Falling for the enemy || 18+

CHAPTER 17 : PREY

The docks were alive with the sound of heavy machinery and the low hum of tension. I stood at the edge of it all, hands in my pockets, watching the containers being loaded off the ship. My men were scattered around, strategically placed, eyes sharp, hands close to their weapons. Every detail had been planned to perfection-just like I always did. But tonight wasn't about the shipment.

It was about her.

Bianca would be here soon, and for the first time in years, I felt that familiar rush, the thrill of a moment just before everything was set in motion. It had been years since anyone had gotten under my skin like this. No woman. No enemy. No one. And yet, here I was, thinking about her more than the million-dollar deal that was going down in front of me.

I leaned against one of the metal crates, scanning the horizon. The air was heavy with the smell of salt and diesel, and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore barely broke through the noise of the docks. My focus was elsewhere-waiting for that moment she'd arrive, for her to step into this world and prove she could handle it.

I wasn't sure if I wanted her to succeed or fail.

Either way, I was going to enjoy watching her try.

The thought of her, fierce and defiant, walking into this scene with the confidence she'd shown me before-God, it made the wait unbearable. I ran a hand through my hair, keeping my composure, but every muscle in my body was coiled tight. She was supposed to be Alessandro's weapon, but every time I thought of her, I felt like I was the one being tested.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, snapping me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out, seeing a message from one of my men.

She's here.

I slid the phone back into my pocket, my heart kicking up a beat. I hadn't been this excited for a mission in years. The anticipation of seeing her again, of testing her limits, of seeing if she could handle the pressure... it was intoxicating.

And then, as if on cue, I saw her.

She stepped out of a sleek black car, the night wind tugging at her long dark hair. She was dressed simply, a black leather jacket, dark jeans, but she looked every bit as dangerous as I'd imagined. Her sharp eyes scanned the docks, already in control, already calculating. She had her father's cold intensity, but there was something more to her, something that made my obsession burn hotter.

As she walked toward me, her steps confident, I felt a surge of satisfaction. She was ready for this, or at least she thought she was. But tonight wasn't just about a deal. It was about us, whether she knew it or not.

I pushed off the crate and moved toward her, my gaze never leaving her face. She spotted me almost instantly, her eyes narrowing slightly as I approached. That fire, that defiance-it was all there, barely contained. And as much as I wanted to break through that wall she'd built around herself, I also wanted to see just how long she could keep it up.

"Bianca," I greeted her, my voice smooth and low.

She didn't flinch, didn't falter. "Eryx," she replied, her tone equally calm, though I could see the tension in her posture. She was wary, and rightly so.

I took a step closer, standing just a little too close, watching her reaction. She didn't back down, but I could see the shift in her eyes. She was on guard, but I liked that. It meant she wasn't going to crumble easily.

"Glad you could make it," I said, letting my gaze flick briefly to the activity around us. "You ready for this?"

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," she shot back, her voice laced with confidence. There it was again-that fire. I could see it burning in her, that need to prove herself.

I smirked. "Good. Let's see if you can handle the pressure."

I motioned for her to follow me as we moved deeper into the heart of the docks, where the real action was happening. My men nodded as we passed, their eyes flicking to her with curiosity, but no one said a word. They knew better.

Bianca walked beside me, her steps steady, but I could feel the tension radiating off her. She was trying hard not to let it show, but I knew this was a bigger test than she was letting on. It wasn't just about her father's deal. It was about her proving that she could step into this world, that she could stand on her own, without her father's shadow looming over her.

I led her to a vantage point, where we could oversee the operation. "Everything's running smoothly," I said, leaning against the railing, watching the containers being unloaded. "For now."

She crossed her arms, her eyes scanning the scene. "For now?"

I chuckled softly. "Things can change quickly in our world. One wrong move, and everything falls apart."

"I know how it works," she said, her voice cold, but I could sense the unease underneath it. She was trying to keep up, trying to prove she was just as capable as I was, but this was a different game than she'd ever played before. And she knew it.

"Relax," I said, glancing at her. "I've got everything under control."

She looked at me, her eyes sharp, challenging. "Do you?"

I smiled, enjoying the pushback. "Always."

We stood there for a few moments in silence, the weight of the night pressing down on both of us. I could feel the energy between us crackling, the unspoken tension growing thicker. She wasn't just another player in this game. She was different, and I needed to figure out why she was getting under my skin like this.

But tonight wasn't the night for answers. Tonight was about seeing what she was really made of.

One of my men approached, giving me a quick nod. "Shipment's coming in clean. No problems so far."

"Good," I replied, keeping my eyes on Bianca. "Let me know if anything changes."

He nodded and walked off, leaving us alone again.

I turned to Bianca, watching her carefully. "You think you can handle this?"

She looked at me, her expression unreadable. "I've handled worse."

I raised an eyebrow, impressed. "We'll see about that."

For now, the night was quiet. But I had a feeling it wouldn't stay that way for long. This was just the calm before the storm, and I was ready for whatever came next.

Bianca might think she was here to prove herself, but what she didn't know was that she was also here for me. And by the end of tonight, I'd make sure she knew just how deep this game really went.

As I stood beside her, the cold wind whipping across the docks, I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change.

For both of us.