It had been two days since Ryan vanished. And Sienna wasn’t the type to worry. She felt it gave her wrinkles and folded her cheeks.But now, she stared at her phone, scrolling through the unanswered messages and missed calls he had left her.She had ignored them all. At first, it was out of anger—she was still furious about the dinner, about how he let Damien humiliate her.She hadn’t been in the mood to hear his excuses. She thought he’d eventually show up at her place like always, trying to smooth things over, but he didn’t.To ease her mind, she grabbed her coat and drove to his apartment. The key he had given her felt cold in her palm. And she hesitated before pushing it into the lock.The moment she stepped inside, her unease deepened. The place was clean. Not just organized, but unnervingly spotless. Ryan wasn’t a slob, but he wasn’t this meticulous either. The air felt stale as if no one had been here in days.“Ryan?” she called out, even though she knew she wouldn’t get an an
Sienna parked her car on a sidewalk ten minutes away from Chloe’s apartment.She couldn’t wrap her head around how Damien had gotten so close to her sister.Something was going on between them—she was sure of it. And as much as she wanted to dig deeper, there was something else pressing on her mind.Ryan.She turned the broken phone over in her hands, the jagged cracks across the screen mirroring the uneasy feeling settling in her chest. A feeling she rarely allowed herself to acknowledge—regret.Letting out a slow breath, she settled back in her seat, trying to clear her thoughts. That’s when her eyes caught a familiar figure in the dimly lit bar across the street.It was Noah.She hesitated for only a moment before pushing open her car door. If anyone could help her find Ryan, it was him.And she was ready to take that chance.______Noah sat slumped over the counter, a half-empty glass of whiskey in his hand. His mind was a storm—anger, frustration, and something heavier he couldn’
Sienna sat in front of her vanity, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The bedside lamp cast a golden hue over her features, making the shadows under her eyes look darker and sharper. Her white silk robe draped over her shoulders, loosely tied at the waist, revealing a hint of her collarbone as she absentmindedly toyed with the paper in her hand.The note.Watch yourself.The words seemed to hang in the air, heavy with meaning as Sienna ran her fingers over the edge of the paper, pressing it lightly between her fingertips.The message felt more like a warning than a threat. She had no definite proof but deep down, she was certain of one thing. It had to be Damien. It had his name written all over it.She didn’t have proof—just instinct. And instinct, Sienna knew, was something she had honed to perfection over the years. It had never failed her before. She had been challenging Damien, pushing him, she thought. And now he was irritated.This note, this chilling reminder, was his w
The office was silent except for the soft rustling of paper as Chloe moved around, straightening a few things on Damien’s desk. She wasn’t doing it for orderliness— it was just something to keep her hands busy, something to fill the space between them.Damien sat back in his chair, watching her with a lost expression. Then, without warning, he spoke.“You sent the note, didn’t you?”Chloe stilled, her fingers hovering over a stack of documents.A wave of silence passed through them before she turned slowly, her brows furrowing in feigned confusion. “What?”“You sent that note to Sienna.”Chloe let out a soft, disbelieving chuckle. “Why would I do that?”“You tell me.”“You think I threatened my own sister?”“Well it was more of a warning, not a threat, but yes.”“If you already decided I did it, then why are you asking?”“Because I want to hear you admit it.”She stared at him, refusing to waver. “I didn’t send it.”Damien leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. His voice dro
James wasn’t one to make threats lightly, but after his recent discoveries, he knew it was time to have a serious conversation with Damien Cross. That evening after his conversation with Sienna, he dialed a number he hadn’t called in years.The line connected. “Damien,” James said, his voice as cold and controlled as always.There was a pause on the other end, and then Damien’s voice responded“Mr Bennett.”James didn’t waste time with pleasantries.“We have some things that need to be discussed.”“Business?” Damien asked though they both knew that wasn’t what this was about.“Something like that,” James replied.“Kindly be at my office tomorrow morning. Eight sharp.”There was a long silence, Damien could hear the faint tick of a clock in the background and could feel the weight in James' tone - not threatening, but commanding.“I’ll be there.” He said.And then, James ended the call without another word.Damien settled in his bed. He knew why James Bennett had called and he was read
Damien didn’t knock. He shoved the door open like he’d been holding back rage for miles.Because he was. How dare James Bennett tell him to leave Chloe? Who did he think he was?Damien’s anger was interrupted by the sound of whimpers as he walked in.“Chloe,” his voice thundered through the room.She was still on the floor, back against the wall, eyes glassy and distant. Her arm was cradled against her chest.When she saw him, she shuddered.“Damien…” she whispered.He crossed the room in three strides and dropped to his knees beside her. His eyes zeroed in on the red mark on her arm.“What the fuck is this?” he hissed, reaching out but not touching—afraid he might hurt her more.Chloe looked away.He grabbed her gently, but firmly. “Chloe. Who did this to you?”She swallowed hard before answering “My Father.”He stared at her, and then realization crashed down. “He put his hands on you?”She flinched at the venom in his voice but nodded slowly.“Tell me exactly what he did.” He was b
