Chapter 85

Chapter 85
Elena barely slept after the break-in.

When dawn finally came, it felt unreal—the gray light stretching across her living room, catching the edges of shattered glass, illuminating the chaos she’d tried to pretend wasn’t real. Her body ached with exhaustion, but her mind wouldn’t stop.

Every shadow looked like him. Every sound made her jump.

And when her phone buzzed, she nearly screamed.

Adrian: Morning, love. You okay?

Her fingers hovered over the screen.
What could she say? Someone broke into my apartment and left proof you’ve been stalking me for weeks?

She deleted the half-written text and typed instead: Did you come by last night?

The three dots blinked for several seconds before disappearing.

Then came his reply: No. Why?

She stared at it, her throat tight. He didn’t sound defensive—just curious. Maybe too calm.

Her pulse raced as she typed back: Someone broke in.

Seconds later, her phone rang. She answered.

“Elena? What do you mean someone broke in? Are you hurt?” His voice—deep, sharp with concern—rushed through the line like a lifeline she didn’t want to reach for.

“I’m fine,” she lied. “They didn’t take anything. I just—”

“Stay put,” he interrupted. “I’m coming over.”

“No, Adrian, wait—”

But he’d already hung up.

By the time she’d thrown on clothes and swept up the worst of the glass, she heard his car outside.

The knock at the door came hard, urgent.

She froze for a moment, her hand on the knob.

Then she opened it.

Adrian stepped in, rain on his coat, worry etched across his face. He looked her over, hands gentle but firm as he cupped her shoulders.

“What happened?” he demanded. “Did you call the police?”

She shook her head. “No. I didn’t know what to say. Nothing’s missing.”

He glanced around the apartment, eyes sweeping every corner with precision. His jaw clenched when he saw the broken window.

“Jesus, Elena. You could’ve been killed.”

“I was asleep. I—I think I scared them off.”

He exhaled hard, running a hand through his hair. “You shouldn’t have stayed here alone.”

“Where else would I go?”

“With me,” he said instantly. “You should’ve called me the second you heard something.”

She tried to smile, but it trembled. “I didn’t know if I could.”

He looked at her sharply. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

She hesitated. “I don’t know. Everything’s been… off lately. Between us. Between—everything.”

“Elena.” His tone softened. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop. I would never hurt you.”

The words should’ve comforted her. They didn’t.

Because she’d heard them before.

While Adrian inspected the window frame, she watched him.

He moved efficiently, like someone who’d done this before—checking entry points, noting angles, analyzing without panic. He even found the faint outline of boot prints near the sill.

“Whoever did this knew what they were doing,” he said. “They didn’t leave fingerprints.”

Her stomach knotted. “How do you know?”

He met her gaze. “Because I looked.”

That answer chilled her more than it should have.

She wanted to ask him how he knew what to look for. Why he always seemed one step ahead of danger. But instead, she just nodded.

When she finally sat down, her hands still shaking, Adrian knelt in front of her.

“Hey,” he said softly. “I’m here now. You’re safe.”

He brushed a strand of hair from her face, thumb lingering at her jaw. The gesture was tender—too tender.

Something inside her cracked.

“Adrian,” she said quietly, “why were you on my street three nights ago?”

He stilled. “What?”

She forced herself to meet his eyes. “I saw footage. From a security camera. You were there.”

His jaw tightened. “Footage from where?”

“It doesn’t matter. I just—I saw you.”

A beat of silence. Then: “Yes,” he admitted. “I was there.”

Her heart sank. “Why?”

“I was making sure you got home safe.”

She stared at him. “By following me?”

“I wasn’t following you.” His tone hardened, defensive now. “I was watching out for you. Because Hale’s been tailing you, Elena. I saw his car. He’s not protecting you—he’s obsessed with you.”

Her head spun. “No, Adrian—”

“Don’t you get it?” he snapped, rising. “He’s using you to get to me. He thinks I’m involved in those murders, but I’m not. He wants to turn you against me so he can use you as bait.”

She flinched at the anger in his voice, but part of her wanted to believe him.

Wanted it so badly.

“I don’t know who to believe anymore,” she whispered.

Adrian knelt again, softer this time. “Then believe what you feel. Believe what’s real between us.”

They sat like that for a long time, the storm outside beating against the broken glass, his eyes searching hers.

“I should leave,” she said finally. “Just for a while. Until things calm down.”

He shook his head. “If someone broke in, they might come back. You’ll be safer with me.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

He stood, pacing. “You think I did this. Don’t you?”

She didn’t answer.

“Say it,” he said quietly. “Say you think I broke into your apartment.”

Her throat closed. “I don’t know what to think.”

He exhaled sharply, then walked to the door. For a second, she thought he was leaving. Relief fluttered in her chest—until he turned the lock instead.

Her pulse spiked. “Adrian?”

He faced her. “You shouldn’t be alone right now. Whoever came here might still be nearby.”

The words made sense. But his tone didn’t.

It wasn’t comforting—it was command.

She stood slowly. “You’re scaring me.”

That seemed to break something in him. He looked away, jaw working. “I’m sorry. I just—” He swallowed hard. “I thought I lost you once. I can’t do it again.”

Her voice trembled. “You won’t lose me.”

He looked at her then, eyes raw. “Promise?”

She nodded weakly.

And just like that, the tension cracked.

He reached for her hand, and she didn’t pull away.

When he kissed her, it was fierce, desperate—the kind of kiss that demanded forgiveness and offered none in return.

Her body betrayed her fear, melting against him. For a moment, all the doubt and dread vanished under the weight of his touch.

He held her as if keeping her from vanishing. She let him.

Because maybe—just maybe—he wasn’t the monster after all.

Maybe the man who’d broken in had been real. Maybe Adrian had truly saved her.

Maybe love could still be stronger than fear.

Later, when they finally sat together on the couch, she rested her head on his shoulder, the broken window now covered with cardboard.

He traced patterns on her arm, his touch soft again.

“I’ll find whoever did this,” he murmured. “I swear it.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Yes, I do.”

She lifted her head. “Why?”

He smiled faintly. “Because if I don’t protect you, who will?”

Something about the way he said it made her heart ache.

She wanted to ask him about the videos again. About the strange man, the flash drive, the words You should’ve left him when you had the chance.

But when she looked at Adrian—his tired eyes, his steady breathing, his warmth against her side—she couldn’t.

The idea of being wrong, of losing him, hurt more than the fear itself.

So she said nothing.

She told herself maybe it was a misunderstanding. Maybe Hale was manipulating her. Maybe the man who broke in had staged everything.

Maybe Adrian had saved her.

She clung to that thought until it felt like truth.

Outside, the rain finally stopped.

Inside, she let herself believe that love could still be enough—at least for one more night.