The warehouse stood at the edge of the industrial district. It had been abandoned for years.
The windows were broken. Rust had eaten through portions of the metal walls.
The old loading doors hung crookedly from their hinges, allowing cold air to move through the enormous empty structure.
There were no lights outside, no security, and no sign that anyone had been there in years.
Courtney stepped out of a black vehicle.
She looked at the warehouse, then on her phone. She had two messages. Both from the same number.
"Come alone." The first text read.
And beneath it:
"If you want Adrian back, come to this address." And there was a location attached to it.
She had stared at those messages for nearly an hour before deciding to come.
She didn’t know who Dante was. She only knew what he’d told her. He said he knew Adrian.
And more importantly, he claimed he could help her get him back.
Courtney walked through the entrance.
Her heels echoed against the concrete floor.
"Hello?" She called out.
There was nothing.
She continued walking.
Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, then she saw him. A man sat alone at the far end of the warehouse.
He occupied an old wooden chair as though it were a throne. He wore a black suit, with a black shirt underneath.
One ankle rested casually over his opposite knee. His posture was relaxed. Too relaxed.
Courtney stopped.
Dante looked up.
His green eyes settled on her.
He studied her quietly.
Courtney didn’t like the feeling. There was something unnerving about him.
He didn’t look like a man who needed to prove that he was dangerous. He looked like someone who already knew it.
"You came."
Courtney’s chin lifted. "You said you could help me."
Dante’s mouth curved faintly. "I said I could help you get Adrian back."
"That’s all I want." Her expression hardened. "Can you?"
Dante gestured toward the empty chair opposite him. "Sit."
Courtney hesitated. She looked around once more, and then, she walked over and sat.
Dante watched her carefully. "You loved him."
It wasn’t a question.
Courtney’s eyes narrowed. "How do you know that?"
"I know a lot about Adrian."
She shrugged, pretending to be unbothered. "Then you know he doesn’t love me."
Dante leaned back. "I know."
Courtney looked away.
"He never did." Dante’s expression remained unreadable. "And yet you’re still trying."
"I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t."
"Beautiful."
Courtney frowned. "Beautiful?"
"Desperation makes people honest."
She stared at him.
Dante continued. "You don’t want Adrian because you need him."
"I want him because I love him."
"Love." He said the word almost thoughtfully. "An interesting justification."
Courtney’s jaw tightened. "Why did you contact me?"
Dante’s eyes remained on her. "Because Adrian has something I want." He smacked his lips together. "Or, let’s say he’s being an obstacle to something I want."
Courtney blinked. "What?"
"Not just something." His smile disappeared. "Also someone."
Courtney studied him. "Who?"
Dante didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned forward. "You saw her today."
Courtney’s expression changed. "The student?"
Dante nodded. "Emilia."
Courtney’s fingers tightened. "You know her?"
"I know a lot." He tilted his head slightly. "She’s important to Adrian."
Courtney looked away. "She was just a student."
Dante smiled faintly. "No." His voice was calm. "She’s much more than that."
Courtney looked back at him. "Then why are you helping me?"
Dante’s gaze hardened. "Because Adrian’s weakness has always been his attachments."
Courtney listened.
"And you," Dante continued, "are one of the few people who can still get under his skin."
A slow smile touched Courtney’s lips. "So you want me to hurt her."
"Remain silent." Dante’s voice was immediate. "I want you to make Adrian believe he’s losing control of the situation."
Courtney frowned. "Why?"
"Because controlled men make predictable decisions." Dante leaned back again. "Adrian is predictable when it comes to the people he loves. He might not love you, but you miss him off greatly. That’s an attachment."
Courtney’s expression softened. "You really know him."
"Better than most."
She studied him. "And what do you want from him?"
Dante’s smile returned. "Everything."
Courtney didn’t respond.
The warehouse fell quiet.
Dante stood. He walked toward one of the large windows. "Adrian has spent years building walls around himself." He looked out into the darkness. "You were once inside those walls."
Courtney swallowed. "Not completely." She admitted. "You might want to get someone else to do this. We never even shared a room."
Dante turned toward her. He smiled mockingly. "And he lets the other woman?" he scoffed. "Remind me dear, what’s her name again?"
Courtney’s face hardened. "Emilia."
Dante nodded.
"She is the problem." Courtney looked down.
Dante’s eyes narrowed slightly. "That’s not what I asked."
She looked up. "What did you ask?"
"Whether you want Adrian."
Courtney remained silent.
Dante walked closer. "You came here because you want him."
"Yes."
"Then stop pretending you’re innocent."
Courtney’s expression hardened. "I never said I was."
Dante stopped in front of her. "Adrian won’t come back to you because you cry."
Courtney’s eyes flickered.
"He’ll come back when he realizes he has something to lose."
She slowly stood. "And Emilia is that something?"
Dante stared at her. "Yes."
Courtney’s mouth tightened.
She thought about the young woman standing in Adrian’s office. The softness in her expression. The way Adrian had immediately rushed toward her.
The way he’d spoken to her. The way he’d looked at her. Something bitter moved through Courtney’s chest.
"He loves her."
Dante didn’t answer.
Courtney looked away.
"Doesn’t he?" She asked.
Dante’s expression became unreadable. "That’s what we’re going to find out."
She looked at him. "And if he does?"
Dante smiled.
"Then we’ll find out exactly how far a man like Adrian will go to keep her. How much he’d let me have to keep her."
Courtney stared at him.
For the first time, she realized something.
This wasn’t about helping her win Adrian back. Dante had his own agenda. And she had just walked directly into it.
She should have left. However, the thought of Adrian choosing Emilia over her made something dark twist inside her.
"I want him back."
Dante’s eyes glinted.
Courtney picked up her coat. "I’ll do whatever I need to."
Dante watched her.
She took two steps toward the exit.
"One more thing."
Courtney stopped.
She turned.
Dante’s expression had changed. The casual amusement was gone. His voice became colder.
"Also, the student you saw in his office is my little princess."
Courtney froze.
Dante held her gaze. "You’d do well to keep your hands off her."
Courtney’s entire expression went still. Her lips parted slightly. No words left her lips as cold realisation washed over her like a bucket of ice water.
Dante smiled. It wasn’t a kind smile. "Now you know exactly what the rules are." He clapped once. "Now we begin."
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