The Warlord's Revenge

Chapter 10

 Rising Shadows

Victor and Emma stepped out of the grand hall, leaving behind the ruins of Maria’s family. The night was cool, the stars above them bright and clear, but the air between them was thick with unspoken tension. Victor glanced at Emma, her face a mixture of relief and uncertainty.

“You did well in there,” Victor said, his voice low and smooth, breaking the silence. He watched her closely, noting the way her chest rose and fell as she tried to calm herself.

Emma looked up at him, her eyes searching his. “I’m still shaking. I never thought… I never thought it would end like this.”

Victor took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. “It had to end this way, Emma. They would have destroyed you. I couldn’t let that happen.”

She bit her lip, a gesture that sent a flash of heat through him. “I don’t know what happens next, Victor. My life, my daughter… everything feels like it’s falling apart.”

His hand reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. The touch was electric, sending a shiver down her spine. “Nothing is falling apart, Emma. Not while I’m here. I promised I’d help you, and I will. You and your daughter will have everything you need. No one will ever hurt you again.”

Emma’s breath caught in her throat. The intensity in his eyes, the way his hand lingered on her skin, it was almost too much. “Why are you doing this, Victor? Why do you care so much?”

Victor’s eyes darkened, his hand sliding down to cup her chin, lifting her face to his. “Because you deserve better. And because I…” He hesitated, the words hanging in the air between them. “Because I care about you, Emma. More than I should.”

The confession sent a thrill through her. She couldn’t deny the pull she felt toward him, the way her body responded to his every touch, his every word. “Victor…”

He silenced her with a look, his thumb brushing across her lips, making her heart race. “You don’t have to say anything, Emma. Just know that I’m here for you. Always.”

Emma’s eyes closed, feeling the warmth of his touch sending shivers of desire through her.  But before she could say anything more, Victor’s phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking the spell.

He pulled back, his expression shifting back to the business at hand. “We should get going. There’s a lot we need to do.”

Emma nodded, the moment between them broken, but the tension still thick. “Yes… let’s go.”

….

The drive to Victor’s estate was silent, the air between them charged with unspoken words and lingering touches. When they arrived, the staff greeted them with a mix of curiosity and respect, but Victor’s focus was already elsewhere.

“Eric,” Victor called, his voice commanding. His right-hand man approached quickly, his eyes flicking to Emma before settling back on Victor.

“Everything went as planned?” Eric asked, his tone professional but with a hint of something more, something that made Emma’s skin prickle.

Victor nodded, his expression serious. “Better than planned. But we’re not done yet. I need you to gather our people. We’re taking back our territory, and we’ll need everyone we can trust.”

Eric’s eyes narrowed slightly, glancing at Emma once more. “And her? What’s her role in all this?”

Victor’s gaze turned steely. “Emma stays here, under my protection. No one touches her. Is that clear?”

Eric nodded, though there was a flicker of something in his eyes, something that made Victor’s jaw tighten. “Understood, boss. I’ll get on it right away.”

As Eric walked away, Victor turned to Emma, his expression softening again. “Come inside. You and your daughter will be safe here.”

Emma hesitated for a moment before stepping closer, her voice soft and filled with emotion. “I don’t know how to thank you, Victor. You’ve done so much for us…”

Victor’s hand found her waist, pulling her closer until she was pressed against him, her breath mingling with his. “You don’t need to thank me, Emma. I’m doing this because I want to. Because I…” His voice trailed off, his eyes locked on hers.

Emma’s heart raced, the heat between them almost unbearable. “Because you what, Victor?”

His grip on her waist tightened, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “Because I want you, Emma. More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.”

The words sent a jolt of desire through her, her body responding instinctively. “Victor…”

He silenced her with a kiss, fierce and claiming, his hands roaming her body as if he couldn’t get enough. Emma melted into him, all thoughts of caution and doubt disappearing in the heat of the moment.

When they finally pulled apart, both were breathing heavily, their eyes dark with desire. But Victor forced himself to step back, his hands shaking slightly as he tried to regain control. “We should… we should go inside.”

Emma nodded, her voice trembling. “Yes… we should.”

✿✿✿

Inside the grand estate, the staff discreetly disappeared, leaving Victor and Emma alone in the dimly lit hallway. Victor’s mind was spinning, torn between his duty and the undeniable pull he felt toward her.

“We’ll get you settled in a room near your daughter’s,” Victor said, his voice rough with restraint. “You’ll both be safe here. I’ll make sure of it.”

Emma looked up at him, her eyes still filled with the passion from their kiss. “And what about you, Victor? What happens now?”

Victor’s jaw clenched, his hand brushing against her cheek one last time. “Now… now I deal with the threats to my territory. And with whatever this is between us.”

Emma swallowed hard, the intensity of his gaze making her knees weak. “And what if… what if I want there to be something between us?”

Victor’s eyes blazed with an intensity that took her breath away. “Then we’ll see where this goes, Emma. But for now, we need to be careful. There are enemies out there who would do anything to see me fall.”

Emma nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation, but unable to ignore the longing she felt. “I trust you, Victor. Just… don’t shut me out.”

Victor’s expression softened, his hand caressing her cheek one last time. “I won’t, Emma. I promise.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the hallway, her heart pounding in her chest. The night was far from over, and as Victor prepared to face the challenges ahead, he knew one thing for certain, Emma was no longer just a part of his plans. She was a part of him.

✿✿✿

Across town, in a dark, secluded room, Maria sat alone, her eyes burning with hatred. She couldn’t accept her downfall, couldn’t accept that Victor had won. But she wasn’t done yet. Not by a long shot.

Reaching for her phone, Maria dialed a number, her hand shaking with barely-contained rage. The line rang twice before a deep, gravelly voice answered.

“It’s Maria,” she said, her voice cold as ice. “I need your help. Victor needs to be destroyed.”

There was a pause, then a low chuckle that sent a shiver down her spine. “I was wondering when you’d come crawling back. Let’s talk.”

Maria’s lips curled into a wicked smile. “Good. We have much to discuss.”