002

RAINEY

I drew in a sharp breath, freezing in my spot.

How on earth did he know my name when I was only meeting him for the first time?

I pushed him away before he could pull me any closer.

“You pervert!” A loud scream escaped my lips before I could help it. “Have you been following me?” I asked, my voice dropping to a whisper.

I wrapped my arms around myself, my chest pounding.

“I need to leave here. I need to run away.”

“Hey!” My brows widened with amusement as he stepped closer, ignoring my warning and closing the gap between us.

With a low growl, he pulled me into his chest as if daring me to break away.

“Stop being nosy and come with me.”

With that, he covered my mouth with his palm and dragged me away while I struggled to break free.

We didn’t go through the front area where the police were scattered; he took me through the back doors as we hurried along the dark path.

Soon, we reached a black van parked nearby, and he shoved me inside before I could argue.

“Help! Somebody help!” I shouted, hitting the shut windows, but it was no use. Nobody paid any attention to me; in fact, the path was deserted since it wasn’t commonly used.

“You—you motherfucker!”

He grinned at me. “I’m so sorry, Rainey. You’re such a pretty girl with good energy, but it’s a pity that no one here will come to your aid. Please just…,” he gave a nonchalant shrug, “relax and enjoy the morning breeze.”

My knuckles tightened at my sides as I listened to his nonsense.

“Mister, this is kidnapping,” I argued, raising an accusing finger at him. “I am a legal citizen of this blessed country and I know my rights. If you don’t let me down this minute, I’ll—”

“Go ahead,” he cut in, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Call the police.”

My gaze flickered around as I searched for my purse, but I couldn’t find it.

Then it dawned on me. It must have fallen from my hand at the venue.

Shit. My phone was in there—and the business card.

I gritted my teeth as I glared at the strange man scowling at me.

Grabbing his collar tightly, I yelled, “You beast! I’m going to kill you! Do you know how much that card meant to me? Now you’ve made me lose it. You really deserve to be put behind bars!”

“Hey, Rainey. Easy,” he said, seizing my wrists and pinning my back against the seat.

His dominance alone was enough to force me to calm down.

I shuddered as he brought his face close to mine. My gaze locked onto his, my eyes drifting to his lips.

They looked thin yet appealing. How could a bastard like him possess such beauty?

“How did you know my name?” I demanded, my cracked voice breaking the silence.

He didn’t answer. He just kept staring at me like I was one of his prey—someone he would shred to pieces sooner or later.

“You must really think the police are the solution to every problem, don’t you?”

I let out a dry chuckle. “Don’t you dare dodge my question.” My fingers dug into his skin, and it was then that I realized my hands were on his lap.

I quickly pulled away, tucking a stray curl behind my ear.

“Police are for bad guys like you.”

“And who do you think you are?” he retorted.

My brows scrunched up at him. “I’m a good girl. If I weren’t, do you think I’d be so eager to hand you over to the police?”

“Excellent,” he said, his palms pressed together.

I raised an eyebrow, confused. “Excellent?”

His hand moved up my thigh, his fingers trailing as he lifted my dress.

“What are you doing?” I exclaimed, my eyes wide.

“Claiming what is mine,” he whispered, his voice low in my ear.

“I’m not yours and will never be.”

“You are,” he insisted, his hand gripping my neck. “Bad guys like me deserve good girls like you, and that’s why I’ll make you mine, Rainey.”

I whimpered, shivering as he left me feeling almost helpless. I didn’t fight him; I just managed to retort, “You’re just a stranger.”

He chuckled, tracing invisible circles along my skin. “That’s what you think, Rain. Meanwhile, I’ve been watching you for years. I saw you that night when you cried in the rain because a deal fell through, and the joyful mornings when you jumped around.

I even knew you’d be here today. I never planned to take you this way, but your mouth has brought you this far, and now, you’ll be nothing but mine and no one else's.”

I sighed in disbelief, my heart swelling with confusion.

“You… you’ve been following me?”

He nodded firmly, placing a soft kiss on my collarbone. “I always have, Rainey.”

Everywhere fell silent for a moment until I removed his hat and tossed it aside slowly.

“Who… who the heck are you? How do you know so much about me?”

“Watching you made me learn a lot.”

“Exactly… Why are you interested in me? No wonder I got scared sometimes. You owned the shadows that passed by my window at night. Those high-stakes deals—you were the mastermind behind them. I knew none of them were ordinary; I just didn't know how to justify my suspicion.”

“Ney…” I gasped when he called me that. Only my dad used that name. How did he know? Why was he switching from Rainey now?

“Don't come to me,” I warned, moving away.

“Why should I run from what's mine?” A dark glint shone in his eyes as he brushed his slick black hair back.

“I'm not yours,” I insisted. “Never.”

My body shivered when he removed the eye patch, revealing his left blue eye, which didn’t match the other almond-shaped one.

It was him.

The one-eyed man who murdered my dad twenty-two years ago. No wonder he felt so familiar.

I should have known better. I shouldn’t have let him catch me off guard like this.

If only I had minded my own business, I wouldn't be here.

“Why do you think I've been following you?” The corners of his lips curled into a sinister smile as he said, “My interest in you is so piqued that I just can’t let go, even if I wanted to.”

“Tell me what you want from me. I know it's you…” My voice trembled. “You said you'd come for me. Is it the time now?”

He scoffed. “Silas Valetti—you should have heard that name before, perhaps twenty-two years ago when I smiled sweetly at you, slipping my knife from my pocket.” His smile turned eerie, sending goosebumps spreading across my skin.

“Si—Silas,” I stuttered, “please don't hurt me.”

I had no choice but to beg if I wanted to live. He listened to my plea the night he killed my father; maybe he would today, too. Just maybe.

Again, he didn’t say a word. He just kept his eyes locked on me, his expression radiating impending doom.

There was danger behind his cold grin.

Soon, the black van pulled up in front of a tall, gorgeous mansion, and Silas's voice made me shift my gaze to him.

“Welcome to your new home, Ney.”

The air around me turned chillier , and a new fear washed over me as I heard him declare this.