Obsession His Runaway Bride (Noelle and Adrian) novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Hunt

Chapter 24: Hunt

“Come with us tomorrow. Please, malysh?” Valerian’s voice was softer this time, almost coaxing, compared to his usual composed demeanor. Noelle hadn’t expected such a plea from him, nor the hopeful way Alexei was looking at her with his wide, expectant eyes which made it harder for her to refuse.

“Uh… I have work, so I can’t-”

“Of course, she’ll go!” Evelyn suddenly cut in, her voice cheerful as she placed a firm hand on Noelle’s shoulder. In her

other hand, she balanced a tray of glasses, effortlessly maneuvering around the conversation like she had planned this all

along.

“Evelyn??” Noelle turned to her as panic flickered in her eyes, silently pleading for an out. But Evelyn simply smiled

knowingly.

“The restaurant is closed tomorrow since Peter and I will be visiting someone,” Evelyn continued, winking as if she were

doing Noelle a huge favor. “So you can spend your time with them.”

Noelle opened her mouth to protest, but Evelyn had already spun around, heading off to tend to the other customers, leaving her with no room to argue.

She slowly turned back and exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers against her temple. She could feel Valerian’s stare

burning into her, filled with an intensity she wasn’t sure how to handle. Alexei, on the other hand, was practically bouncing

in his seat, his excitement impossible to miss.

“Looks like it’s settled,” Valerian murmured, amusement lacing his tone. His smirk was subtle, but the satisfaction in his

eyes was anything but.

Noelle shot him a glare. “I never actually agreed.”

“But you didn’t refuse either, malysh.” His voice dipped lower, smoother, like silk wrapping around her name.

She swallowed hard, ignoring the way her pulse jumped at the endearment. “I didn’t have a chance to refuse.”

Valerian leaned back in his chair, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “Then take it as fate.”

Noelle groaned and turned away, refusing to engage further. She had no way out of this now.

Alexei, now beaming, tugged on her sleeve. “Mommy, we’ll have so much fun tomorrow!”

She stiffened. “I’m not your mom.”

“But you will be,” Alexei whispered, grinning mischievously before hopping off his chair. “I’ll see you tomorrow, mommy

Noelle!”

Noelle stared at him, speechless, while Valerian let out a deep chuckle.

She was in trouble.

~~~~~~

The scent of aged whiskey and cigarette smoke clung to the dimly lit room. It was a private lounge hidden beneath the facade of an exclusive members-only club, known only to those who once managed the treacherous currents of the underworld. The walls were lined with dark mahogany and subtle gold accents, bore silent witness to countless deals made in blood and betrayal.

A heavy, suffocating stillness surrounded the air, disturbed only by the faint clinking of melting ice in an abandoned glass.

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Shadows stretched long under the amber glow of the chandelier, flickering like distant embers of a fire long thought

extinguished.

Adrian sat at the head of the table like a monarch upon his throne. A single glass of bourbon rested in front of him, untouched. His fingers tapped lightly against the polished wood as though marking the countdown to something

inevitable.

Suddenly, the heavy door creaked open.

The sound was familiar, almost nostalgic, though it had been years since it last echoed in Adrian’s presence.

Calix Ashcroft who was his lieutenant, stepped inside.

For a brief second, Calix halted at the sight of Adrian.

Something old, something dangerous stirred in his chest as his gaze locked onto Adrian. He had seen this man in the

brightest of lights, watched him redefine himself in a world of cameras and staged perfection. He had witnessed the star

Adrian Blackwood become the heartthrob, the actor, the golden boy of the entertainment industry and adored by the

world.

Calix’s steps faltered before he caught himself, though his heartbeat betrayed him. He rolled his shoulders, adjusted his

cufflinks in an attempt to suppress the thrill crawling up his spine.

He should have been surprised.

Shocked, even.

But if he was being honest with himself… the sight of Adrian Blackwood here, in this room, in that chair-was something

he had always been waiting for.

Something he had hoped for.

Because no matter how many years had passed, no matter how many cameras had flashed in Adrian’s face, Calix had

never been able to forget who Adrian truly was.

And now as he stared at the man who was one among many who were feared in the underworld-Calix knew.

Adrian wasn’t just visiting.

He was settling back in.

“You’re serious about this,” Calix stated as he closed the door behind him and took a seat. His voice was cold, but his

sharp gaze didn’t miss the way Adrian’s expression remained calm and unaffected.

Adrian leaned back slightly as his lips curved. “Did you think I wouldn’t be?”

Calix exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. “You left, Adrian. You walked away, threw your gun on the table, and told me

you were done.” His voice held a tinge of accusation somehow still feeling frustrated that he left them behind. “You swore

you wouldn’t come back.”

Adrian’s jaw tensed as a flash of dark emotions flickered in his amber eyes before he spoke.

“She left me.” The words came out quiet but sharp. “And now I have the urge to hunt. Someone needs to get punished.”

A breathy chuckle escaped Calix. He shook his head as an exasperated grin tugged at his lips. “s**t,” he muttered under his breath. He had always known Adrian was capable of great things, but this? This was a whole new level. This was the first time he saw such obsession in his eyes and just for a mere woman.

Calix leaned back as fingers drummed against the armrest of his chair as he studied Adrian carefully. His voice dropped, no longer filled with the casual amusement he had before, now sounded almost thoughtful. “You realize what this means,

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< Chapter 24: Hunt

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don’t you?” he asked in a warning tone. “Once you step back into this world… there’s no turning back. You know that,

right?”

Adrian’s fingers clenched around the edge of the table but his face remained impassive.. There was no hesitation in his eyes, no sign of regret. “I never should’ve turned my back in the first place,” he said. Adrian was no stranger to making sacrifices, but this felt different.

A slow, almost disbelieving laugh escaped Calix as he ran a hand down his face. The expression on his face was one of a man who had seen it all, who had witnessed the rise and fall of empires and the crumbling of those who once stood at

the top. But this… this was something else entirely.

“Damn it, Adrian,” he muttered, more out of habit than anything else. “You don’t play small, do you?”

Adrian tilted his head with an unwavering gaze as he waited for Calix to finish his thoughts. There was no question in his

mind now-this was the path he was taking. No turning back.

Calix met his eyes as silence settled between them.

And then, finally, a grin spread across his face. A grin that was as dangerous and proud as anything Adrian had ever seen.

“I’ll make the calls,” he said, determined.

With a nod, Adrian reached for the glass in front of him. His fingers swirled the amber liquid, watching it dance inside the glass for a moment before bringing it to his lips. He took a slow, satisfied sip.

It was time to reclaim what was his.