The old docks.
A place drenched in memories Michael Graze would rather forget. It was where he buried Alec Knight's body. Where he buried the last remnants of a friendship that had turned into a betrayal so deep it threatened to swallow him whole.
And now, Alec was back.
Michael's hands clenched around the steering wheel as the black SUV cut through the night, its headlights slicing through the fog that clung to the abandoned docks like a haunting memory. Hazel sat beside him, her expression unreadable, but he could feel the tension radiating off her.
"You should've let me stay at the penthouse," she murmured, her fingers tracing the smooth leather of the seat.
Michael glanced at her, his jaw tight. "And let you be a target?"
Hazel met his gaze, her eyes cold and determined. "I'm not some helpless woman, Michael. I'm in this with you, whether you like it or not."
She wasn't wrong. She never was.
But Michael had no intention of letting her anywhere near Alec, even if she didn't care for his protection. She was his. And that meant no one touched her.
The SUV came to a stop in front of a dilapidated warehouse. The lights inside flickered, casting eerie shadows across the cracked concrete floor.
Michael's pulse quickened.
"Stay in the car," he ordered, his voice harsh.
"I'm not going to sit this one out." Hazel's voice was firm, her gaze unyielding.
He cursed under his breath. "Hazel—"
"Do you really think I'm going to let you face him alone?" she cut him off, her tone unwavering.
A flicker of something deep inside him softened. He knew she wasn't backing down. Not now. Not when things had already gone this far.
He didn't argue.
Instead, he threw open the door and stepped out, his boots hitting the gravel with a quiet thud. Hazel followed, matching his pace.
They walked toward the warehouse. The air was thick with the smell of saltwater and decay.
Michael's mind raced, every part of him alert, waiting for the inevitable. He knew Alec would be here — but he didn't know how, or when, or in what form. The past had a way of coming back to life when you least expected it.
They reached the warehouse door. Michael hesitated for a moment before pulling it open with a creak.
Inside, the darkness was suffocating. The only light came from a few dim bulbs hanging from the ceiling, casting long shadows on the walls.
And then, standing in the center of the room, was Alec.
He was exactly as Michael remembered — tall, lean, with an easy smirk that had once made him feel invincible. His clothes were impeccably tailored, as always. His dark eyes gleamed in the shadows, filled with amusement.
"Michael Graze," Alec's voice was a low drawl, full of venom. "And the little queen, too. How cute."
Hazel stepped forward, her gaze hard and unforgiving. "I thought you were dead."
Alec chuckled, a sound that sent a chill down her spine. "You and Michael both think that, don't you?" He took a step forward, his eyes locked on hers. "But I'm very much alive, sweetheart. And I've got unfinished business."
Michael's hand moved to the gun holstered at his side, but Alec raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Relax, Michael," he said, his grin widening. "I'm not here to fight. Not yet, anyway."
The tension in the room thickened. Hazel glanced at Michael, sensing the storm brewing between them. "What do you want, Alec?"
Alec's gaze flickered to her. "What do I want?" he repeated, as if the question amused him. "I want what's mine. And that's everything you've built, Michael." He tilted his head, the faintest trace of a smile on his lips. "And I'll start with her."
Hazel's eyes narrowed. "You touch me, and you won't leave this place alive."
Alec laughed. "Is that a threat, darling?"
"It's a promise," she said, her voice steady but dangerous.
Alec seemed to consider her words for a moment, his amusement fading. "I like you, Hazel. You've got fire. But fire burns, doesn't it?"
Michael stepped forward, his voice low and dangerous. "Stay the hell away from her, Alec."
Alec held up his hands again, this time in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. No need to get possessive. You'll get your chance soon enough." He took a slow, deliberate step back, his eyes never leaving Hazel. "But remember this, Michael. You can't hide from the past forever. Sooner or later, it finds its way back."
Hazel stood firm, her gaze unwavering. "I don't scare easily."
Alec chuckled darkly. "That's what they all say."
And then, without another word, he disappeared into the shadows, his footsteps echoing in the distance.
**
Michael turned to Hazel, his eyes flashing with fury. "We have to find him. Now."
Hazel nodded, her own anger simmering beneath the surface. "You've got nowhere to run, Alec. This time, it ends."
But as they headed back to the car, Michael couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Alec's return wasn't just a threat. It was a declaration of war.
And Hazel — the woman he loved — had just become the greatest target of all.
The game had changed.
And Michael would burn the world down to protect her...