Valarie's POV

(Continuation of last chapter)

"You're disgusting."

Valarie's voice was sharp, cutting through the thick tension between them.

Sebastian only grinned.

Her stomach churned at the way his silver eyes devoured her, drinking in every inch of her body like she was his to admire.

Like she belonged to him.

"You keep looking at me like that, Vasiliev," she spat, "and I'll gouge your damn eyes out."

Sebastian chuckled, unfazed.

"My, my, sunshine. That mouth of yours is deadly." He smirked, stepping even closer. "Just like the rest of you."

Valarie's fists clenched.

She was livid.

This bastard had slaughtered Viktor in cold blood. He had written that disturbing message in blood, then walked away like it was nothing.

Like her life-her mission-was a game to him.

And now he was smirking, flirting like he hadn't just committed murder in her name.

Like he owned her.

Valarie snapped.

She swung.

Sebastian's head barely tilted as her knuckles sliced the air.

She didn't even give him a second to react before she was already moving, twisting her body into another attack-a precise roundhouse kick aimed at his ribs.

Sebastian blocked it smoothly, grabbing her ankle midair.

"You're fast," he murmured, eyes glinting with something dark and amused. "But you know what's faster?"

He yanked her leg-pulling her toward him.

Valarie barely caught her balance, her body crashing into his chest.

She growled in frustration and immediately jabbed her elbow toward his throat.

Sebastian dodged effortlessly.

"Tch." He sighed, his grip firm on her wrist. "So violent, angel. Should I be worried about how much you want to put your hands on me?"

Bastard.

Valarie yanked free, spinning into another punch.

He dodged.

Another strike-he blocked.

She aimed a kick at his shin-he side-stepped.

And all the while, that cocky smirk never left his damn face.

"Ahh, look at you." He let out a breathy chuckle, eyes gleaming with obsession. "So fierce. So dangerous."

Valarie gritted her teeth.

She attacked faster.

Strikes, kicks, feints-she threw everything at him, and he blocked every single one.

Not with force. Not even with serious effort.

But with ease.

Like he was just toying with her.

Like he was enjoying this.

She had enough , she punched him right on his jaw , but a big grin spread on his face , Instead of anger.

"That dress," he mused, effortlessly deflecting another punch. "Still the same one from the club. Tsk, tsk. Were you really so eager to see me that you didn't even bother changing?"

Valarie growled, trying to sweep his legs.

Sebastian dodged again.

His smirk widened.

"Such a dangerous little thing," he purred. "Kicking, punching-attacking me like a wild cat."

He suddenly caught her wrist, pulling her flush against him.

His breath ghosted over her cheek.

"Tell me, solnyshko" he murmured, his voice like silk, "are you fighting me because you're angry?"

His grip tightened.

"Or because you're tempted?"

Valarie snarled.

She yanked her arm free, gripping his collar-and in one sharp move, she threw him back.

Sebastian actually stumbled, his back slamming against a crate.

His chest heaved, his silver eyes burning with something dangerous.

And then-

He laughed.

Low. Amused. Obsessive.

Valarie froze.

Sebastian straightened, running a hand through his hair, his breath still slightly ragged from the sparring.

But instead of looking angry-

He looked entirely, utterly fascinated.

"God." His voice was gravelly, his tongue swiping across his lower lip. "You are exquisite."

Valarie's fingers twitched. "Shut up."

He ignored her, taking a slow step forward.

"That fire," he murmured, devouring her with his eyes. "That anger. That rage."

Another step.

"You could kill a man with that gaze alone, you know?" His lips curved. "But you didn't."

Valarie glared. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Sebastian tilted his head.

"If you really wanted to, angel..." He exhaled slowly, his eyes drinking in every inch of her. "You could've pulled a gun. A knife. You could've ended me."

His smirk turned dark.

"But instead?" His voice lowered.

"You fought me with your bare hands."

Valarie's heart slammed against her ribs.

Sebastian stepped even closer-so close their noses nearly brushed.

"So tell me, kitten," he whispered, tilting his head. "Was that really a fight-"

His lips barely grazed her ear.

"-or were you just looking for an excuse to touch me?"

"You're sick."

Her voice dripped with venom, but Sebastian only smiled, looking thoroughly entertained.

Valarie's hands itched to land another punch. To wipe that cocky, arrogant smirk off his handsome, cruel face.

But she didn't.

Because that's exactly what he wanted.

Sebastian leaned against the crate, arms lazily crossed, looking at her like she was a puzzle he enjoyed solving.

"You wound me, sweetheart," he mused. "I just saved your pretty little life. Shouldn't you be thanking me instead?"

Valarie glared. "Saved me? You ruined everything! I had the situation handled."

"Oh?" His silver eyes gleamed. "And how would you have handled it, exactly?" He cocked his head. "Letting that filthy bastard put his hands all over you? Letting him whisper in your ear about all the ways he was going to have you?"

Her jaw locked.

Sebastian smirked.

"Tell me, angel," he murmured, stepping forward. "Would you really have let him take you ?"

Valarie's hand flew to her gun.

Sebastian only laughed.

"You're so angry," he purred. "But I wonder..." His gaze flicked down, slow and intentional. "Are you angry at me-"

His silver eyes met hers again, burning with obsession.

"-or at yourself?"

Valarie scoffed. "For what? Not killing you when I had the chance?"

Sebastian chuckled.

"For enjoying this."

Valarie stiffened.

The audacity of this bastard.

She stepped closer, so close she could see the cocky glint in his gaze.

"I don't enjoy anything about you, Vasiliev." Her voice was like steel. "And when I find out what the hell your motives are-why you suddenly betrayed Mikhail, why you're stalking me-" she sneered, "-I'll ruin you."

Sebastian hummed, amused.

"My motives?" He lifted a brow, smirking. "Simple."

His fingers brushed her wrist.

She yanked away.

He let her.

"I want you," he murmured.

Valarie's stomach flipped.

No. Not possible.

Sebastian Vasiliev was playing games. That's what he did.

She scowled. "You want me dead."

Sebastian laughed.

"Dead?" His voice was silk. "Oh no, angel."

His silver gaze burned into hers.

"I want Officer Valarie Ivanov as my beloved."

Valarie froze.

For the first time, words failed her.

Sebastian grinned, watching her reaction like a man who had just won.

Valarie growled. "Go to hell."

Then she turned on her heel and stormed out.

---

She drove all the way back to her apartment in silence.

Her mind raced with anger, frustration-

And something else.

Something she did not want to name.

She hated him. She did.

Sebastian Vasiliev was a psycho. A mafia prince with blood-stained hands and an arrogant smirk.

A monster.

But god help her-

He was also too damn handsome for his own good.

Valarie gritted her teeth, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

Those silver eyes. That wicked smirk.

That deep, rich voice taunting her.

Damn him.

She had bigger things to worry about. Elijah.

He was still missing. Captured. Tortured, for all she knew.

And here she was, thinking about Sebastian.

She cursed under her breath.

She needed to focus.

And she needed to forget every single word Sebastian had just said.