The Devil Calls
Natalia sat in the dimly lit bar, fingers wrapped around a whiskey glass she had no intention of drinking. The ice clinked softly as she swirled the amber liquid, her mind miles away.
The trap was set.
Langley had taken the bait.
Now, all she had to do was wait for him to make his move.
The memory of his voice on the phone still lingered in her mind.
"Now that’s more like it, Ms. Greer."
That smug, knowing tone, as if he had been expecting her to turn against Damon all along. As if he thought he still had control over the game.
He had no idea what was coming for him.
Natalia exhaled slowly, her body still thrumming with the high from today’s confrontation at Cross Enterprises. It had been risky—going after Damon so publicly. But Langley needed to believe she had severed ties, that she was still the vengeful woman chasing ghosts.
Her phone vibrated against the polished bar top. Unknown number.
Again.
She hesitated for only a second before answering.
“You’re a hard woman to impress,” Langley’s voice hummed through the receiver. “But I have to admit, that was quite the performance.”
Natalia leaned back in her seat, keeping her tone even. “I wasn’t performing.”
Langley chuckled. “Oh, but you were. And you were magnificent.”
She tightened her grip on the glass. “What do you want?”
There was a pause, and then—“I think we should meet.”
Her pulse quickened, though she kept her voice steady. “Why?”
Another chuckle. “Because, my dear, we have a common enemy now.”
Her stomach twisted.
Damon.
Langley had fallen for the act so easily it was almost laughable.
Almost.
But something about his tone—smooth, confident—told her he wasn’t simply reacting to today’s events. He had been waiting for this moment.
Setting her own trap had triggered his.
“Fine,” she said after a beat. “Where?”
A pause. Then—“I’ll send the details. And, Natalia?”
She clenched her jaw.
“I hope you don’t disappoint me.”
The call disconnected before she could respond.
The weight of what was about to happen settled in her chest like iron.
She had wanted this.
Now, it was here.
The endgame had begun.
An Hour Later – Unknown Location
Natalia stepped out of the sleek black sedan, her heels hitting the pavement with practiced confidence. The air was thick with the scent of rain, the streets glistening under the glow of neon signs.
Langley had chosen a private club in the heart of the city—one where men like him thrived in the shadows.
Her body buzzed with awareness as she stepped through the entrance, her eyes adjusting to the dim, golden light. Laughter and hushed conversations filled the space, the kind of atmosphere that bred deals made over blood money.
She didn’t have to look far.
Victor Langley was waiting for her in the VIP lounge, his posture relaxed, his smirk indulgent.
She took her time walking over, ensuring every move was deliberate, calculated.
“Ms. Greer,” Langley greeted, gesturing to the seat across from him. “Or should I say Ms. Moore? I imagine the lines are getting blurred these days.”
Natalia sat down smoothly, offering a cold smile. “Let’s not waste time. What do you want?”
Langley studied her, swirling the dark liquor in his glass. “Straight to the point. I like that.”
He leaned forward slightly. “Tell me, Natalia… how does it feel?”
She narrowed her eyes. “How does what feel?”
His smirk widened. “Betraying the man you once thought ruined your life.”
The way he said it, the way he watched her, made something in her stomach twist.
She had baited him. But she could feel it now—he was baiting her, too.
She didn’t falter. “Feels like justice.”
Langley’s gaze gleamed with something dangerous. “Good. Because I think we can help each other.”
She tilted her head. “How?”
He set his glass down and leaned back. “Damon Cross is a problem—for both of us.”
Natalia didn’t respond, letting him talk.
“He’s outlived his usefulness in this city. He’s in the way. And now that you’ve cut ties with him, I imagine you might want to finish what you started.”
He was watching her closely, waiting for her reaction.
Waiting to see if she was truly ready to destroy Damon.
So she gave him exactly what he wanted.
Her lips curled into a smirk. “And what are you offering?”
Langley chuckled. “A partnership.”
She feigned curiosity. “In what?”
His voice dipped lower, his words laced with something deadly.
“In taking Damon Cross off the board. Permanently.”
A pulse of ice shot through her veins.
She had expected Langley to push her toward taking down Damon’s business, to sabotage him from the inside.
But this?
This was a death sentence.
And it was exactly the confirmation she needed.
Langley didn’t just want Damon’s empire.
He wanted him dead.
Natalia forced herself to breathe, to keep her expression impassive. “That’s a bold move.”
Langley shrugged. “Only if you hesitate.”
She let the words sit between them before she spoke again. “How do I know you’re serious?”
Langley smiled. “Because, my dear, I’ve already set things in motion.”
Her blood turned to ice.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the stem of her glass. “What does that mean?”
His smile widened. “Let’s just say… Mr. Cross might not make it through the night.”
Every muscle in her body went rigid.
She had played this game long enough to know a kill order when she heard one.
Langley wasn’t just talking in hypotheticals.
Damon’s life was already hanging by a thread.
She forced a smirk, even as her heart slammed against her ribs. “And if I want to be part of this?”
Langley raised his glass. “Then I suggest you toast to new beginnings.”
Natalia lifted her glass, clinking it against his. “To new beginnings.”
She smiled.
But inside, she was already planning how to burn him to the ground.
One Hour Later – Cross Enterprises Penthouse
Damon was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the city below, when his phone buzzed.
A single text flashed across the screen.
Natalia: They’re coming for you tonight.
His jaw clenched.
He turned away from the window, grabbing his gun from the desk.
Let them come.