Chapter 2 The Hunt

Damien couldn't get her out of his head.

Even after he left the shooting range, her image lingered like a shadow burned into his mind-those eyes, that calm yet distant smile, and the strange jolt in his chest when he'd touched her hand.

It wasn't just an attraction. It was something deeper, something that clawed at him and refused to let go.

By the time night fell, he had already given in.

---

He sat on the edge of his bed, still in his shirt from earlier, the faint smell of gunpowder clinging to his sleeves. His laptop was open on the desk, glowing with files and contacts.

Damien wasn't a man who waited for things to fall into place-he was the kind who "made" them happen.

Finding Aria's contact information wasn't hard. A few calls to the range manager, a subtle bribe, and her number was sitting in his phone like a secret waiting to be unlocked.

His thumb hovered over the dial button. It was late.

Will she even pick up?

The thought made him smile faintly. He didn't care if she did or didn't. He just needed to hear her voice again, to break this gnawing curiosity that had been eating at him since the moment she walked away.

With a deep breath, he pressed the button.

---

The water in the bathtub was warm, laced with rose oil, and the rim of my wine glass glistened under the soft bathroom light. I tilted my head back against the porcelain edge, my dark hair spilling like ink into the water.

But my mind wasn't calm.

It was replaying every second of today's encounter-his piercing stare, the way his hand gripped mine, the faint tremor in his voice when he said my name.

I wanted to pounce.

I wanted to feel the satisfaction of seeing the power in his eyes shatter into fear.

My fingers traced the surface of the wine glass, imagining it was the sharp edge of a blade instead. The fantasy played out in my head, vivid and intoxicating.

Then my phone rang.

I flinched, the sudden noise snapping me out of my daydream.

The screen lit up. An unknown number.

I stared at it for a moment, my lips curling into a slow, knowing smile.

Of course.

I let it ring twice more before answering.

"Who's this?"

---

There was a pause on the line, and then her voice-a velvet tone, smooth and deceptively soft-wrapped around me.

"Aria?" I said, leaning forward, my elbows resting on my knees.

"Yes," she replied, calm as ever. "And you are?"

"Damien," I said, waiting for a reaction.

There was a beat of silence. Then, "How did you get my number?"

I smiled, even though she couldn't see it. "I have my ways."

"Persistent, aren't you?" Her voice held the faintest lilt of amusement, but I couldn't tell if she was mocking me or testing me.

"Always," I said. "I wanted to congratulate you again. Not just for the win, but for the way you handled yourself today. You're... remarkable."

There was a pause. I imagined her on the other end, her lips forming a small smile, her head tilting slightly as she considered my words.

"And you called me this late just to say that?" she asked, her tone teasing now.

"No," I said. "I want to see you again. Dinner. Tomorrow night."

---

I almost laughed.

The arrogance. The certainty.

He wasted no time, did he?

I swirled the wine in my glass, letting the silence stretch for a moment. "You move fast," I said finally.

"When I want something," he replied, voice low and steady, "I don't hesitate."

I closed my eyes, biting back another smile. *Of course you dont.*

"Dinner?" I repeated, feigning thoughtfulness.

"Yes. Let me make it up to you for losing today," he said. "My driver will pick you up at 7pm. Send me the address."

The audacity. He spoke as if it were already decided.

I smirked. "And if I say no?"

"Then I'll keep asking until you say yes."

I couldn't help it-a soft laugh escaped me.

This was going to be fun.

"All right," I said finally. "Dinner it is. I'll send you the address."

"Good," he said. I could hear the satisfaction in his voice, like he'd just won something. "Goodnight, Aria."

"Goodnight, Damien."

---

The moment the call ended, I set my phone down and sank deeper into the tub, my smile curling wider.

*I knew it.*

I knew he wouldn't let it go.

"This is just the beginning, Damien," I whispered into the silence. "The game has only started."

---

Sleep didn't come easily that night.

Her voice haunted me. The way she said my name, the calm defiance in her tone-it was like she was challenging me without saying a word.

Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.

---

The next morning, I woke to sunlight spilling across my bed. My phone buzzed with a message.

*Damien: Looking forward to dinner. I'll see you at 7.*

I stared at the screen for a long moment, my lips curling into a knowing smirk.

Yes, Damien. Let's see where this leads.

---

*Some men chase danger. Damien didn't know yet that he'd invited it to dinner.*