Damien watched Chloe as she picked out her outfit for her meeting with her father.“Are you sure you’re okay going alone?” He asked sitting up in the bed.“Yes, I am.” She said sharply.“And what if he tries to lay his hands on you again.” “He won’t, he’s probably drowning in guilt right now.” She said as she picked out a blue suit. “That’s what he always does.”“So you don’t need some sort of emotional bodyguard,” Damien asked as he chuckled.“I’ll be fine Damien, thank you for the offer, but this is something I need to do on my own.”“Very well then.” He said, buttoning up her jacket. “I’ll let myself out. Call me if there’s anything.”“I will,” Chloe said. Picking up her handbag as she headed toward the door.“And Chloe…” Damien paused. “I’m proud of you.”She smiled and gave a slight nod before heading out.As Damien got himself ready to leave, his phone buzzed in his pants pocket.He picked it up in a swift motion. “Talk to me.” He said.“Damien” Ethan’s voice came in sharp. “We
The night air burned in his lungs.Ryan stumbled forward, one hand pressed against the jagged wall of a crumbling alleyway, the other clutched at his side. Every breath felt like fire, sharp and uneven, tearing at his chest. His vision swam, streets melting into shadows. He hadn’t made it far. He knew that. But it was far enough that he didn’t know where he was anymore.Far enough that Damien’s men hadn’t caught up to him. Yet.His clothes were soaked with sweat and dirt, his shirt torn from catching on a fence during the escape. One of his shoes was missing. He couldn’t even remember where he lost it. Blood trickled from his lip, he must have bitten it when he fell the last time.He kept looking over his shoulder, convinced he’d see someone in a black coat rounding the corner, eyes cold, hand already reaching for him. But the alley stayed empty. Only the echo of his unsteady footsteps filled the silence.A garbage bin rattled somewhere behind him. Ryan jumped, heart nearly bursting o
Nina walked slowly towards the couch, her arms still wrapped around herself. As she sat down, she sunk in, looking up at Damien.“I don’t have control over motel furniture.” He said, hands tucked in his pocket.Nina shook her head. “So…the truth. Why did you hide it all from her?”Damien stepped closer bowing his head.“Things were complicated. I had just been betrayed by my nephew and I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to strike.” He paused for a bit.“It didn’t take long before I found Ryan, he had changed his name and taken on a new life. But he was never smart enough to cover up his tracks. It took three years to put CrossCorp into place. It was well known in New York, so it wasn’t hard to get it up and running when I came to Atlanta.”“Are you saying you started a whole new life in Atlanta for Ryan’s sake?” Nina asked surprised.“Something like that,” Damien said. “When CrossCorp became desolate due to Ryan’s actions, my younger brother Marcel — his father, took the fall fo
The morning air was crisp, and faint with the scent of the ocean and something blooming.Chloe stepped out onto the porch in her slippers, her sun hat covering the brim of her face, one hand cradling a warm mug of coffee, the other holding a small watering can. It was still early enough that the sunlight filtered through the trees in golden stripes, the kind of quiet that made her feel like the rest of the world was still asleep.She took a slow breath and moved toward the potted plants at the edge of the porch. But then she stopped.There, right at the foot of the door, sat a basket.Woven with a soft grey ribbon wrapped neatly around the handle, it brimmed with fresh flowers—roses, lavender, hydrangeas—still dewy as if they had been arranged only minutes ago. Chloe knelt to get a closer look. There was no card and no name.She looked around, eyes scanning the stretch of the empty front lawn and the road beyond. There was no one. Just the sound of birds and waves somewhere in the d
Nina looked up at the figure in front of her. This was the first time she’d seen Damien in real life—outside the curated photos on the internet and the ones Chloe used to flash in her face jokingly.She stared at him for a long second.The man behind the storm which Chloe had fled. The one she’d cried over. The one she still loved, even if she didn’t want to.He was standing right in front of her.“I believe you know someone I’m looking for,” Damien said, his voice stern.“Excuse me?” Nina finally said, her voice cool.“You heard me,” Damien replied, his tone too sharp.Nina’s brows shot up, disbelief flickering in her expression.Damien’s eyes softened as he realized his misstep. “I’m sorry,” he said, voice lowering. “What I meant is….I’m looking for Chloe and I think you may be able to help me.”Nina folded her arms across her chest, her stance steady and guarded.“And why would you think that?” she asked.“Because you’re her friend. And I think you know exactly where she is.” Damie
