Caught Her Finally

LUCIEN

It was late, past midnight, and the club was a riot of pulsing lights, pounding bass, and sweat-slicked bodies grinding to music so loud it was more earthquake than sound.

I sat in the bar of the VIP section, nursing a Macallan that tasted like ash in my mouth.

I wasn’t here for fun.

I was here for her.

And there she was.

That girl from the night.

I watched her from the shadows as she glided through the crowd, hips moving in that lazy, taunting rhythm, drink in one hand, baseball cap low over her eyes. She made it look easy. Effortless. Like sin was her second skin.

I took a long, slow breath. Controlled.

I told myself I was only here to confront her. To get answers.

But the truth?

I was hunting her. And today I caught her finally after two freaking months.

My teeth ground together when she stopped at the bar. The bartender—young, pretty-boy type, built just enough to show off under those rolled-up sleeves—was already giving her that look.

I could see his tongue practically hanging out.

She whistled at him.

My jaw flexed.

She was flirting with him. In plain sight. Knowing I was here? Or not even caring?

He laughed at her whistle like a fucking idiot.

“How can I help you, ma’am?” he said, leaning in.

I watched her tilt her head, letting her hair fall just right. Her mouth curled slow and predatory.

“However you want to.”

My fingers tightened around my glass so hard I thought it might shatter.

He actually blushed.

Jesus Christ.

The kid handed her a drink like it was holy water, laying it down in front of her with way too much flair.

“Bold drink for a bold, gorgeous woman,” he said. “You’re far too sexy for your own good.”

She ate it up.

Bit her lower lip. Leaned in.

“O M G. That was delicious. Perfect. I like it. Hot guys who make perfect drinks turn me on.”

I wanted to vault the bar and strangle him.

When he kissed the back of her fucking hand, my vision went red.

“May I know the gorgeous name?”

“It’s Riley,” she purred. So, this is her name.

“Such a beautiful name.”

He actually wrote his number on a napkin. Slid it to her.

She pressed it to her mouth. Pocketed it.

“Laters, baby,” she called over her shoulder as she walked away.

No look back.

No hesitation.

I slammed my empty glass so hard onto the counter the bartender jumped.

“Macallan,” I said, voice like ice.

He didn’t even fucking hear me. His eyes were still following her across the floor. She was swaying her hips.

That was it.

I lost my patience.

I slammed the counter again.

“ARE YOU DONE OGLING HER? YOU IDIOT?!”

He blinked, startled.

“How can I help you, sir?”

“Give me your goddamn phone.”

His mouth opened. His eyes darted to Riley—still dancing, still making that deliberate eye contact over her shoulder like a challenge.

My voice dropped lower. Deadlier.

“Now.”

But before I could do more, shouting erupted on the dance floor.

My head snapped around.

Riley was punching some asshole who’d groped her.

I watched her scream in his face, voice lost under the music but the fury clear enough in her body. She shoved him back so hard he stumbled into a table.

Then she stormed off toward the bathrooms.

My chest heaved.

She was fire. Pure, unfiltered.

But I saw it.

For just a second.

The way she touched her face. The tremor in her breath. The tremble of her fingers.

Fear.

She tried to bury it fast, but I caught it.

---

I waited.

Leaned against the wall outside the corridor to the bathrooms.

I could imagine her inside.

Splashing water on her face. Hair damp at the ends. Eyes red.

Biting back tears she’d never let anyone see.

When the door swung open, I straightened.

She came out with her head up, steps steady, pretending nothing was wrong.

Our eyes met.

She paused.

Just for a heartbeat.

Then she walked faster.

Pretending she hadn’t seen me.

I pushed off the wall and blocked her path.

“So you’re going to pretend nothing happened?”

My voice was quiet. Too quiet.

She didn’t even glance at me.

Tried to slip past.

I grabbed her arm.

Pushed her gently but firmly against the wall.

She closed her eyes.

Counted.

One.

Two.

Three.

Then she opened them and glared at me, calm as ice.

I felt my fingers loosen against my will.

“Excuse me,” she said in that clipped tone. “Do I know you?”

My brows snapped down.

“So you don’t know me?”

She gave me a disgusted look.

“No.”

She pushed my chest lightly.

“Now can I go? I have a date tonight.”

She turned to leave.

I grabbed her again, harder.

Slamming her back against the wall.

Her eyes flashed.

“You’re not going anywhere without answering me.”

“Do I owe you an answer?”

“Do you not?”

She let out this fucking sigh, like I was the unreasonable one.

Pressed a hand to my chest and shoved just enough to get space.

