The black car didn't move.
Lina stood frozen beside the library window, her phone still in her hand.
Her heart pounded so loudly she could hear it in her ears.
Victor Kane's voice echoed in her mind.
"Look outside."
And there it was.
The car.
Waiting.
Watching.
Lina stepped back slowly from the window.
Her instincts screamed that something was wrong.
Very wrong.
She immediately called Adrian.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
Then he answered.
"Lina?"
"Adrian," she whispered quickly. "He called me."
Adrian's voice instantly became serious.
"Victor?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
"He told me to look outside."
Adrian went silent.
"Lina… what do you see?"
"A black car. Across the street."
The silence on the other end lasted only a second.
"Get away from the windows."
Lina obeyed immediately.
"I'm sending security outside," Adrian continued.
"Stay inside the library. Lock the door."
"Adrian…"
"I'm on my way back."
The call ended.
Outside the mansion, security guards rushed toward the front gate.
The black car's engine suddenly started.
And within seconds…
It drove away.
Too fast.
By the time the guards reached the street, it had disappeared.
Twenty minutes later, Adrian arrived at the mansion.
He walked inside quickly.
Lina was waiting in the living room.
The moment she saw him, relief washed over her.
"You're back."
Adrian walked directly to her.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
His shoulders relaxed slightly.
But the anger in his eyes was still there.
"What exactly did he say?"
Lina repeated the conversation.
Adrian listened carefully.
When she finished, his jaw tightened.
"He's testing us."
"Testing?"
"He wants to see how we react."
Lina crossed her arms.
"Well congratulations to him. I'm officially terrified."
Adrian looked at her.
"You shouldn't be alone anymore."
"I'm already surrounded by guards."
"That's not enough."
Lina sighed.
"So what do you want me to do?"
Adrian's voice was firm.
"You stay with me."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Always?"
"For now."
Lina tried to hide the strange warmth she felt hearing that.
"Fine," she muttered.
That evening, Adrian insisted they leave the mansion for a meeting at his company headquarters.
Normally Lina would stay behind.
But today Adrian refused.
"You're coming with me," he said.
"Victor knows where you are. Staying in one place makes you predictable."
Lina reluctantly agreed.
The drive through the city felt tense.
Adrian sat beside her in the back seat.
His attention constantly shifted between the road and his phone.
"You look like you're expecting an attack any second," Lina said.
"That's because I am."
The car stopped at a red light.
Suddenly—
A loud screech of tires echoed behind them.
Another car slammed into the back of Adrian's vehicle.
The impact shook the entire car.
"What the—" Lina gasped.
Before they could react, two masked men jumped out of the car behind them.
One of them smashed the rear window.
Adrian's bodyguards immediately reacted.
But everything happened too fast.
One attacker grabbed Lina's arm.
"Move!"
Lina screamed and struggled.
Adrian turned instantly.
"Let her go!"
The attacker pulled Lina out of the car.
Adrian tried to follow—
But the second attacker pointed a gun at him.
"Stay where you are!"
For a split second, Adrian froze.
That was enough.
The attackers dragged Lina toward their car.
Her heart pounded wildly.
"Adrian!"
Their eyes locked for one brief moment.
Then the car door slammed shut.
And the vehicle sped away.
Inside the moving car, Lina fought desperately.
"Let me go!"
One of the men tightened his grip.
"Stop moving!"
"Who sent you?" she demanded.
But they stayed silent.
Her mind raced.
Victor Kane.
Of course it was him.
The car drove faster through the city streets.
Lina looked out the window desperately.
Then suddenly—
The car jerked violently.
Another vehicle had appeared behind them.
Fast.
Aggressive.
Following closely.
The attackers noticed it too.
"What the hell—"
A black sports car pulled beside them.
Lina's eyes widened.
Adrian.
He was driving like a man possessed.
His car slammed into the kidnappers' vehicle.
The impact shook everything.
The attackers lost control.
The car skidded across the road and crashed into a barrier.
Metal screamed.
Glass shattered.
The world spun.
Then silence.
Lina slowly opened her eyes.
Her head hurt.
The car door beside her was ripped open.
Strong hands pulled her out.
"Lina!"
Adrian's voice.
She looked up.
He was kneeling in front of her.
His face filled with worry.
"You're safe."
Lina's body shook from the shock.
"I thought… I thought…"
Adrian pulled her into his arms before she could finish.
She froze in surprise.
But after a second…
She hugged him back.
For the first time since the contract began…
Adrian held her tightly.
Not like a business partner.
Not like a protector.
But like someone who almost lost something precious.
When he finally pulled away, his eyes were dark with anger.
"They're going to regret this."
Lina swallowed.
"Victor Kane."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"Yes."
His voice was colder than ever.
"This ends now."
Later that night, back at the mansion, Lina sat quietly on the couch.
The events of the day still felt unreal.
Adrian stood near the window.
Silent.
Thinking.
Finally Lina spoke.
"You almost killed them with your car."
Adrian didn't look at her.
"They took you."
"That doesn't justify murder."
Adrian turned slowly.
His eyes met hers.
"You're wrong."
Lina's breath caught.
"Anyone who touches you…"
His voice dropped into something dark.
"Becomes my enemy."
Her heart skipped a beat.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Adrian's phone suddenly rang.
He answered.
His expression changed instantly.
"What?"
Silence.
Then his voice became dangerously quiet.
"When?"
Lina stood up.
"What happened?"
Adrian slowly lowered the phone.
His face looked darker than she had ever seen.
"Victor Kane just made his next move."
Lina's stomach twisted.
"What did he do?"
Adrian looked at her.
And said the one thing she feared most.
"He's coming here."