Chapter 4 A Forbidden Attraction

Lila had always known that the line between love and hate was razor-thin. She had seen it in her mother's eyes and felt it in the bitterness of her own heart as she watched the enmity between their families grow. But nothing had prepared her for the firestorm that ignited in her chest when she looked at Kai again. The tension between them was immediate, thickening the air around them like a suffocating cloud. When the door opened, she had been standing in the dimly lit lobby of the D'Alembert family's private business office in New Orleans. Kai stepped in—his presence undeniable, his gaze unyielding. Her pulse quickened, a reaction she couldn't control. He was everything she hated, everything her family had fought against, yet every part of her ached to know more. It wasn't just how he looked—his striking features, the darkness in his eyes that seemed to pierce right through her—but how the world shifted when he entered the room. The last time she'd seen him, he was a boy, a mere figure in the background of their family's rivalry. Now, he stood before her, a man carved from stone, tall and muscular, as though the feud itself had forged him. Their eyes met across the room, and the world seemed to disappear for a split second. But the harsh reality of their circumstances quickly snapped her back. She was not here to be mesmerized by Kai Wolfe. She was here to protect her family—and to hold on to the one thing that still mattered: control. "Lila," Kai said, his voice like velvet wrapped in a layer of steel. Her stomach twisted at the sound of her name on his lips, but she forced herself to remain composed. "Kai," she replied coldly, her eyes narrowing. The air between them was charged, like the quiet before a storm. The tension was thick, suffocating. Neither of them moved nor blinked, as if acknowledging the weight of the years that had passed, the history that hung between them like a ghost. "You're not supposed to be here," she finally said, breaking the silence, her words as sharp as daggers. Kai smirked, a flash of something dangerous dancing in his eyes. "Funny, I could say the same about you." Lila bristled at his audacity but refused to show any weakness. "What do you want, Kai?" He stepped forward, his broad shoulders filling the space between them. "I think you know why I'm here." Her breath caught in her throat. She had known this moment was coming, but nothing could have prepared her for the surge of emotion that followed. Anger. Confusion. A yearning she refused to acknowledge. "You're not getting what you want," she said, her voice steady despite the battle. Kai's eyes darkened, his lips curling into a faint smile. "I think you underestimate me, Lila." The words hung in the air between them, charged with something unspoken, something dangerous. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her fingers itching to do something—anything—to break the building tension, which threatened to swallow them whole. But before she could say another word, a voice rang behind her. “Lila! Kai! What is this?” Lila's mother, Lucienne D'Alembert, strode into the room, her sharp gaze flicking between them. The fire in her eyes was unmistakable, a mixture of Anger and confusion that mirrored Lila's own. "Kai Wolfe," Lucienne spat the name with a venomous hiss as she approached them. "What is your business here?" Kai turned to face her, his posture unyielding, his expression cold. ''I' 'm here to speak with Lila.” Lucienne's eyes narrowed. "Speak to her? Or threaten her?" Kai's jaw tightened, his temper flaring. “I’m not here to threaten anyone.” "Then what exactly are you here for?" Lucienne demanded, her voice sharp as a blade. Kai hesitated for a moment as if weighing his words. But before he could respond, Lila stepped forward, her heart racing. “Enough,” she said, her voice firmer than she felt. "Whatever this is, we need to finish it. Now." Kai's eyes met hers, a flicker of something dark passing between them. "You don't understand, Lila. This... this war between our families—it's not over. And if you think it is, you're lying to yourself." Lila's pulse quickened at the intensity in his voice and the raw emotion behind it. Her mind raced, her thoughts spinning. She had known that their families' conflict was far from over, but hearing it from him—the one person she had never expected to be part of it—shook her to the core. "We're finished with this,” Lucienne snapped, her voice cold. "You're not welcome here, Kai. Leave." Kai stood still, his gaze never leaving Lila's. "I'm not here to beg for forgiveness. I'm here to ensure the past doesn't destroy us all." Lila's breath caught in her throat. The words struck her like a physical blow. The past—what did he mean by that? Was he talking about their families? Or something else? Before she could respond, the tension in the room suddenly shifted. A loud bang sounded from outside, followed by shouting and the unmistakable sound of gunfire. Lila's heart skipped a beat. "What was that?" Her mother's face paled, her eyes flashing with panic. "Get down!" she yelled, her instincts kicking in as she grabbed Lila by the arm and yanked her toward the nearest doorway. Kai's hand shot out, grabbing Lila's wrist in a vice-like grip. "Stay close." Lila's heart pounded as she was pulled into the hallway. The gunfire outside grew louder, followed by the unmistakable sounds of chaos. "Stay behind me," Kai growled, eyes scanning the hallway with military precision. Lila's mind raced as they moved through the corridors, their tension palpable. Her chest tightened with every step, breath, and glance exchanged between her and Kai. This wasn't just about their families anymore. It was something bigger, something far more dangerous. As they reached the staircase, Lila's mother turned, her eyes wild with panic. "What the hell is going on, Kai? What did you bring here?" Kai's jaw clenched, his eyes dark. "It's not my doing. But we need to get out of here—now." Before Lila could say another word, the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Someone—or something—was coming. And whatever it was, it was closing in fast. Kai turned to her, his grip on her wrist tightening. "We have to move. Now." At that moment, as the footsteps grew closer, Lila realized that the stakes had just been raised. There was no turning back now. The war between their families had escalated, and the deadly game they had been playing for so long was about to explode. Lila's heart raced as she followed Kai, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear. The gunfire outside grew louder and more desperate. With every step she took, she could feel the weight of her family's curse bearing down on her. There was no escaping it. Not now. Not ever.