“Listen. I do hookups. But I don’t do attachments. It was one night. Get over it. If you can’t move on, that’s your problem. Go date someone else. Don’t expect anything from me.”

My teeth ground.

I leaned in, voice dropping.

“Really? Then tell me why the fuck you stole that drive. I’ve been looking for you for two goddamn months. Answer me. WHY DID YOU DO IT?”

She froze.

I saw the mask crack.

Just for a second.

I grabbed her harder, shaking her.

“Speak. Who paid you? Don’t lie to me. You sold it to Adelia Wolfe, didn’t you? HOW MUCH DID SHE PAY YOU?”

Her face twisted.

“That bitch,” she spat.

I dug in even harder.

But before I could say another word—

She punched me.

Square in the mouth.

I staggered back a step.

Felt blood at my lip.

Touched it.

Looked at the smear on my fingers.

My head snapped up.

She was breathing hard, eyes blazing.

I took a step forward.

She threw up her hand.

“Stop. I’ll tell you. Just don’t touch me.”

I froze.

Chest heaving.

I glared at her.

She swallowed.

“I work for money. They came to me, asked me to do it, I gave them the data. They didn’t pay me. Left me with nothing. I want to make them pay for that. I can get it back for you if you want.”

My mouth curled in disgust.

“Why the fuck should I trust you?”

She snorted.

“Don’t. Forget it.”

She turned to leave.

I grabbed her again.

“You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

Her eyes snapped to mine.

“Oh, I know exactly who I’m dealing with. Lucien Moretti. CEO of Moretti Enterprises. Two younger brothers. A baby sister you spoil. Mommy and Daddy don’t talk to you. A seventy-five-year-old grandmother who still thinks you’re an angel. And your precious best friend? Adrian fucking Shaw. Want me to list your schools, too?”

I froze.

My grip loosened.

My heart pounded.

“What the fuck are you?” I hissed.

She smiled.

But it wasn’t kind.

“Better you don’t find out.”

I grabbed her from her throat.

She caught my wrist.

Stopped me cold.

Her eyes didn’t waver.

Didn’t even blink.

“Don’t you dare, Moretti. Or I’ll have to dispose of your body. I’m sure you don’t want that.”

My pulse thundered.

We stood there, locked in place.

I didn’t move.

Neither did she.

Finally she spoke.

“I know I cost you. But I don’t ruin my nights over business. So go enjoy yours. I’ll come find you tomorrow. We can talk about compensation. But don’t ruin my night. I’ll be so disappointed.”

She gave me that mocking smirk.

I was about to respond when I heard Sienna’s voice.

“Heeey Luc! Is that you?! Oh my god, babe, I’ve been looking everywhere!”

I winced.

Sienna Aldridge.

Drunk.

Of course.

She stumbled toward us in those ridiculous stilettos, face flushed.

Aria looked her up and down.

Then back at me.

“Wow. So you have a date tonight, too. Nice. Enjoy.”

Her eyes flicked to Sienna.

“Bad luck though, Luc. She’s not your type.”

Sienna’s eyes went wide.

“Hey! Who the hell are you? Don’t you dare try to seduce my boyfriend!”

Aria adjusted her cap.

Sighed.

“Sienna Aldridge, right? Poor girl. Don’t dream about him. You’ll only get a heartbreak. Go find Jonny instead.”

Then she just… walked away.

Without looking back.

Sienna was fuming.

“Who was that crazy bitch?! She’s delusional. Babe? Luc?!”

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I checked the screen. Unknown number.

Sienna tried to peer over.

“Ew, what’s that? That’s not your phone, is it babe? Looks cheap.”

I shot her a look.

“Sienna. Go home.”

“What? No! Why?”

“Just do as I say.”

“No way!” She grabbed my face, trying to kiss me.

I pushed her off.

Grabbed her wrist.

Marched her toward the exit.

---

At the door, I paused.

Turned.

Watched Aria at the bar.

She was trying to flirt with that same bartender again.

But he was ignoring her now.

His mouth was tight.

My lips curled in satisfaction.

She turned on him.

I could see her mouth moving.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

He didn’t even flinch.

“I’m not interested in thieves.”

Her face went hard.

She spun around and saw me.

Stormed over.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?! What did you tell him?!”

I smiled.

Innocent.

“I just shared my sob story.”

She seethed.

“You’ll pay for this.”

“I’d love to.”

She glared at me.

Then shoved her phone in my face. Tinder open.

Adrian’s photo.

“It’s a match.”

She swiped right.

“Hooked.”

My smile dropped.

Gone.

She turned.

Walked away.

And I stood there.

Breathing hard.

Heart pounding.

Rage cold and perfect in my veins.

---

To be continued.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***