TRACEY’S P.O.VMy lashes fluttered open slowly, the room coming into focus. The first thing I felt was the heaviness in my head, like I had been dragged through a hell and dropped back into my bodyFor a split second, my chest tightened as I stared blankly to the wall in front of me, trying to figure out where I was and how I landed here.This wasn’t Ryan’s place. It didn't look any bit like it…I could remember this place clearly. Despite, the walls looked brighter like it had newly been repainted, the familiar air around was enough for me to tell I was back at Damien's.“Wait! That means Damien…” I stopped thinking halfway. Was he back? Why was I here? Where is everybody? I tried to sit upright but my body felt really weak like my limbs had forgotten how to move in days.I tried to pull the last few days together, to piece them back in order, but the harder I pushed my mind, the more my head throbbed. It was like I was driving into a dead end of imagination. Eventually, I gave up.I
DAMIEN'S P.O.VWe split immediately into two ransacking across every corner of this place that looked isolated. Skylo checked closets, cracks, and even floors while I went for the radiator, checking beneath. My hand brushed something and I dug in further. I pulled out a small envelope, “What could this be?“ I furrowed opening as fast as I could.Inside was a polaroid of Tracey. She had her face stared up at the camera, her face swollen from crying, hair messy. The Polaroid was taken close-up and in the corner was a shadow of a man’s coat.On the back was a short note “Not here. Move to 8B at first light. I hope you're enjoying the game“ I gritted my teeth, squeezing the pocture in my hand, my veins popping out in frustration.That bastard. He knew exactly what he was doing feeding us breadcrumbs. M was my old enemy—Marcello. The same man who had led us here. Skylo’s voice cut through and my attention shifted back to him.“Boss…the door has been tampered with. Look.” He pointed to th
DAMIEN’S P.O.V“Of course you want the short version. Fine. There’s a safe house. Third floor of an abandoned tenement on Via Calder. Apartment 12B. Locked up tight, guards rotate every hour. If you want her, you’ll need my help getting in.” He paused, letting the silence crawl into my guts “And help costs, Damien.”Skylo’s eyes narrowed. He muttered under his breath, his Italian accent slipping out like a hiss. “Boss, Non fidarti. Don’t trust him.““Name it,” I said. My brain ran a hundred calculations in a second, the risks, variables, exits, but it didn’t matter. All i wanted right now was to get Tracey back.He made a sound like someone enjoying a fine cigar. “You remember the favor I called in last time? The shipment you ‘borrowed’ from my people? I want restitution. I want a seat at your table—consulting rights, access to your intel networks, and one simple thing….when this is over, you call off your little vendetta against my business interests….“ He paused “Permanently.” He fi
DAMIEN’S P.O.VFor a second, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me and maybe I was hearing what I wanted to hear. But then again, her voice sounded into my eardrums and I knew she was the fucking one.“Damien?..."“Tracey,” I breathed out, my throat raw. “Where the hell are you?” I yelled, tightening the grip on the phone so hard against my ears, not to miss the slight sound.There was shuffling on her end, the muffled sound of chains scraping. Then her soft gasp. I couldn't “I… I don’t know. It’s dark. They keep moving me.”Skylo leaned closer, his ear nearly pressed against the phone. His eyes sharpened the instant he heard her words. I could tell he could also hear the terror in her voice too.“Listen to me,” I said, dropping my voice low and serious “Are you hurt?”“Yes.” she whispered, scared.I shut my eyes, forcing myself not to lose it the moment she responded. I couldn’t let her hear the hurt in my chest, not when she needed strength. “How bad?” I raised a brow, grittin
DAMIEN’S P.O.VThe sound of boots was everywhere—closing in from the left, the right, behind. My grip on the gun tightened until my knuckles ached.Skylo muttered under his breath, “Merda… this is bad.” His eyes flicked from one body to another, his whole body coiled and ready to attack.The bastard on the walkway above leaned casually on the railing, smirk carved into his face like he was enjoying every bit of this.“You’re surrounded, Damien,” he called. “And for what? A girl?”Tracey’s torn fabric was still clenched in my fist. I wanted to wrap it around his throat and end his breath.I raised my gun, pointing it straight at his head. “Give her back to me and maybe I’ll let you walk out of here alive.”He laughed out, like I was some sort of joker making a bad joke. “Still the same arrogant bastard, aren't you? Always making promises you can’t keep.”Skylo stepped closer, his voice low enough only for me to hear.“Boss, there’s at least twenty of them present here. Maybe more even
DAMIEN’S P.O.VThe weak signal on Skylo’s laptop blinked faster but weaker as he drove further.“Where’s it leading?” I muttered, my voice rough, as I asked clearly impatient.Skylo leaned closer to the screen, squinting. “Outskirts. Near the docks…warehouse district.” He paused, his tone shifting. “It’s too isolated. I don’t like it.”“Neither do I,” I said flatly, staring straight ahead. “But I don’t have the luxury of liking it.”Skylo shot me a sideways glance, his jaw ticking. “You do realize this could be a setup, right? Whoever grabbed Tracey might be playing us like dogs on a leash. Throwing scraps, watching us chase.”“I don’t care.” My hand tightened around the gun, “If there’s even a one percent chance she’s there, I’ll take it.”He sighed, muttering something under his breath before focusing back on the road.Silence fell again in the car except for the sharp clicks from the laptop as the signal pulsed weaker and weaker, as though it was about to vanish completely.My phon