Shadowed desires- Adrian thorn

Chapter 12: Bound by Shadows

The city was restless tonight. The usual hum of Barcelona's traffic outside Eva's apartment felt more chaotic, like a mirror to the storm brewing inside her mind. Rain splattered against the windows in a constant rhythm, the dark clouds overhead rolling with an ominous energy. Eva paced back and forth in her small living room, the weight of the flash drive in her hand feeling heavier with each passing moment.

She had scoured every file on it—financial records, emails, cryptic notes that suggested Adrian's deep ties with global crime syndicates. But nothing solid enough to bring him down. She needed more. And to get more, she needed to get closer. Closer than she'd ever imagined.

The knock at her door came like a gunshot in the quiet. She froze, her heart skipping a beat. The clock on the wall read midnight. Who would be at her door at this hour? She approached cautiously, her grip tightening on the small handgun hidden in her drawer. When she peeked through the peephole, her breath hitched.

Adrian Thorn. The devil himself.

She could see the smirk on his lips, the dark gleam in his eyes even through the tiny lens. Her heartbeat quickened, but she forced herself to stay calm. She couldn't afford to show weakness. Not to him.

"Open up, Eva," came his deep, resonant voice, somehow both commanding and teasing. "I know you're there. And I know you're armed."

She hesitated for a moment, then slowly opened the door just a crack. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her tone sharp but hushed. "It's the middle of the night."

Adrian tilted his head, his smirk widening. "I thought it was time we had a proper chat. Without the games, without the masks. Just you and me."

"Since when do you want to talk without games?" she shot back, her eyes narrowing.

He chuckled softly, a sound that sent an involuntary shiver down her spine. "I didn't say there wouldn't be games. Just that we'd drop the masks."

Eva's hand tightened on the doorframe. She should slam it shut. She should call the police. She should do anything but let him in. But instead, she opened the door wider. She wanted answers, and perhaps this was the only way to get them. "You have five minutes."

Adrian stepped inside, his presence immediately filling the room. He glanced around, taking in her modest living space with an amused glint in his eyes. "Cozy," he remarked, his tone dripping with condescension. "I would've expected something more... elaborate from you."

"Sorry to disappoint," she replied coldly, moving to stand by the window, her back straight and her expression guarded. The rain outside beat harder, like an erratic drumline to the tension that was building inside the room. "What do you want, Adrian?"

He turned to face her, his eyes darkening with a mix of amusement and something more dangerous. "I want to know why you're so determined to dig into my life. What are you really after, Eva?"

She met his gaze head-on, her chin lifting defiantly. "The truth. And you, of all people, should understand the value of that."

Adrian laughed softly, the sound low and predatory. "Truth? Or vengeance? Because from where I'm standing, it feels more personal than that."

Eva's jaw clenched. "You don't know a damn thing about me."

"I know you better than you think," he murmured, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that sent a thrill through her veins. "I've been watching you, studying you. And I see a woman who's just as broken as I am. You hide it well, but I see it in your eyes—every time you look at me, you're battling with yourself. Part of you wants to destroy me, but the other part..."