Dark Velvet (Book 2)

In the cross fire

Layla pulled up to La Rue Café, her Range Rover gleaming as she slid it into a parking spot near the entrance. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and couldn't help but smile. She'd put real thought into today's look, breaking out her favorite black dress—the one that hugged her curves just right, flowing perfectly with every step. The soft fabric clung to her in all the right places, bringing out the kind of allure she knew was unmistakable. Her lips were painted in a lighter red than usual, an almost daring pop of color that felt fresh, yet still her signature.

She'd styled her hair differently today, letting it frame her face in soft waves that cascaded over her shoulders. Everything about her look said she was ready to shake off the shadows of the last few days, leaving the tension behind, if only for a few hours. Today, she wanted something lighter—a public setting, somewhere she could relax and enjoy a nice meal, face-to-face with Kaelen, without all the darkness.

But just as she stepped out of her car, her eyes landed on a sleek black sedan parked a few spots away, its California license plate catching the sunlight. Her stomach tightened. Oh, hell no, she thought, her mind racing. That was Kyren's car. She'd seen it before, knew those plates by heart.

For a moment, her hand froze on her purse, hesitation creeping in. Maybe this wasn't Kaelen reaching out after all. Maybe I'm walking into something else, she realized, feeling the weight of that thought press down on her. She bit her lip, debating if she should turn back, if she even wanted to see where this was going.

But curiosity—or maybe something deeper—pushed her forward. She took a steadying breath, lifted her chin, and made her way inside.

The café was softly lit, a warm and inviting space, but as her eyes adjusted, she spotted him right away. Kyren sat at a table near the back, dressed in dark colors, his expression unreadable. His gaze locked onto her the second she entered, something intense and almost haunting flickering in his eyes.

As she approached, Kyren leaned forward, his voice low but firm. "I told you to stay away, Layla," he said, his tone a mix of urgency and warning. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into with him."

Layla's heart pounded, but she kept her face neutral, not wanting him to see the flicker of doubt she suddenly felt. "What are you talking about, Kyren? You dragged me here just to play games?"

He shook his head, his jaw clenched. "I'm not playing games. Kaelen's done this before, Layla. I've seen it. The way he pulls people in, makes them trust him, only to turn them into... something else." He paused, his gaze darkening. "I had a vision, Layla. And I'm telling you—you're next if you don't walk away."

Kyren's warning echoed in Layla's mind, stirring something she'd been trying to push down. She took a shaky breath, glancing away for a moment before finally speaking, her voice softer than usual.

"Last night... he did get rough with me, Kyren," she admitted, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her dress. "It wasn't anything too crazy, but it was... different. I thought maybe he just got a little too in his head or something, but I've never seen him like that."

Kyren's jaw tightened as he listened, his gaze steady, almost protective. "Layla, you don't have to explain it away. I'm telling you, this isn't new for him. There's a pattern, and it always ends the same way."

She frowned, her mind racing as she considered his words. "But... that doesn't mean he'll be like that with me," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "I mean, people change, right?"

Just then, her phone vibrated in her hand, and she glanced down. Kaelen. She hesitated, caught between Kyren's steady gaze and the name flashing on her screen, a familiar thrill mixed with an undercurrent of anxiety. She slid her thumb over the screen, picking up the call.