A Fatal Attraction

Chapter 5: Under His Skin

Lena told herself she was fine.

She told herself it was just another case. Another criminal playing mind games.

But lies didn’t sit well in her chest.

She felt it even now, days after Vesper—the way Dominic had gotten inside her head, how his voice still echoed when she closed her eyes. The way he made her hesitate.

She’d spent the past three nights at the precinct, throwing herself into work, reading every damn file with his name on it, trying to build a wall in her mind that kept him out.

But it wasn’t working.

Because every time she looked at his case, she saw him. Not the reports. Not the paperwork. Just the way he smirked at her in the dark, the way he said her name like it already belonged to him.

You want to know what happens if you don’t.

Lena exhaled sharply, shoving the file shut.

No.

She wasn’t going to let him win.

⸻

The first sign that she was unraveling came when Mark touched her.

It was nothing unusual—just a hand at her lower back as she stood at the kitchen counter, pouring coffee before her shift. But her body flinched.

Mark froze. “Hey.” His voice was soft, but concerned. “You okay?”

Lena forced a tight smile. “Yeah. Just tired.”

He studied her, his brow furrowing slightly.

And she hated it.

Hated that he could see through her so easily. Hated that for the first time, she didn’t want him to.

She took a sip of coffee, forcing herself to focus. This was normal. This was real. This was her life.

So why did it feel like something was missing?

⸻

The second sign came when she started looking for him.

She told herself she wasn’t. That she was just being observant, just doing her job.

But every time she drove past a high-end restaurant, a sleek black car, a crowded nightclub—her heart beat faster.

Would he be there?

Would he find her again?

She checked reports, followed whispers in the precinct about his latest movements. But nothing led to him.

Nothing.

And it was driving her insane.

She should be relieved that he was gone. That whatever game he had been playing was over.

But she wasn’t.

Because now, it felt like something had been taken from her.

Chapter 6: The Accusation

Weeks passed.

Lena didn’t realize how much it was affecting her until Mark finally said something.

“You’re distant.”

The words came one night as they lay in bed, the room dark, the silence between them heavier than it used to be.

Lena’s stomach twisted. “I’ve been busy.”

Mark turned on his side, facing her. “That’s not it.”

She clenched her jaw. “Then what?”

Mark exhaled. “I think there’s someone else.”

Her heart stopped.

She forced a sharp breath. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it?” His voice was quiet, but laced with something raw. “You barely look at me. You barely talk to me.”

Lena turned her head, staring at the ceiling. She couldn’t do this. Couldn’t let him see the cracks forming.

“I’m just tired, Mark.”

Silence. Then—

“It’s Eric, isn’t it?”

Her breath caught.

It was so wildly wrong, so completely off, that she almost laughed. Almost.

She turned to him, forcing an incredulous look. “You think I’m sleeping with Eric?”

Mark’s jaw was tight. “You tell him things you don’t tell me.”

Lena’s chest ached. “Because we work together. That’s all it is.”

Mark studied her, searching for the truth. But the truth was something he could never know.

After a long moment, he pushed off the covers, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.

Lena sat up. “Where are you going?”

“To talk to him.”

Lena’s stomach twisted. “Mark, don’t.”

But he didn’t stop.

And as the door closed behind him, she didn’t go after him.

Because a part of her wanted the distraction.

A part of her was already pulling up reports, searching for any trace of Dominic Vale.

She told herself it was for the case.

But she knew better.

She just needed to see him again.