Chapter 4: The Trap is Set

Elena sat on the edge of her penthouse balcony, a glass of whiskey in her hand, staring out at the Manhattan skyline. The city lights flickered like embers in the dark, but her mind wasn’t on their beauty.

It was on him.

Killian Graves.

Every interaction with him felt like dancing on the edge of a blade—dangerous, sharp, intoxicating.

But she wasn’t here to get lost in the past.

She was here to end him.

Her phone buzzed beside her.

A message.

Victor DeLuca: "We need to talk. Tonight. The club."

Elena smirked. Right on time.

Victor was powerful—one of Killian’s biggest enemies in the underworld. If she was going to bring Killian down, she needed someone just as ruthless to back her.

She downed the rest of her drink and stood.

It was time to set the next phase of her plan into motion.

Across the city, Killian leaned against the massive glass windows of his office, his whiskey untouched on the desk behind him.

His mind was still reeling from his encounter with Elena at the masquerade ball.

She had played her hand well. But she had made one mistake.

She thought she was in control.

His phone lit up. A secured message.

Unknown Sender: "She isn’t just here for revenge. She’s here for blood."

Killian’s jaw clenched.

Elena wasn’t working alone.

“Axel,” he called, and his second-in-command entered the office without hesitation.

“I want every move she’s making tracked,” Killian ordered, his voice low. “She’s aligning with someone—find out who.”

Axel hesitated. “Sir… she was seen entering Victor DeLuca’s club.”

Killian’s eyes darkened.

So, she had gone to his enemy.

She was bold.

But she was playing with fire.

And Killian wasn’t going to let her walk away unburned.

The club was loud, neon lights flashing, music pounding through the air.

Elena stepped into Victor DeLuca’s private VIP lounge, ignoring the hungry stares from the men in the room.

Victor sat at the center, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement as she approached.

“Elena Romano,” he drawled, swirling his drink. “You’ve been making waves, darling.”

She smirked. “Then I must be doing something right.”

Victor chuckled, leaning forward. “I know why you’re here. You want Killian Graves destroyed.”

Elena met his gaze without hesitation. “Completely.”

Victor tilted his head, studying her. “He won’t go down easily. You should know that better than anyone.”

Her fingers curled slightly. She did know. But this time, she wasn’t the naïve girl she had once been.

Victor took a sip of his drink. “I can help you, Elena. I can give you resources, men, information.”

She crossed her arms. “And what do you want in return?”

Victor’s lips curved into a wicked smirk.

“You.”

A slow, dangerous silence fell between them.

Elena’s pulse remained steady, but inside, her mind was already calculating.

Victor wasn’t interested in love or affection—he was interested in power. Aligning himself with her meant strengthening his own position against Killian.

She could play this game.

She leaned forward, her voice like silk.

“Help me take him down,” she said, “and we’ll talk.”

Victor grinned. “Then, darling, we have a deal.”

But before the deal could be sealed, the door slammed open.

Elena barely had time to react before a familiar presence filled the room.

Killian.

The club went silent as Killian stepped inside, his dark gaze locked on her.

“Elena,” he murmured, his voice calm—but underneath, there was something deadly simmering.

Victor sat back, amused. “Well, well. Didn’t expect to see you here, Graves.”

Killian didn’t even glance at him. His entire focus was on her.

“You’ve been busy,” he said to Elena. “Plotting, making deals with my enemies. How very predictable.”

Elena smiled sweetly. “Predictable? You must be losing your touch if you didn’t see this coming.”

Killian’s smirk didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh, sweetheart. I saw everything coming.”

And then, before she could react, Killian stepped closer, his voice lowering.

“You think you can outplay me?” he whispered, his breath ghosting over her ear. “You think you can use Victor to hurt me?”

His fingers brushed against her wrist, sending a pulse of heat through her.

“Careful, Elena,” he warned. “Because once you step too far over the line, I won’t be gentle.”

Elena’s heartbeat quickened, but she refused to show weakness.

She lifted her chin. “I’m not afraid of you, Killian.”

His lips curved. “You should be.”

Victor chuckled from his seat. “Well, this is entertaining, but I’m afraid I must ask you to leave, Graves. Elena and I have business.”

Killian finally looked at Victor, his smirk turning dangerous.

“Oh, Victor,” he said smoothly. “I don’t think you realize it yet.”

Victor frowned. “Realize what?”

Killian stepped back, slipping a sleek USB drive from his pocket and tossing it onto the table.

“I’ve already won.”

Victor grabbed the drive and inserted it into his laptop.

His expression darkened instantly.

Elena frowned, watching as Victor’s jaw ticked with fury.

“What is this?” Victor snapped.

Killian leaned down, his voice filled with mock sympathy.

“Every offshore account under your name. Every illegal deal you’ve ever made. And a direct line to the Feds.”

Elena’s breath hitched.

No.

Killian had outplayed them both.

Victor shot up from his seat. “You son of a—”

Killian smirked. “Careful, Victor. Wouldn’t want this information leaked, would we?”

Elena clenched her fists. “You set me up.”

Killian finally turned to her, something dangerous and victorious in his eyes.

“I told you,” he murmured. “You’re playing my game, Elena. And in my game, I never lose.”

She stared at him, furious, breathless… and something else.

Something she didn’t want to name.

Victor cursed under his breath, but he knew he was beaten. He shot Elena a glare. “We’re done here.”

He stormed out, leaving Elena and Killian alone.

The silence stretched between them, thick with heat and fury.

Killian took a step closer.

“You underestimated me,” he said softly, tilting her chin up. “That was your first mistake.”

Elena glared at him. “And yours was thinking this is over.”

His smirk deepened.

“Oh, sweetheart,” he murmured. “This has only just begun.”

And just like that, he walked away.

Leaving Elena standing in the wreckage of her first real loss.

But this wasn’t over.

Not even close.

To Be Continued…