Chapter 9 The Nightmare Returns

Valentina lay awake, staring at the ceiling of the dimly lit bedroom. The air was thick with tension, the events of the night still fresh in her mind. Adrian's rage, his possessive grip on her wrist, the way his enemies cowered in his presence, she had seen men kill before, but there was something terrifyingly different about Adrian Costa.

She turned onto her side, her fingers brushing over the bruises on her arm. A reminder of how easily he could break her. Yet, what disturbed her more than his violence was the way he had shielded her. Protected her. As if she belonged to him.

A soft knock on the door jolted her out of her thoughts. She hesitated before opening it slightly, only to find an unfamiliar face, a woman, tall and elegant, dressed in black silk. Her piercing green eyes studied Valentina with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

"You must be the infamous Valentina," the woman said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

Valentina squared her shoulders. "And you are?"

The woman's lips curled into a smirk. "Bianca Moreno. A very old friend of Adrian's."

A chill ran down Valentina's spine. She had heard the name before. Bianca was a shadow in the underworld, known for her ruthlessness. If she was here, it wasn't just for a friendly visit.

Bianca walked over to the liquor cabinet, pouring herself a drink. "You've caused quite the stir," she mused. "Adrian doesn't usually let his prisoners walk around freely."

"I'm not a prisoner," Valentina countered.

Bianca chuckled. "Oh, darling, we're all prisoners in Adrian's world. Some of us just wear prettier chains."

Valentina's hands clenched into fists. "Why are you here?"

Bianca took a slow sip of her drink before setting the glass down. "To warn you. Whatever game you think you're playing with Adrian, you won't win. He doesn't fall. He doesn't break. And he certainly doesn't love."

Valentina's breath hitched, but she didn't let her expression waver. "I never asked him to."

Bianca stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Good. Because the last woman who did? She didn't live to regret it."

A cold dread settled in Valentina's chest. She wanted to ask more, but before she could, Bianca was already at the door.

"Stay out of things you don't understand, Valentina," Bianca warned. "Or you'll end up like the others."

And then she was gone, leaving Valentina with more questions than answers.

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The next morning, Adrian was already waiting for her in the dining hall. He looked unaffected by the previous night's chaos, sipping his coffee as if he hadn't almost torn a man apart in front of her.

"You're late," he said without looking up.

Valentina slid into the chair opposite him. "Bianca paid me a visit."

Adrian's grip on his cup tightened. "What did she say?"

"She warned me to stay away from you."

Adrian exhaled slowly, setting his cup down. "You should listen to her."

Valentina narrowed her eyes. "Why? Because you don't 'fall' and don't 'break'?"

His gaze darkened, but he didn't deny it. Instead, he leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous. "Bianca speaks from experience. She knows what happens to people who get too close."

Valentina swallowed hard. "Then why keep me here?"

Adrian's lips curled into a mirthless smile. "Because you fascinate me. And I don't let go of things that intrigue me."

A shiver ran through her, but she refused to let him see her fear. Instead, she met his gaze head-on. "You don't own me, Adrian."

His smirk faded. "No. But that doesn't mean I'll let you go."

Valentina's heart pounded. She wasn't sure which was worse, the fact that Adrian was a monster, or the terrifying realization that part of her didn't want to escape him anymore.

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That night, Valentina couldn't sleep. Bianca's words echoed in her mind, along with Adrian's cryptic warning. There was something deeper at play, something dark and tangled in Adrian's past.

Unable to shake the unease, she slipped out of bed and ventured through the mansion's dimly lit corridors. If she was going to survive in Adrian's world, she needed to understand it.

She reached his office, the door slightly ajar. Inside, Adrian stood with his back to her, speaking into his phone. His voice was sharp, commanding.

"I don't care what it takes," he said. "Find him. And when you do, bring him to me alive."

Valentina pressed a hand against the wall, her pulse racing. She had no idea who Adrian was hunting, but she knew one thing for certain, whoever it was, their fate was already sealed.

Before she could slip away, Adrian turned, his sharp gaze locking onto her.

"You shouldn't be here," he murmured.

Valentina forced herself to stay calm. "Neither should you."

His eyes flickered with amusement. "Curiosity is a dangerous habit, princess."

She lifted her chin. "So is keeping secrets."

Adrian studied her for a long moment, then gestured for her to come closer. Against her better judgment, she stepped inside, the air between them crackling with tension.

"You want to know the truth?" he murmured, reaching for a file on his desk.

He tossed it onto the table. Valentina hesitated before flipping it open.

And then her blood ran cold.

Inside were photographs, grainy, but unmistakable. Images of her father. Her mother. And her, as a child.

A wave of nausea hit her as she looked up at Adrian, horror dawning in her eyes. "What is this?"

Adrian's expression was unreadable. "It's the beginning of the truth, Valentina."

She clenched her fists. "Tell me."

Adrian leaned in, his voice a whisper that sent chills down her spine.

"Your family wasn't as innocent as you think."

The room spun. Everything she thought she knew was about to be shattered.

And Adrian Costa was the one holding the hammer.