Falling for the enemy || 18+

CHAPTER 20 : PREY

The night was cooler than before, a biting wind sweeping in from the ocean, carrying the scent of salt and steel. My steps were heavy against the concrete as I walked ahead of Bianca, trying to keep my focus on the mission. But all I could think about was her-the way she stood her ground, the way her lips had been so close to mine.

I didn't get close to people. Not like that. Not anymore. But she was testing the limits of my control, pulling me into something dangerous, something I couldn't afford to indulge in. Yet, I wanted to.

I hadn't stopped thinking about that moment we almost kissed, about how easy it would have been to close the gap, to feel the warmth of her skin against mine. I clenched my fists, trying to clear my head. I couldn't afford to let my obsession with Bianca cloud my judgment, not tonight. But I knew this was more than just attraction. It was something darker, something that had taken root the first moment I saw her.

She didn't know it, but she had become my undoing.

Ahead, the containers were being unloaded smoothly, my men making sure everything was in place. The mission was simple enough, but the tension between us made it feel like we were walking a tightrope-one wrong move, and everything would come crashing down.

I glanced back at her. She was close enough to hear the rumble of the machinery, her eyes sharp as she took in everything around her. She was good-too good. I could see how she'd earned her place in this world, even though Alessandro had kept her in the shadows for so long. But she was here now, and whether she realised it or not, she was proving herself with every move she made.

But she was also testing me.

"What's next?" she asked, her voice breaking through the noise of the docks.

I didn't turn to look at her this time. I couldn't. Not with the way my blood was still pumping from that near-kiss. "We make sure the shipment is clean, and then we leave. Simple."

She didn't respond, but I could feel her eyes on me. Always watching. Always calculating.

I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to focus. "Follow me," I said, walking toward one of the containers that had just been unloaded. A couple of my men were already checking the contents, making sure everything matched the order. I needed to keep busy, to keep my hands and mind occupied so I didn't think about the way she made me feel.

The container was packed with crates-mostly weapons. High-grade firearms, the kind that would fetch a hefty price in the right circles. Everything was running smoothly. This was supposed to be the part where I relaxed, let the routine take over.

But nothing about tonight felt routine.

I motioned for one of my men to finish the inspection, my thoughts already drifting back to Bianca. She was standing just outside the container, arms crossed, her face unreadable. I couldn't help but wonder what was going through her mind. Was she thinking about the same thing I was? That moment we almost-

"You're distracted," she said, her voice cutting through my thoughts.

I narrowed my eyes, turning to face her. "You think so?"

She didn't back down, her expression steady. "You've been distracted all night."

I clenched my jaw, stepping closer to her, the tension between us flaring up again. "Maybe I'm distracted because I've got more important things to think about than whether or not you're ready for this."

She didn't flinch, but I saw the briefest flicker of something in her eyes-anger, frustration, maybe even doubt. "I told you, I can handle this."

"I'm not so sure," I shot back, my voice low. "You're playing in a world you don't fully understand, Bianca."

Her eyes flashed with defiance, and she took a step closer, closing the space between us again. "Maybe you're the one who doesn't understand."

The air between us crackled, and I could feel my control slipping again. She was too close, too tempting, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep myself in check. I should've walked away, refocused on the mission, but I couldn't.

"You have no idea what you're doing to me," I muttered, my voice more raw than I intended.

She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What are you talking about?"

I could feel the words hanging on the tip of my tongue. You. You're driving me out of my mind. But I didn't say it. I couldn't let her see how much power she had over me.

Instead, I took a deep breath, trying to rein in the chaos inside me. "Forget it."

But she wasn't backing down. Not this time.

"Tell me," she said, her voice firm, almost challenging.

I stared at her, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel the weight of everything between us-years of hatred, revenge, and this insane pull that had taken me completely off guard. She was Alessandro's daughter. She wasn't supposed to mean anything to me. She wasn't supposed to get under my skin like this.

But she had.

I couldn't stop myself. My hand reached out before I could think, my fingers brushing against her arm. Her skin was warm, soft, and the sensation jolted through me like a shockwave. I watched her face as she tensed, her breath catching just slightly, but she didn't pull away.

"You're in over your head," I said softly, my voice barely a whisper. "And so am I."

Her eyes widened, and for a second, I thought she might finally understand. But she stayed silent, her gaze locked on mine, waiting.

Waiting for what? For me to admit everything I'd been holding back?

The silence between us stretched, unbearable. I wanted to pull her closer, wanted to close the distance between us that was rapidly turning into a chasm. But I knew if I did, there'd be no going back.

"I'm trying to protect you," I muttered, my grip tightening on her arm just slightly, enough to let her know I wasn't lying. "From this. From me."

She shook her head, her lips parting slightly as she took a small step closer. "I don't need your protection."

My heart hammered in my chest, the temptation to kiss her now so overwhelming I could barely breathe. But I knew better. I knew this wasn't the time, the place.

So I stepped back, releasing her arm, my hand dropping to my side.

"Maybe not," I said, my voice harsh. "But I'm not sure I can stop myself from trying."

The look in her eyes was unreadable, but I could feel the shift between us, the tension now a constant, thrumming undercurrent. This was no longer just about a mission. It was something far more dangerous.

And I had no idea how to control it.