Shadowed desires- Adrian thorn

Chapter 7: Unraveling Shadows

Eva's hands trembled slightly as she adjusted her rearview mirror. She had parked a few blocks away from The Abyss, Adrian Thorn's infamous club, and her nerves were on edge. She was on a mission tonight—not to confront Adrian, but to find a crack in his armor. Something, anything, that would lead her to her missing sister, Mia, or at least expose Thorn for the criminal he was.

She took a deep breath, her breath fogging up the chilly car window. The city was alive with its usual buzz, but her mind was a cacophony of thoughts, each one vying for attention. She knew she was walking into the lion's den, and yet, she felt no fear—only a relentless, gnawing determination. She had prepared for this. She would not be swayed by Adrian's charm or the way his cold blue eyes seemed to pierce right through her. She was here for Mia. She was here for the truth.

Her phone vibrated on the dashboard, snapping her back to reality. She glanced at it, seeing a message from her best friend, Cara:

Are you sure about this, Eva? This is dangerous.

She quickly typed a reply: I have to, Cara. For Mia.

With a last look in the mirror, Eva fixed her hair and pushed the car door open, stepping into the night. She walked briskly towards the club, the cool air biting at her skin through the thin fabric of her black dress. The club loomed ahead, its neon sign a blood-red glow against the darkness, casting long shadows that seemed to beckon her closer.

Tonight, Eva wasn't just going to blend in as another patron. She had something more risky in mind. She'd overheard a conversation between two of Thorn's men in the club last week, mentioning an upper floor that only select members and Thorn's most trusted allies were allowed to access. She needed to get up there and see what secrets it held.

Eva had spent the last few days planning meticulously, using every resource at her disposal. She'd managed to get a hold of a temporary staff ID—a small miracle. She prayed it would hold up under scrutiny. If it didn't...well, she wasn't sure she wanted to consider the consequences. But desperation had a way of making even the sanest person do reckless things.

The bouncer at the door, a hulking man with a face like granite, glanced at her with mild interest. "ID?" he grunted, his tone disinterested. She handed him the fake staff ID, her heart pounding so loudly she was certain he could hear it. He gave her a once-over, his eyes narrowing. For a moment, she thought he'd see right through her, but then he shrugged, handing it back. "Go on in. Don't cause trouble."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Eva replied with a forced smile, her pulse still racing as she stepped into the club. The bass from the music vibrated through her bones, almost drowning out her thoughts. Almost.

Inside, the air was thick with the mingling scents of expensive perfume and alcohol. Shadows moved across the room, twisting and contorting in the dim lighting. She scanned the area, her eyes sweeping over the clusters of people swaying to the music, over the servers bustling about, to the staircase that led to the upper floor. There were two guards posted there—just as she'd expected.

Eva moved swiftly through the crowd, her eyes fixed on her target. She caught a glimpse of Adrian Thorn, standing in the VIP section with a group of men in suits. His gaze flickered in her direction, and for a split second, their eyes met. His expression was unreadable, but she could feel the intensity of his stare. It was as if he could sense she was up to something. She quickly looked away, heart pounding harder now.

As she approached the staircase, she adjusted her posture, adopting the confident air of someone who belonged. She flashed the ID at one of the guards. "Got called in last minute," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. The guard gave her a suspicious look but didn't stop her as she started up the steps.