Damien
I already knew I wouldn’t be the one making the visit to our little sugar mama. That was someone else’s job. Someone who had already slithered into her life without her even realizing it. Gerald hesitated on the line. “Want me to send her address to you, or—?” “No,” I smirked. “Send it to Liam.” I ended the call, already feeling the gears of my next move clicking into place. Mrs. Osmond—Carlos’ wife—was his Achilles’ heel. Not because he adored her, but because half of his company was tied to her name. She was a woman who loved the finer things in life—jewels, luxury trips, designer pieces that no one else could afford. But more than that, she craved adventure. Carlos was the laid-back type, more invested in stock reports than spontaneity. Meanwhile, Claire was all about the thrill—fast cars, risky bets, midnight escapades in foreign countries. And when her darling husband couldn’t keep up, she looked elsewhere for that rush. For her, money was never the issue. It was finding someone willing to break the rules, to dive into the deep end with her, to make her forget the man waiting at home. Lucky for her, Liam was more than ready to play the part—especially when it meant Carlos’ empire would crumble from within. Liam was her perfect outlet. He offered her the wild rides, the danger, the spark that her old, predictable husband couldn’t provide. And she was willing to spend lavishly for every ounce of pleasure she got in return. The lifestyle? It came with a price. And lucky for me, she had no problem paying for it. Liam is a man of many talents, but his specialty? Getting close. Sliding into people’s lives, earning their trust, making them believe in him—before yanking the rug from beneath them. It’s what made him dangerous. And right now, Mrs. Osmond had no idea she was playing house with a wolf I trained. If there was anyone who could give us leverage, it was her. All it would take was the right mood, the right words, and a long, long night. Now, time to set my backup plan into motion. —— The moment the address flashed across Liam’s screen, he knew it was showtime. He exhaled, tossing the last of his whiskey back before grabbing his jacket and stepping out of the suite. The night air was crisp, but it didn’t bother him. He had work to do. Mrs. Osmond had been especially needy lately. Always calling, always craving attention. He played his role well—gave her just enough to make her feel special, important. But tonight? Tonight, she was about to give him something in return. The drive to her villa was smooth, the city lights fading behind him as he entered the more private, elite part of town. Her estate was a fortress of wealth—iron gates, manicured hedges, a driveway longer than most runways. When he arrived, the front door was unlocked. As expected. “Claire?” Liam called out, his voice a low, knowing drawl. A pause. Then, the unmistakable click of heels echoed down the grand marble staircase. And there she was. Draped in a silk robe that barely clung to her, her hair tousled in that effortless way that screamed both money and seduction. A slow smile curled on her lips as she locked eyes with him. “You always have perfect timing,” she purred, descending the steps with practiced grace. As she moved, the robe parted just enough to reveal a sliver of smooth thigh. Liam smirked, stepping forward, his movements deliberate. “Or maybe you just think about me too much.” Her laugh was soft, teasing. “Maybe.” Before she could say anything else, he closed the distance, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her against him. Her breath hitched slightly, and for a moment, he could feel the way her pulse quickened beneath his touch. “I missed you,” he murmured, lips ghosting along her jawline. She melted into him, fingers gripping his shirt, pulling him closer. “More than you know.” He knew exactly how to play this. Every move was calculated—every kiss, every touch, every whispered word designed to lower her guard. And just like that, she led him upstairs. --- Silk sheets. Tangled limbs. The scent of her perfume lingering in the air. Liam lay back against the pillows, watching as Claire curled up beside him, her fingers tracing lazy circles on his chest. This was the moment. The sweet spot between euphoria and exhaustion, when words flowed without thought, when secrets slipped free like whispers on the wind. “Claire,” he murmured, fingers threading through her hair. “I heard something today… something about tomorrow’s board meeting. Do you think Carlos is up to something?” Her body stiffened for a fraction of a second. Bingo. She hesitated before exhaling, resting her cheek against his chest. “Why do you ask?” Liam sighed, letting his voice drop into something soft, something believable. “Because I care about you. Unlike your husband, who’s too busy securing his empire to even notice you’re here.” A bitter chuckle left her lips. “You have no idea.” He remained silent, letting the weight of her frustration settle. Then, just as expected, she spilled. “He’s been making moves behind my back,” she admitted. “I overheard him on the phone with his lawyer—something about acquiring a new company. And Damien’s name came up.” Liam’s heart pounded in his chest, but his expression remained calm. “Damien’s company?” he prompted, stroking her back, keeping her grounded in the moment. “What about it?” She sighed. “Carlos has documents ready. He’s planning to present them at tomorrow’s board meeting. If the votes go his way, he’ll take over Damien’s subsidiary.” Liam’s fingers stilled. This was it. This was the information Damien needed. “Are the documents legit?” he asked, already knowing the answer. She scoffed. “Hell no. They’re fake.” Jackpot. Liam pressed a soft kiss to her temple. “Thank you for trusting me, Claire,” he whispered, his tone smooth, comforting. And just like that, she drifted into sleep. But Liam? He had work to do. Silently, he slipped out of bed, reached for his phone, and moved into the hallway. The weight of Mrs. Osmond’s confession was heavy in his mind as he dialed Damien’s number. The line rang once. Twice. Then— “It’s done,” Liam murmured when Damien picked up. “Got what you need.” “Good,” Damien replied, his voice calm but laced with anticipation. “What did she spill?” Liam relayed every detail, every crack in Carlos’ scheme. Just as he was about to end the call— A noise. A