It had been three days since Chloe Bennett disappeared from the rest of the world.But she was everything but unsafe.If anything, she was calm. And for the first time, she felt protected.In the soft quiet of Nina’s aunt’s coastal condo, Chloe sat curled on a cushioned armchair by the wide living room window.The sea was visible from here, endless and silver-grey, stretching into a sky bruised with morning clouds. A light breeze carried the faint scent of salt and rosemary from the garden below, and for the first time in what felt like weeks—maybe longer—her heartbeat wasn’t in a race against itself.She wasn’t checking her phone.She wasn’t crying.She wasn’t running.The only person she thought of was herself.“Tea?” Nina asked, stepping in from the kitchen, two mugs in her hand.Chloe looked over and offered a grateful smile. “Yes. Please.”Nina passed her the cup and sank into the couch nearby, tucking one leg beneath her.“So,” she said gently. “How are we feeling today? Still w
The rain had just started when Damien stepped out of his car.Chloe’s apartment complex stood quiet, almost too calm, the silence that felt wrong. He pulled his coat tighter, climbed the steps two at a time, and when he got to the door he paused. The last time he was here Chloe had thrown him out and ended what they had.Damien shook his head as if shaking out the memory of that night. He rang the doorbell. Once. Twice. Nothing.He knocked, harder this time.“Chloe,” he called, voice low but urgent. “Open the door.”But there was no response.He pulled out his phone and called her. But it went straight to voicemail. He tried again, thumb trembling slightly, but the result was the same. Each unanswered ring fed something cold in his chest.Then, from across the hall, an older woman cracked open her door. Damien turned, his gaze set on her.“She’s not there,” the woman said chewing something he couldn’t quite see. “Left two days ago. Had a suitcase.”“Did she say where she was going?” h
The phone rang for the third time and went straight to voicemail.Miranda stood outside Chloe’s apartment, her brow furrowed, her thumb hovering uncertainly over the call log. The last time she was here, she had just dropped a bomb on her daughter and now, she couldn’t even get a hold of her. She stared at the door, then knocked. Once. Twice. Nothing.“Chloe,” she called out, knocking again, this time louder. “It’s me. Open the door.”But silence answered her.She hesitated, then reached into her purse for the spare key. Chloe had given it to her months ago, back when things were still… normal. Sliding it into the lock, Miranda pushed the door open — and froze.The air inside was stale, unmoved for days. A coffee mug sat abandoned on the kitchen counter. The hoodie she wore the last time she saw her was draped over the back of the couch. The bed is untouched. No dishes in the sink. It was like walking into a paused life.Her daughter hadn’t been here in a while. It was obvious.Mira
Damien shrugged under the sheets, his body resisting every movement.The sharp glow of the sunlight hit his eyes as soon as the curtains were pulled open.“Get up,” Sebastian’s voice echoed through the room. “No one ever gets anything done by brooding.”“Not in the mood, Seb,” Damien muttered, his voice thick and groggy.“Well, neither am I.” Sebastian set a steaming mug on the table. “I made you coffee. I don’t know how you like it, so pardon whatever it tastes like.”He gave a dry shrug.“This should help you think straight. If I’d known you would empty my whiskey cabinet, I might as well have left you at Chloe’s door.”Damien shot him a hard glare, but Sebastian only smiled thinly and sat down cross-legged in his king-sized chair, stirring a cup of tea with a teaspoon before letting it clink onto the saucer.“She hates me,” Damien said, sipping from the mug.“That is true,” Sebastian said, sipping his tea without missing a beat.Damien leaned back against the headboard, staring bla
Chloe sat there for what felt like hours, her chest heaving, her body numb. She didn’t know how much time had passed - minutes, hours, maybe longer.The apartment was quiet except for the broken sounds of her breathing.He held her hoodie tight like it was a second skin. She smelled like him - sharp cologne, clean soap, the faintest scent of whiskey, but the comfort it used to bring now twisted her stomach into her knots.She pressed the sleeves against her face, trying to breathe through the ache cracking her open from inside out.“It’s not true.” She whispered hoarsely through the fabric. “It’s not true. He wouldn’t. He couldn’t.” She said softly. The words spilled out again and again, frantic little prayers to no one at all.But they didn’t stop the memories from crashing over her - violent and brutal.Damien’s hands framing her face like she was something precious.His voice, was rough and low, just how she liked it, promising he wasn’t going anywhere.But his lies, threading
Sienna and Ryan stiffened at the knock on the door.She held her hands to her lips, indicating that Ryan kept calm and quiet.Sienna took slow steps toward the big oak door. She peered through the tiny round glass, searching for the face behind the door.She let out a sigh as she opened the door.“Took you long enough Mom.” She muttered.“I got here as soon as I could,” Miranda said, walking in uninvited, adjusting her black gloves.Sienna didn’t say a word. She closed the door behind her mother.“I can feel the tension in here.” Miranda snorted. “And the sex too.”Ryan shrugged his shoulders at her words.“Mom, can you not?” Sienna asked rolling her eyes.“As you wish, so what’s the plan?”“Ryan is having Damien tracked. About an hour ago, he left Chloe’s apartment.”“Where he is. We don’t know.” Ryan chipped in. “But what we do know is that Chloe is alone. And we have no idea how long Damien would be gone. So we need to act fast.”“Okay, I understand. But can I talk to you, Sienna?”