THE TEMPTRESS

||Targeted||

•STEPHANIE•

Kaden and I made our way downstairs, and a wave of tension washed over me when I noticed his friends waiting in the foyer. My steps almost faltered on the staircase.

Keeping a composed expression, I continued down the stairs, and they all turned to look at us.

"You've met everyone, right? Ben, Lucy, and AJ?" Kaden asked, gesturing to his friends. I spared him a quick glance.

"We haven't had the chance for proper introductions," AJ said, stepping forward to face me.

He was undeniably good-looking. Smooth tanned skin, long dark hair brushing the collar of his shirt, and those eyes.

His gaze, intense and unsettling, locked onto my brown eyes, making my skin crawl.

He extended his hand toward me, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Alex Jones. AJ to my friends," he said, and I got the hint, shaking his hand firmly.

Believe me, I wasn't here to be friends with any of you either.

I withdrew my hand, offering a polite smile to Kaden.

"I'm heading home. Call me if you need anything."

He smirked, pulling me close and planting a small kiss on my cheek. I masked my discomfort with a tight-lipped smile before pulling away.

I glanced at his friends one last time. Ben was smirking, AJ had a scowl, and Lucy was glaring at me.

Not that I cared about her issues; she'd been sending me hostile vibes since we met.

Breaking away from Kaden's embrace, I left their house. My instincts told me to glance in my rearview mirror, and I did. A dark Mercedes without number plates was tailing me a few cars behind.

My gut feeling warned me that I was being followed, so I took a left turn to confirm my suspicions. As expected, the black car followed suit, maintaining a significant distance.

This was bad. If I was being followed, someone knew my every move and what I was up to.

I pulled into my driveway, trying to act nonchalant, pretending I wasn't aware of the car tailing me. I lingered by my car for a moment, watching as the black vehicle drove past my house. The tinted windows hid the occupants from view.

I jogged down the driveway and peeked through the gates. The car continued without stopping, vanishing around the corner.

Was I being overly paranoid? Maybe the car wasn't really following me.

I sighed in relief and made my way inside. The sound of paws echoed from the house, and soon, Russ came into view.

I crouched down to greet him, and he bounded over, showering my face with sloppy licks that set off a fit of laughter.

"Missed me, huh, buddy?" I grinned, interpreting his enthusiastic response as a yes.

I affectionately ruffled his fur before straightening up.

"Hungry, I bet. Let me freshen up and get your food, alright?"

He barked in agreement, his intelligence never failing to amaze me.

After a quick shower and a change into comfy clothes, I headed to the kitchen. I filled Russ's bowl with his usual dog food, and he dug in immediately.

My kitchen supplies were scarce, a result of living alone and not needing much. Ramen noodles had become a staple in my life. I grabbed a pack from the cupboard, boiled water, and fixed myself a bowl.

Balancing the hot noodles, I settled on the couch, flicking on the TV. The news droned in the background while I dug into my meal.

Amidst the news of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Russ's growls snapped me back to attention. I called him over, but he remained rooted, fixated on something outside the glass door.

"Russ, come here, boy. Come on," I urged, but he didn't budge, his growls growing more menacing, sharp fangs on display.

Setting my bowl down carefully, I stood up, my senses on high alert. I grabbed my gun and approached the glass door cautiously. The driveway lights illuminated the immediate area, but the road beyond was shrouded in darkness.

My grip tightened on the gun as I inched closer, my eyes scanning the area. Nothing stirred, but I trusted Russ's instincts. He sensed danger like no other.

Peering through the glass, I gasped when I saw it - the black car that had been tailing me earlier, parked just outside my gates.

Someone had indeed been following me.

I yanked my phone from my back pocket, eyes fixed on the ominous black Mercedes. With a casual flick, I dialed Steven's number, not bothering to glance away from the car. He finally picked up on the second ring.

"Got someone tailing me. Black Mercedes, no plates, no idea who they are."

"Where are they now?" Steven's voice was steady.

"Parked right outside my house, being not-so-subtle about it. Seems like they want me to know they're watching."

There was a thoughtful pause on his end.

"I'll have the guys check it out and get back to you."

I hung up, shooting a fierce glare at the car. I knew they could see me; after all, I was staring right back at them. My gut told me Kaden was the mastermind behind this.

It made sense, considering he sent someone after me right after I left his place. But if he thought he could dig up dirt on me, he was in for a surprise.

I was always one step ahead.