Falling for the enemy || 18+

CHAPTER 16 : PREDATOR

The city was quiet tonight, unusually so. From my vantage point in my office, I could see the docks in the distance, their lights faint and distant, but tomorrow, they'd be alive with the kind of energy only high-stakes deals brought.

I had everything in place. The shipment was secure, the men briefed, and the path cleared. But none of that was why I was here, sipping whiskey and watching the city below me.

It was her.

I hadn't stopped thinking about Bianca since our conversation. The way her voice had hardened when I pushed her, the fire that flared when I challenged her. I knew I was walking a dangerous line, getting involved with Alessandro's daughter like this. But I couldn't stop myself. Every word she said only fed the obsession that had been simmering since I first laid eyes on her.

She had no idea what she'd done to me.

I swirled the whiskey in my glass, the amber liquid catching the light. The docks weren't the only battleground tomorrow. I had a feeling the real game would be between Bianca and me. And if I played my cards right, I'd push her exactly where I wanted her.

She was strong, stubborn, and far too smart for her own good. I liked that. It made the chase more interesting. But I wasn't blind to the fact that she didn't trust me-hell, she shouldn't trust me. I was Eryx Cancio, the man her father hated more than anyone, and I knew she saw me as nothing more than a threat.

But the truth was, I wanted her. Not just for her mind or her strength. I wanted all of her-her loyalty, her trust, her body. And I wasn't above using this mission as a way to get it. It was more than lust. It was obsession, and that kind of desire had a dangerous edge.

Tomorrow, we'd be on the docks together, surrounded by men who would kill for either of us, but the real tension wouldn't come from the deal. It would come from the silent war raging between us. I wanted to break through her walls, make her see me not as the enemy, but as the one person who could understand her in a way no one else ever could.

The game was set, and I knew exactly how to play my part. But Bianca... she still didn't know she was a part of it. She thought this was business. She thought this was about proving herself to her father. But the moment she stepped onto those docks tomorrow, the moment we were face-to-face again, she'd feel it too-the pull between us, the tension that was more than just professional.

I drained the rest of the whiskey and set the glass down, feeling the burn in my throat. My phone buzzed on the desk, breaking the silence, and I picked it up, glancing at the message.

It was from one of my men, confirming that everything was ready. The shipment, the plan, the backup if things went south. Everything was in place, and tomorrow, it would be a flawless operation.

But my mind wasn't on the deal, it was on Bianca.

I leaned back in my chair, my fingers tapping against the armrest. I wondered if she was thinking about me, if she felt the same undercurrent of tension that had been growing since we met. Part of me wanted to believe she did, but the rational part of my brain knew she wasn't there yet.

Not yet, anyway.

But tomorrow, I'd change that. I'd make sure she couldn't ignore it any longer.

There was a knock at the door, and one of my men poked his head in, waiting for my acknowledgment before stepping into the room.

"Everything's set, boss. We'll be ready for tomorrow."

I nodded, not bothering to stand. "Good. Make sure we're prepared for any surprises."

He gave a curt nod and left, the door clicking softly behind him.

I stood up, stretching out the tension in my muscles, but my mind was still on Bianca. I knew what this mission meant to her. She wanted to prove herself, to step out from her father's shadow and show the world that she was more than just Alessandro's daughter. And part of me respected that.

But another part of me wanted to twist it, to make her realize that in trying to prove herself, she'd end up needing me more than she thought.

I wasn't going to let her walk away from this unscathed.

I walked to the window, staring out at the city below. The docks were quiet tonight, but tomorrow... tomorrow, everything would change. Not just for the deal. Not just for our families. But for us.

I wanted her, and I always got what I wanted.

Tomorrow, I'd push her. I'd test her. And if she passed, I wasn't sure I'd be able to let her go.

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the obsession that had taken root inside me. It was dangerous, what I felt for her, but I didn't care. I thrived on danger. And with Bianca, the stakes had never been higher.

Tomorrow, I'd find out just how far I could push her before she broke.

And I couldn't wait to see the outcome.