LOGINThe tires screamed against the pavement, and for a heartbeat the world slowed. The car door flew open. A tall man stepped out — not Nico, but one of his enforcers. I recognized him instantly. Marco. Cold eyes, slicked-back hair, a scar that split his brow in two. He grinned. “You made this too easy.” Damien shoved Bea into my arms. “Run,” he said, stepping forward. But I couldn’t. My legs wouldn’t move. Fear rooted me in place, and all I could do was watch as Damien faced Marco alone. Marco raised his gun lazily. “You always were the loyal one, Damien. What changed? The girl?” Damien didn’t answer. He lunged, disarming Marco in one brutal motion — the gun clattered away. They grappled, fists and fury echoing through the alley. Bea whimpered against my chest, and I could barely breathe. When Marco’s fist connected with Damien’s jaw, I flinched as though I’d been hit. Damien stumbled but recovered fast, slamming Marco against the wall. “Stay down,” he growled. Marco spat blood.
The car sped off into the night, the city lights blurring past the windows like streaks of cold fire. I pressed my forehead against the glass, trying to steady my breathing, but panic clawed at my throat. Nico sat beside me, his face unreadable in the dim glow of the dashboard. “Why are you doing this?” I whispered, voice trembling. He didn’t answer at first. Then, quietly, “Because you belong to me. You and your sister and everything else.”I swallowed hard, heart pounding. “Bea... what are you going to do to her?”Nico’s eyes darkened. “She’s safe for now. But don’t think I won’t use her to make you comply.”The silence that followed was suffocating. My mind raced—where was he taking me? How could Damien find us before it was too late? Outside, the city slipped away into shadows. The only thing I could hold onto was the memory of Damien’s promise: *You’re not alone.* I clenched my fists, feeling the flicker of defiance stir within me. No matter how far Nico took me, I wouldn’t
As the café filled with the soft murmur of early morning patrons, I let my eyes drift to the worn wooden table in front of me, tracing the faded scratches as if they could map out a way to safety. Bea was dozing against my side, her small breaths steady but shallow from the tension I knew she carried. Damien’s presence beside me was a steady anchor, yet I could feel the storm brewing beneath his calm exterior.“We need a plan,” Damien said quietly, breaking the silence. “Nico’s not just going to let us walk away. He’s smart. Dangerous. And he has resources.”I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of his words settle into my bones. “I’ve been thinking about that. We can’t just go to the police blind. He’s got people everywhere—corrupt cops, lawyers—he’s built a fortress around himself.”Damien’s eyes darkened. “We need evidence. Something solid. Something they can’t ignore.”The thought of gathering proof terrified me. The hidden calls, the threats, the moments of violence—would any of it
For the first time in weeks, a flicker of hope stirred inside me. But I knew this was far from over. Nico had escalated, and we were walking into a storm. “We have to be careful,” I whispered. “If he suspects we’re onto him, Bea could be in even more danger.” Damien nodded, eyes softening as he reached out and squeezed my hand. “We’ll get through this. Together.” I closed my eyes, trying to draw strength from his touch. Whatever came next, I wouldn’t face it alone. Not anymore. --- Damien’s fingers flew over his phone, pulling up security camera footage from around Nico’s usual haunts, scanning through contacts and recent calls. Every minute dragged on like an eternity. I sat by the window, watching the city bustle below, but feeling miles away from the life outside. Suddenly, Damien’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it, then quickly moved to the side so I couldn’t see. “What is it?” I asked, heart pounding. “Got something,” he said, voice tight. “There’s been a recent delivery to
The hours dragged by like a slow, unforgiving tide. I sat on the edge of the bed, the small bag at my feet half-packed, the weight of everything pressing down on me like a physical force. Damien moved quietly around the room, methodically gathering the essentials: clothes, chargers, documents. His calm was a sharp contrast to the storm raging inside me. I envied his strength and clarity. “I never thought it would come to this,” I whispered, voice barely audible, my hands twisting nervously in my lap. Damien looked up, eyes softening. “None of this is your fault, Aisla. You didn’t ask for any of it.” “But I stayed. I let it happen,” I said, shame creeping over my cheeks. “I was scared and weak.” He crossed the room and sat beside me, placing a steady hand over mine. “You’re not weak. You survived. You’re fighting now, and that makes you stronger than anyone I know.” I wanted to believe him, wanted to believe that this nightmare could end. But every time I thought of Nico—his
“I’m all of it,” I whispered. “Scared. Angry. Guilty. Relieved. I’m everything all at once, and it’s tearing me apart.” He kissed the side of my neck gently. “We’ll put you back together. I promise.” I turned in his arms and looked up at him. “Do you really think we’ll be safe?” He didn’t answer right away. “Not forever. But long enough to start fighting back. You don’t have to run anymore. We can build something. We can make it so he doesn’t get to control the narrative.” “But what if he hurts someone else trying to find me?” I asked. “What if he uses my family? Or the media? You know what he’s capable of.” Damien exhaled slowly. “Then we take the power from him. Go public. Tell the truth. Every ugly piece of it. If we expose him, it’s over.” I felt my heart hammer in my chest. “You’d do that? Risk everything to take him down?” “I already have,” he said simply. “And I’d do it again.” I leaned into him, burying my face into his chest. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t need to. I







