense of menace that seemed to emanate from his very being. She couldn’t shake the feeling that they were playing a game, a deadly game where the stakes were far higher than they initially seemed.

Serpent leaned forward, his eyes boring into Adrian. “I understand you’re looking for someone.”

“Someone who may have information about a missing person,” Adrian replied, his voice carefully neutral.

Serpent chuckled, a low, unsettling sound. “Information is a valuable commodity, Mr. Blackwood. And valuable commodities have a price.”

“Name it,” Adrian said, his gaze unwavering.

Serpent leaned back, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Let’s say… a favor.”

Adrian’s eyebrows rose. “A favor?”

“A small task,” Serpent continued, his smile widening. “Something… discreet.”

Elena felt a prickle of unease. This wasn’t going as planned. Serpent was playing games, leading them down a path they hadn’t anticipated.

“What kind of favor?” Adrian asked, his voice deceptively calm.

Serpent’s eyes flickered to Elena, a predatory glint in them. “A favor for a friend.”

Elena’s blood ran cold. This wasn’t about information anymore. This was about something else entirely. Something far more dangerous.

“And who is this friend?” Adrian asked, his voice hardening.

Serpent leaned closer, his voice a conspiratorial whisper. “A friend who admires your… associates.”

Elena felt a surge of adrenaline. She knew what he was talking about—the men who worked for Adrian, the enforcers, the shadows. Serpent wanted to use Adrian’s connections for his own nefarious purposes.

“I don’t make deals with people who play dirty,” Adrian said, his voice low and dangerous.

Serpent’s smile faded, replaced by a chilling mask of indifference. “Perhaps not,” he said, his eyes narrowing. “But perhaps someone else will.”

He snapped his fingers, and two burly men emerged from the shadows, their eyes fixed on Elena. Elena’s hand instinctively reached for the small knife hidden in her boot, but she knew it wouldn’t be enough.

Adrian saw the movement, his eyes hardening. He rose to his feet, his body tense, ready to spring.

“This is a mistake,” he warned, his voice a low growl.

Serpent shrugged, his eyes gleaming. “Mistakes happen, Mr. Blackwood. It’s how we learn.”

The music seemed to fade away, replaced by the sound of Elena’s own heartbeat, a frantic drumbeat against her ribs. She knew they were in trouble, deep trouble. Serpent had underestimated them, but his mistake was about to have dire consequences.

As the two men advanced, Adrian moved with a speed that belied his size. He struck with the precision of a coiled spring, taking down one of the men with a single, powerful blow. Elena, seizing the opportunity, lunged at the other, her knife flashing.

The fight was brutal, a chaotic dance of violence and desperation. Elena fought with a ferocity born of fear and anger, her movements honed by years of self-defense training. Adrian, meanwhile, moved with a deadly grace, his every move calculated, his strength overwhelming.

The club erupted into chaos, the music drowned out by the sounds of the struggle. People screamed, ducking for cover as the fight spilled out onto the dance floor. But Elena and Adrian were focused only on survival.

Finally, with a grunt, Adrian subdued the remaining attacker. He turned to Elena, his eyes searching hers. She was breathing heavily, her body trembling, but she was still standing.

Serpent watched the scene unfold with a mixture of amusement and irritation. He had underestimated these two. They were more dangerous than he had anticipated.

“Perhaps we should continue this conversation another time,” he said, his voice laced with a chilling calm.

He turned and melted back into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as he had appeared. Elena and Adrian exchanged a look, their gazes filled with a silent understanding. They had survived, but the danger was far from over.

The Serpent had struck, and the game had just begun.