The restaurant glowed with soft amber light, casting a delicate hue on Lana's skin as she laughed at something Derek said. He leaned forward, a smirk playing on his lips, eyes locked on her like she was the only person in the room. His charisma was undeniable, and for tonight, Lana allowed herself to enjoy it.
"You know," he said, twirling the wine in his glass. "You're more interesting than I imagined."
She raised a brow. "Imagined? So you'd already made assumptions about me?"
"Not assumptions," he replied, tone casual. "Just... expectations. People usually fall into categories. You surprise me."
Lana tilted her head. There was something about the way he said it—a touch too cold beneath the compliment. But it was fleeting. She smiled, brushing it off. "I'm not so easy to categorize."
"No, you're not."
He reached across the table, fingers brushing over hers in a move that felt too practiced. It made her stomach flutter—not with unease, but with the rush of being wanted. She wasn't thinking about how calculated it was, only how good it felt to be admired.
And to forget.
Kieran Valen's name hadn't left her thoughts all day. His scent. His hands. His voice in her ear, all control and ruin.
She shifted in her seat.
"You okay?" Derek asked.
"Yeah. Just—long day."
He nodded, understanding in his eyes. "We don't have to stay long. Just wanted to see you again."
That part, at least, felt genuine.
---
*Kieran's Office – Same Time*
Kieran leaned back in his chair, but there was no comfort in the soft leather. The city skyline twinkled through the glass behind him, but it was a blur.
Lana.
He dragged a hand over his face. She hadn't come into the office again. No text. No call. Just silence. The memory of her body still trembled in his veins. The way she said his name. The way she fell apart for him. And then vanished.
He'd gotten used to control. Precision. Women came and went, none staying long enough to get beneath his skin.
But Lana Hart—she'd embedded herself into every crack.
And now she was out with him.
Derek.
Kieran's jaw tightened. He opened his laptop and typed in the name. Derek Carver. He hadn't meant to go digging. But he did.
Clean. Too clean. No controversies, no odd history, no exes speaking out. No one spoke much at all.
He scrolled, eyes narrowing. Something about the silence screamed.
He snapped the laptop shut.
This wasn't jealousy. This was instinct.
He picked up his phone, thumbs hovering over Lana's number. Then stopped. If he warned her, she'd think he was being possessive. And maybe he was. But he didn't care.
*Kieran Valen always followed his gut. And right now, his gut told him Derek Carver was hiding something.*
---
*Later that Night – Lana's Apartment*
She kicked off her heels and let out a long sigh. The evening had gone well—too well. Derek was charming, intense, even funny when he wanted to be.
But something lingered beneath the surface. A chill behind the warmth. She shook her head and turned on the TV.
The news anchor's voice cut through the quiet.
"—another woman found late last night in Riverside District. Police say the body shows signs of extensive trauma and are connecting the murder to a string of similar cases over the past few months. The killer remains unidentified."
Lana froze mid-step.
The screen flashed images of the cordoned crime scene. Red tape, flashing lights, a photo of the victim with the word *"Missing"* over it.
She swallowed.
Another one?
She grabbed the remote and clicked it off, the sudden silence louder than the report.
*This world is crazy,* she whispered, shaking her head.
She didn't know why, but a part of her wanted to text Kieran. To hear his voice. But she didn't.
Instead, she went to bed with Derek's soft smile in her mind and the image of that poor girl buried somewhere deeper.
Unnoticed.
Unconnected.
Yet.