6. The stranger's demand

Adrian POV

The next morning, I rose feeling fulfilled and whole. Luna continues to relax beside me, her soft breaths calming me into slumber once again. Just as I start to drift off, a loud knock at the door jolts me awake. I quickly get up, dressing in boxers and pants before heading to the front door. I unlock the door to find a police officer waiting outside, his stern expression causing a chill to run down my spine.

"Adrian Matthews?" he inquired, his tone serious.

I nod anxiously, my thoughts swirling with ideas about what might have led the police to my door. “Yes, that's me. Is there an issue, officer?”

The officer squints as he examines me closely. “I regret to inform you that an incident occurred in this area last night.” "Could you share your whereabouts between midnight and 3 am?"

My heart raced in my chest as I attempted to remember the occurrences of last night. Luna and I were enveloped in our passion, immersed in our own world. However, now confronted with the chance of problems, I find it difficult to recall the specifics. “I...I was at my house,” I hesitated, my voice trembling. “Accompanied by a friend. We were...simply relaxing together.”

The officer raises an eyebrow, his skepticism was evident. "And your friend's name?”

"Luna," I reply, feeling a surge of panic. "She was here with me."

The officer's stare grew sharper, and I sensed the burden of his doubt pressing heavily upon me. “I need to talk with this Luna. Could you please bring her out here?”

I nod, my thoughts racing as I hurry back indoors to wake Luna. She slowly opens her eyes while I describe the situation, her face rapidly changing from puzzlement to dread. Once we go outside, the officer's gaze fixes on Luna, and I can observe the moment realization hit him.

"Miss Luna, could you verify that you were present with Mr. Matthews last night from midnight to 3 am?"

Luna nods, her voice quivering as she speaks. “Yes, officer. We spent the entire night together.”

The officer's demeanor becomes a bit gentler, but he stays cautious. “I apologize for having to bring this up, but we got a noise complaint last night from one of your neighbors.”

“They mentioned that there were loud noises and shouting emanating from this home. Could you clarify that?”

Luna and I share a look, both finding it difficult to formulate a believable reason. However, prior to our response, the officer’s radio crackled, and he looked astonished.

“Unit 12, we have received a new report regarding a disturbance in sector 7. Kindly reply right away,” a voice crackles over the radio. The officer’s eyes return to us, his face showing inner turmoil.

"I'm sorry for the trouble, Mr. Matthews, Miss Luna. It seems that a mistake has taken place. Please receive my heartfelt apologies for any inconvenience caused.” With that, the officer rushes back to his car, leaving Luna and me in stunned silence on the front steps.

I embrace her, sensing a wave of relief come over me. As the excitement of the meeting begins to fade, I can't help but ponder the actual essence of the disruption.

Was it just a basic noise issue, or was there something more malevolent involved? Might our intense night together have influenced the events that followed? One thing is clear, Luna and I have experienced a lot so far, and I sense that this is merely the start.

However, no matter what challenges arise, I am certain that we will confront them together, with the same thoughtfulness and regard that united us initially. And who can say? Perhaps this newly discovered feeling of tension and thrill will only strengthen our bond even more.

Luna’s POV

The officer’s footsteps faded, but the unease in my chest remained, tightening like a vice.

Something wasn’t right.

I turned to Adrian, who was still watching me with concern. His warm brown eyes searched mine, and for a second, I wanted to believe that as long as I was with him, I was safe.

But deep down, I knew better.

Dante.

Had he sent the police to check on me? To scare me? Or worse…to find me?

“Luna, talk to me,” Adrian said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

I forced a small smile. “I’m fine,” I lied. “Just shaken up.”

His arms enveloped me, keeping me near. I laid my head on his exposed chest, attuning to the consistent beat of his heart. It was reassuring and stabilizing, yet it couldn’t silence the persistent anxiety coiling within me.

We ate breakfast quietly, each of us preoccupied with our own thoughts. I nibbled at my meal, my hunger spoiled by the officer’s arrival. On the contrary, Adrian ate as if he were attempting to dismiss the tension.

"Do you want to head to the docks?" he inquired, sliding his empty plate aside.

I nodded. “Yeah… fresh air might help.”

The docks were one of the few places where I could think. The endless stretch of water and the gentle sway of the boats it was calming. I needed that right now.

Adrian reached for my hand as we stepped outside, but we barely made it a few steps before I saw her.

Sofia.

She was running toward me, her brown curls bouncing, her face flushed with urgency.

“Luna!” she called, breathless.

I froze.

Adrian immediately tensed beside me, sensing something was wrong.

“Go ahead,” I told him, squeezing his hand. “I’ll catch up.”

He hesitated but nodded. “Be careful.”

The second he was out of earshot, Sofia grabbed my wrists, her grip tight.

“There’s trouble,” she panted. “Big trouble.”

My stomach knotted. “What do you mean?”

She took a deep breath before blurting it out. “There’s a car. A really expensive one. It’s been parked outside your house since this morning. Your dad saw me, and he sent me to find you. He says they’re someone here for you.”

A chill crawled down my spine.

I stepped back instinctively, shaking my head. “No. No, I can’t go back there, Sofia. I won’t.”

“Luna…” She hesitated, guilt flashing in her eyes. “You don’t have a choice.”

Before I could respond, I felt it.

A presence.

I turned my head slightly and saw them.

Two men in dark suits.

They were walking toward us with the precision of trained professionals, broad-shouldered, built-like bodyguards. Their gazes were sharp, assessing.

They didn’t speak right away. Instead, they stopped next to Sofia.

“You’re Sofia?” one of them asked, his voice deep and unwavering.

She swallowed hard and nodded.

The second man turned his attention to me. “Miss Luna, we’ve been asked to escort you home. Please, come with us.”

My pulse hammered against my ribs.

I took a step back, my throat dry. “No.”

The first man sighed as if he had expected this reaction. “Miss Luna, your father is waiting. We don’t want to cause a scene.”

Sofia squeezed my arm. “Luna, maybe you should just go. See what’s happening first.”

I stared at her, then back at the men.

I could run. I could fight.

But neither would work.

Taking a deep breath, I propelled my feet ahead, my mind shouting for me to halt. The men guided me to a polished black vehicle, the type that radiated wealth and dominance. I entered, my whole body rigid.

As the vehicle drove off, Sofia’s anxious expression vanished from the rearview mirror.

Fifteen minutes afterward, we reached our destination.

The house I was raised in towered in front of me, small but formidable. My belly twisted.

The vehicle hardly came to a halt before the door was opened for me. My hands shook as I stepped outside.

When I entered inside, I spotted him.

Occupying my father's living room was a figure, no, not merely a figure.

An existence.

In his early thirties, he donned an impeccably fitted navy blue suit that hugged his slim but athletic build. His black hair was well-groomed, and his jawline was so sharp it could slice through glass.

However, it was his eyes that disturbed me the most, sharp and enigmatic.

He was evaluating me as if I were a valuable artwork he was about to buy.

My father was next to him, his face hard to interpret.

"Luna," he said calmly, waving for me to enter.

I paused at the entrance, feeling a tightness in my chest.

Every part of me urged me to turn and flee.

The man dressed in a suit stood with ease, his actions seeming almost like those of a predator.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” he said, his voice velvety smooth yet laced with something dangerous.

I swallowed hard.

Who was he?

And more importantly…

What did he want with me?