faint creak. A breath. Shit. His grip on the phone tightened. Slowly, he turned his head. And there, standing in the dim hallway, wrapped in only that silk robe, was Claire. Her eyes locked on his phone. Her expression unreadable. Her lips parted slightly, as if forming a question she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer to. “Liam?” A single word. Barely a whisper. But Liam knew. Knew that moment was dangerous. Knew she had heard something. And just like that, the game shifted.Isabella’s POV The pounding came first. Not on the door…inside my skull. Heavy, rhythmic, like someone swinging a sledgehammer against the inside of my head. The second thing was the pull. A sharp, metallic tug on my wrist when I tried to move. I froze. Slowly, my eyes adjusted to the dim light. White walls. A king-sized bed with black sheets. No windows. Just a single, heavy door with a bolt that looked like it could keep a prison riot out, and another door at the other end. I tried to sit up, but the tug came again…louder now, with the cold bite of metal digging into my skin. Chains. Thick, silver cuffs around my wrists, connected to a short length of chain bolted into the bedframe. My ankles weren’t spared either…two more cuffs, each linked to opposite corners of the bed. Enough slack to move a little, but not enough to get free. I lay exposed…wrists and ankles bound tight to the bedposts, stretched out like a sacrificial lamb on some ancient altar. The cuffs
Damien’s POV My blood ran cold. My brain scrambled for a name. Ellie’s friend. That’s right. The one I never expected. The one I never wanted anywhere near me…yet here she was, living under my roof, dragging her child along like they both belonged in my world. What the hell was she doing in this part of the villa…naked, uninvited, and breaking the one rule I made crystal clear? I told her the upstairs was off-limits. “Fuck,” I growled under my breath, steadying her trembling body before pushing her away. Just having her bare skin touch my chest sent a shiver through me…but not the kind that felt good. It was the kind that made my skin crawl, like I needed to jump in the shower and scrub every inch clean. I couldn’t believe how much Isabella has messed me up. The same girl I had locked away, tied up in my secret room, had broken me down to this…a raw, confused mess that hated being touched by another female like I’ve been branded. Her wide eyes met mine…wild, panicked,
Damien’s POV When I got that single image file some weeks ago, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. Not for a second. I couldn’t shake the image. That single damned image file. It landed on my phone like a ticking bomb wrapped in silence. It was enough. Enough to know I couldn’t waste anymore time. Couldn’t stand the distance, the waiting game. I had to get her back. To bring her home. Where I could see her. Control her. Punish her. For what she did to me. For what she still makes me feel. She has been out there somewhere, like a wound I couldn’t reach…living her life like I was nothing but a scar fading into the dirt. Surrounded by new faces, new lies, people who made her think she was safe, like she could bury the hell she left behind. I wouldn’t be shocked if she didn’t remember me at all. If my name was just a whisper lost in the cracks of her reckless forgetting. After I discovered where she was hiding, I had someone watch her. Track her every move. Monitor her like a
ISABELLA’S POV Linda had that way of bringing me back down to earth when the ground under me felt like it was tilting. Just like Agnes. After more of her ridiculous tea-bag threats, I’d stopped shaking. My breathing evened out. My face no longer looked like a horror movie extra. I fixed my makeup in the mirror…light foundation, a little mascara, a confident red lip. I brushed my hair until it fell smooth and glossy over my shoulders. My armor was in place. “Let’s go,” I said, grabbing my bag. “We have an exhibition to handle.” Linda raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you can do this?” “Of course! I’m not about to let a creepy freak ruin my career.” She flashed me a wicked grin. “Good. Because if you bail now, all those rich, crusty art snobs will assume you’ve failed and happily sink their teeth into another gallery that hasn't worked as hard as we have. We can’t have that. Besides, headquarters has been watching us like hawks ever since news of your engagement dropped
ISABELLA’S POV Linda blinked. “Uh… No. Why?” “What is it this time? Dead lizards?” I groaned. Linda gave me a weird look. “What?” I exhaled. “Never mind. You’re gonna think I’m insane. But this morning… My ex left a box of dead rats on my doorstep. With a blood-written message.” Linda’s jaw dropped. “WHAT? What the hell…wait…wasn’t that the guy from the engagement party? The one with the sad puppy eyes? Kept begging you to take him back?” “That’s the one.” “Ohhh, I remember his face. If I ever cross paths with that creep again, I swear…I’ll use his balls to make tea bags and serve it to him.” I burst out laughing despite myself. “Linda!” She grinned. “I’m serious. I got long nails and zero patience for psychos.” “God, I needed that. Thank you.” She winked. “Anyway, no dead rats this time. The thing that came is actually cute. It’s in your office.” My stomach turned with sudden unease. “Thanks,” I said quietly. “I’ll be right back. Just going to drop my bag.
ISABELLA’S POV The box was small…too small…its matte black surface swallowing the light. Elegant, yes. Almost… gift-like. My first thought was Jace. He’d been distant lately, buried in work and his mother’s recovery. Maybe this was his way of saying I miss you without actually saying it. A peace offering in silk and ribbon. But my gut tightened, a cold coil twisting low. Jace wasn’t subtle. If he wanted to be here, he’d be here…filling the doorway, not hiding behind it. He wouldn’t send a stranger to ring the bell and disappear. Unless it wasn’t him. Maybe a prank? Maybe Agnes, crouched behind a bush somewhere, grinning and ready to leap out with a scream. Except… no. Agnes was miles away, out of the city. The thought left me standing alone in the hallway, staring at the box as if it might breathe. I crouched, hesitant, heart thudding harder the closer I got. And then I opened it. A loud scream tore from my throat. The box tumbled from my hands and hit the floor