Morning sunlight filtered through the small window of my room, forming golden lines across the floor. The ceiling fan squeaked in its usual rhythm. Everything felt peaceful the kind of peace that exists only before storms.
Then my phone rang.
Half-asleep, I grabbed it from beneath my pillow, my eyes still closed. Without checking the screen, I answered.
"Hello, Anna," a voice said.
The sound was familiar. Too familiar.
I sat up immediately and looked at the phone.
MARTIN.
My ex-boyfriend.
A deep breath escaped me. "What's your problem, Martin? Why are you calling me this early?" I asked, irritation coating my voice.
"I want to meet you," he replied. His tone was soft... almost pleading. "Please… just once."
I let out a hollow laugh. "No. Not at all. You cheated on me again and again. And it's not the first time. You"
"I know," he interrupted quickly. "But I feel guilty. I realised I genuinely love you."
His words were always the same after every betrayal. Like a rehearsed script. And the worst part? I used to believe him.
He was my weakness. No matter how many times he broke me, I forgave him. It became so casual between us that his cheating didn't even hurt anymore.
Because deep inside, I knew...in the end, he always came back.
But this time, I decided not to fall again.
I stayed silent.
Before I could speak, he hung up.
I stared at the screen. My thumb hovered over the block option. One tap and he would disappear from my life.
But my finger froze.
Maybe I was falling into the same trap again.
I didn't want to talk to him.
Yet… I was waiting for his call.
Tch.
I pushed the thought away, got out of bed, and walked to the kitchen to make coffee.
Just as the kettle began to whistle, someone knocked on my door.
For a moment, my heart jumped. Martin?
But when I opened it, my neighbour aunt stood there, her face tense.
"Good morning, my dear," she said. "I came to warn you. Please close all your doors and windows properly today. Adrian Volkov's gang is moving around our area."
A chill ran down my spine.
Adrian Volkov.
The name alone was enough to tighten every nerve in the city. A man who held power in the darkest corners of the underworld. Rich. Young. Ruthless. Handsome in a way that danger often is. And the most terrifying thing no proof of his crimes had ever been found. No one had succeeded in catching him.
Concern reflected in both our eyes.
I forced a nod. "I'll take care."
She left. I locked the door behind her, suddenly aware of every sound in the house.
Evening
By sunset, the sky had turned the color of ash. I sat alone in my room, pretending to read, though not a single word registered. Fear sat beside me like an invisible guest.
Everyone in the city knew the rule
When Adrian Volkov's gang knocked, you didn't open the door.
Whoever did… was plundered. Sometimes never seen again.
Knock. Knock.
My heart stopped.
I didn't move.
Knock. Knock.
The sound echoed through the silent house. My breath grew shallow. Slowly, I walked to the window and peeked outside.
Martin.
Standing there, swaying slightly.
My fear shifted instantly to panic. Standing outside at night was dangerous anyone could attack him.
I unlocked the door and pulled it open.
My eyes fell to the ground.
Blood.
Dripping from his leg. A gunshot wound.
"Anna…" he whispered, collapsing.
Without thinking, I pulled him inside. One of his arms over my shoulder, my hand supporting his back, I dragged him to the sofa. He was heavy, half-unconscious, but I didn't stop.
I ran back to close the door.
But before I could shut it, a hand pushed it open with force. I stumbled back.
Three young men entered.
Their eyes scanned the room like predators searching for prey.
One of them grabbed Martin by the collar and yanked him up. Another slapped him hard. They began beating him continuously.
Martin screamed in pain.
"Anna! Please save me! Please…"
Tears filled my eyes. My body trembled. I wanted to help him, but fear rooted me to the spot.
Then—
Silence.
Leather shoes struck the marble floor. Slow. Controlled. Dominating.
Every man in the room froze.
Adrian Volkov walked in.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. A black suit fitting him perfectly. Steel-grey eyes that looked like they had never known mercy. A faint scar traced his jaw — proof that even danger once tried and failed to defeat him.
He didn't speak.
He didn't need to.
One look from Adrian Volkov was a command.
One nod from him decided life or death.
They called him the king of the Shadow Syndicate.
The man who ruled the city's underworld.
The man no one crossed and lived to tell the tale.
He walked toward Martin and stared at him for a long moment.
Then, without warning, he punched him hard.
A gasp escaped me. I couldn't stop myself. I ran forward.
This was the first time Adrian Volkov saw me.
For a moment… he froze.
I dropped to my knees beside Martin, crying, hands folded.
"Please… leave him."
Adrian didn't reply. His expression remained unreadable.
He turned and walked out, signalling his men to follow.
Outside, Martin somehow reached his phone. His voice was weak, but clear enough.
"Decorate the wedding venue," he said. "I'm coming with the bride."
A gang member returned inside and spoke coldly, "Adrian wants to see you."
Fear wrapped around me, but I had no choice. I stepped outside.
Adrian stood near a black car, lighting a cigarette.
"Who is this man?" he asked without looking at me.
"My ex," I whispered.
"You have thirty minutes to pack," he said. "You're coming with me."
"Where?" I asked, my voice trembling.
His eyes met mine — sharp and deadly.
"I will kill Martin… if you don't."
My world tilted. I wanted to speak, to protest, to scream — but no words came out.
He waited for my reply.
But I said nothing, standing there helpless.
Without another word, Adrian pulled a gun from his pocket and strode back toward the hall.
I knew exactly what was going to happen.
I ran after him.
"Adrian, please! Stop!"
He halted.
Silence swallowed the room again.
He turned his head slightly, waiting for my answer.
But still, I couldn't speak.
His patience ended.
"Okay, fine," he said coldly. "I'll give you ten seconds before the gunshot."
Martin lay unconscious, unaware of his fate.
Adrian raised the gun, aiming at him.
"Ten… nine… eight…"
His voice was slow, steady — giving me time to break.
"Seven… six… five…"
Tears blurred my vision.
"Four…"
His finger tightened on the trigger.
"Three…"
Before he could complete the counting, I screamed
"YES! I'll come with you!"
The words tore out of my throat.
Adrian lowered the gun.
And in that moment, I knew
My life had just crossed a line I could never return from.