ADRIEN’S POV

The two days pass quickly, like water going down a rusty drain. Before I’m even ready for it, my time runs out.

The rain pours outside.

It’s not the gentle kind of rain that helps the plants grow, it’s a heavy downpour that beats hard against my window.

The old floral wallpaper of my apartment looks even worse in the dark, gloomy light. The damp air creeps in through the floorboards and makes me feel cold right down to my bones.

I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at my old sneakers. My bag sits by the door, mostly empty. There is no point in packing much when you are going back to a fancy prison.

My phone buzzes against my leg. A short text message comes in.

Downstairs.

My throat goes dry. The feeling of being back in my real life disappears. I stand up, my knees shaking a little before I force myself to stand straight.

It’s time to go, Adrien.

I take one last look around my small room—the messy bed, the dusty shelves, the faint smell of food from two days ago. I don’t know if I will ever see this place again.

I don’t know if I’ll even survive the week.

When I step outside, the wind and rain hit my face. A sleek, black luxury car is waiting at the curb. Its flashing lights look like the eyes of a wild animal in the dark rain. The back door clicks open from the inside before I can even touch the handle.

I slide into the back seat. The car is warm and smells strongly of expensive leather. I pull my wet jacket tight around myself and shiver as the heavy door slams shut, cutting off all the sounds of my neighborhood.

I said my goodbyes to no one.

The big driver does not say a word. He doesn’t even look at me in the rearview mirror. He just drives away, leaving my safe place behind.

The sound of the windshield wipers fills the silence. I stare out the dark window, watching the familiar streets of my neighborhood blur in the rain. We are driving toward the rich part of the city.

Toward Orion.

My mind goes back to the scary mess of the past few weeks. I still feel like Orion is playing a cruel game with me. But as the regular city lights change into big, expensive buildings, a cold feeling settles in my stomach.

I can’t afford to be afraid anymore. If people are hunting me, and if I am in constant danger, then I am going to choose who I fight back against.

And I choose Masamune.

Just thinking the name makes me angry. The digital clues from the bombing pointed to me because they put them there. They chose to fuck me over by dragging me into the spotlight.

I let out a short, bitter laugh.

They think I’m just going to lie down and let the powerful families kill me at the big party next week. They think I’m a scared little mouse that will hide in a corner and cry.

They are bloody wrong.

If Orion decides to kill me today, if he finds out everything and decides my life is over, I’ll accept it.

But, I’ll not go down without a fight. Before my heart stops, before I die in his stupidly huge mansion, I’m going to hurt Masamune back.

For what they did to me, for the horror they put me through, and for making me take the blame—they are going down with me. If I have to burn, I’ll make sure the fire destroys them too.

I lean my head against the cold window glass, watching the heavy rain pour down. Let them try to break me. I’ve already survived the worst times, a scheme like this just isn’t enough.

The car slows down as we reach the huge iron gates of Orion’s estate. The guards don’t even check the car, the gates just open on their own, letting the monster’s car back inside.

The tires crunch on the gravel driveway. We pass the neat, giant gardens that look dark and very scary in the heavy rain.

The huge mansion towers over us. It is a giant block of stone and dark glass that feels less like a home and more like a prison meant to keep people out—or keep me in.

The car stops right in front of the main doors.

Through the wet window, my breath catches. Standing on the stone porch, completely ignoring the cold wind and rain, is Orion.

He is wearing a dark silk shirt with the top buttons open. His hands are in his pockets, and he looks totally relaxed. But his dark eyes are staring straight at the car door. He is watching me.

He is waiting for me.

The driver gets out into the rain and opens my door, holding a big black umbrella over my head.

"We’re here," the driver says in his rough voice.

I take a deep breath, fix my messy shirt, and step out into the freezing air. The wind blows hard against my jacket, but I keep my head up as I walk up the stone steps, my wet shoes squeaking on the clean floor.

The moment I step inside the doorway, before I can even wipe the rain from my eyes, something warm wraps around me.

Orion moves fast. He doesn’t just nod or smile at me. Instead, he reaches out and pulls me tightly into his arms, holding me in a powerful hug.

Everything changes in a second. The smell of the rain is gone, replaced by his strong, expensive cologne. It smells like wood and tobacco, a scent that always makes me feel like I’m in danger.

Well, I am in danger.

"You’re freezing," Orion whispers near my ear. His voice vibrates against my chest. His scarred hands press hard into my back, holding me tight against him as if he wants to make sure that I’m really back.

"I missed you. The house was way too quiet without you."

I freeze completely. My hands are trapped between us, and I just stare blankly over his shoulder into the dim hallway.

My heart thumps in my chest, while his chest rises and falls in a slow, steady rhythm.

He pulls back just a little to look at me. His fingers hold my face gently, his thumbs moving across my cheeks. His dark eyes look at me closely, searching for any sign that I’m lying or trying to fight back. I think.

"Tell me everything," he says softly, with a small, dangerous smile. "How was your two-day holiday? Did you have fun in your little neighborhood? Did you miss me at all?"

The questions feel like a trap. He sounds like a normal person asking about my day, but I know better. Every word is a test. Every touch is a reminder that he has all the power.

"I just rested, Orion," I say, my voice shaking in a tight whisper. I try to act calm, like I’m not fazed by anything, but being this close to him is terrifying. "I stayed inside. Away from the rain."

"Really?" he asks. His hands move down to my shoulders, his fingers gripping my wet jacket tightly. "You didn’t do anything bad? You didn’t try to run away? No secret goodbyes?"

He laughs, a low sound that sends shivers down my spine. He pulls me back into his chest, hiding his face near my neck, his arms wrapping around me in a tight hold I can’t escape.

And right then, as the warmth of his body heats up my wet clothes, all the brave thoughts I had in the car completely vanish.

I stop thinking about revenge on Masamune. I stop thinking about my plans or the big party next week.

All I can think about is how strong his grip is.

His arms feel like iron bands around my chest, squeezing me until it is hard to breathe. I can feel the hard muscle of his arms against my ribs.

He is a monster pretending to be nice, a dangerous man who could ruin my life in a second. Why does this have to be my life, for god’s sake?

He says he missed me, and he asks if I had fun, but as he holds me tighter, whispering words into my ear, the truth hits me hard.

It would be so easy for him to hurt me. So fucking easy.

With just one quick, violent twist of his hands, or one hard squeeze against my back, he could break my spine like a dry stick right here by the door.

He could kill me or paralyze me before my bag even hits the floor. He could end my life before I even try to fight back, and nobody would ever come looking for me.

"Welcome home, Adrien," Orion whispers, his hot breath hitting my cold skin.

I swallow hard, my fingers tightly grabbing the silk of his shirt. I hold onto the very man who’s going to destroy me, just to keep myself from falling apart.

"Thank you, Orion," I whisper back into the dark.

****

Sorry everyone, it’s still just a Chapter for today. Health issues are kicking me hard.

—TheLovePoet