Chapter 3, The Devil's Name

(Elara POV)

My head felt light.

The alcohol hit me harder than I expected.

I tried to steady myself on the bar stool, but the room spun a bit. He noticed.

Of course he did.

His dark eyes missed nothing.

He glanced at Maya, then back at me, his expression softening a little.

"She's drunk," he said calmly.

I frowned. "I'm not—"

The sentence faded as I swayed slightly.

Maya chuckled. "Yeah… you're definitely drunk."

He turned toward Maya.

"You should take her home."

His tone wasn’t a suggestion. It was a command.

Typical.

"I'm fine," I muttered, though my voice lacked confidence. He ignored me completely.

"I'll have my driver take you," he said, already pulling out his phone. That caught my attention.

"We brought our car," I said quietly, finally finding my voice. His eyes shifted back to me.

"Our driver Sam is waiting outside." For a moment, his gaze softened again.

My heart skipped. Why was I acting like this?

This was the first time I had ever felt… interested.

Not just interested.

Drawn.

As if he understood something in me. As if he carried darkness equal to mine.

And that scared me.

Maya wrapped her arm around my waist, helping me stand.

"Let's go," she said softly.

I nodded, although my eyes refused to leave him.

I looked back once.

He was still watching me.

That intense gaze never leaving.

My heart fluttered.

Damn it.

We walked toward the exit slowly, Maya practically dragging me.

Just before stepping outside, I looked back one last time.

And froze.

Adrian was speaking to one of his men. His face was cold.

Emotionless.

"Take care of him," he said quietly.

My stomach tightened.

The man he threw earlier was being dragged away.

I knew what that meant.

Kill him.

Anger sparked inside me.

I didn’t need saving.

I was Elara Romano. I could fight. I could kill.

I could take down a hundred men if I wanted.

I didn’t need him.

And yet…

Butterflies filled my stomach.

Which only annoyed me more.

I quickly turned away, stepping outside into the cold night air.

Sam rushed toward us.

"Miss Elara," he said respectfully.

Maya helped me into the car, and within seconds we were on our way home.

But my mind stayed behind.

With him.

With Adrian.

---

The next morning…

I groaned, pressing my hand against my forehead.

Worst headache ever.

Sunlight filtered through the curtains, making my head throb harder.

Memories from last night slowly returned.

The club. The fight.

His eyes.

His voice.

Adrian.

A small smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it.

Who was he?

Why did he feel… different?

My thoughts were cut off when my bedroom door slammed open.

I flinched.

My father stormed inside, his face filled with anger.

I blinked in confusion.

"What happened?" I asked immediately.

"Do we have to kill someone? Did anyone mess with your work?"

Before I could react—

SLAP.

My head snapped to the side.

Shock froze me.

My father had never slapped me before.

Slowly, I looked back at him.

His eyes burned with fury.

"Do you even realize what you've done?" he growled.

I frowned, still stunned.

"What are you talking about?"

"The man you met last night…" he hissed.

"Do you even know who he is?"

Something twisted inside my chest.

"...Who?"

His voice turned cold.

Adrian De Luca." "He recently came back to the city."

My breath caught.

"The devil himself."

My heart dropped.

"The man who killed your mother… and your brother."

Everything inside me froze.

No.

No…

The image of his face flashed in my mind.

His eyes.

His voice.

The way he looked at me.

I felt sick.

I was so stupid.

So stupid.

A tear rolled down my cheek.

Without saying anything, I stood up and walked into the bathroom.

I splashed cold water on my face, trying to steady myself.

Adrian De Luca.

The man who killed my family.

And I…

I was smiling, thinking about him.

Disgust filled me.

I quickly changed and walked out.

My father sat in the chair, still angry.

"What were you thinking?" he asked harshly.

"You ruined everything."

I stayed silent.

"I spent years keeping you away from his eyes, i even made situations so that he would leave this city and move abroad," he continued.

"But now…"

His expression darkened.

"He is back and he has seen you."

My stomach tightened.

"And wherever you go…"

"He'll find you."

With that, my father stood up and walked out of the room.

Leaving me alone.

Alone with the truth.

And the hatred growing inside me.

Because now…

Adrian De Luca wasn’t just a stranger anymore.

He was my enemy.

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