Chapter Three – A Shadow She Couldn’t Escape

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Lina didn’t sleep that night.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him.

His stare.

His voice.

The way he said her name like it meant something.

“You’re overthinking,” she whispered to herself while getting ready for university the next morning.

She was just tired.

That’s all.

The campus was busy. Students laughed, talked, lived normal lives. Lina tried to blend in, to forget the night before.

She almost succeeded.

Almost.

She felt it before she saw him.

That strange feeling again.

Like being watched.

Her steps slowed.

Across the street, near a black car, stood a man she recognized immediately.

Adrian.

He wasn’t dressed like the night before. No dark suit. No bar. Just a black coat and that same cold expression.

Her heart dropped.

“What is he doing here?” she thought.

She turned quickly, pretending not to see him, and walked faster.

Behind her, Adrian watched calmly.

“She’s scared,” his mind noted.

“And she should be.”

But he didn’t follow her inside the university.

Not yet.

He respected one rule:

Never bring darkness into her light.

Still, he needed to know.

“Find out everything,” Adrian said into his phone.

“Name. Family. Schedule.”

Within hours, he knew.

Lina.

University student.

No criminal ties.

No secrets.

Clean.

Too clean for his world.

Meanwhile, Lina sat in class, unable to focus. Her phone vibrated.

Unknown Number:

Did you arrive safely?

Her breath caught.

She stared at the screen, fingers shaking.

Lina:

Who is this?

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

Then one message came.

Unknown Number:

Someone who keeps his promises.

Her chest tightened.

She didn’t reply.

Across the city, Adrian looked at his phone and smiled slightly.

“She doesn’t trust me,” he said quietly.

“Good. She shouldn’t.”

That evening, Lina walked home with her friend. She laughed, talked, tried to feel normal again.

But when she reached her building, she froze.

A small paper bag waited near the door.

Inside:

A coffee.

Her favorite one.

And a note.

I told you this city is not kind.

Let me be.

No name.

No number.

Just him.

Lina held the note, her heart confused.

She should be afraid.

But instead…

She felt protected.

And somewhere in the dark streets of the city, Adrian Volkov already knew—

She was inside his world now.

Even if she didn’t realize it yet.

And once the mafia chooses someone…

there is no turning back.

Lina tried to ignore the feeling.

She really did.

But when she stepped out of the university building that evening, she knew immediately—

He was there.

She stopped walking.

The street was quiet.

Too quiet.

“Why do you always freeze when you see me?”

His voice came from behind her.

She turned slowly.

Adrian stood only a few steps away. No smile. No softness. Just those dark eyes locked on her.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she said, trying to sound strong.

“This is my life.”

“And you walked into mine,” he replied calmly.

She shook her head and tried to pass him.

He moved faster.

In one smooth motion, he stepped in front of her and gently—but firmly—held her by the waist.

Lina gasped.

“Let go of me,” she whispered.

“I will,” he said quietly.

“But not when you’re shaking like this.”

Her back touched the wall behind her.

Too close.

Way too close.

She could feel his breath.

His warmth.

His control.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice barely audible.

Adrian looked at her face, her eyes, her lips.

“I don’t know,” he admitted.

“And that’s what scares me.”

For a second, neither of them moved.

The city disappeared.

Then—

He leaned in.

Not fast.

Not rough.

A slow, hesitant kiss.

Like he was asking… not taking.

Lina’s heart exploded in her chest.

She didn’t push him away.

That was the moment everything broke.

Adrian pulled back first, his jaw tight, his eyes dark with something dangerous.

“This was a mistake,” he said.

“Yes,” she breathed.

“But you didn’t stop.”

His hand slowly left her waist.

“If I don’t stop now,” he whispered,

“I won’t be able to stop at all.”

He stepped back.

“Stay away from bars. Stay close to home. And if anyone scares you—”

He paused.

“—call me.”

Then he turned and walked away, leaving Lina against the wall, her lips burning, her mind spinning.

She knew one thing now.

This wasn’t just attraction.

It was the beginning of something dangerous.

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