Chapter Fifteen

Aria. 

I couldn't breathe. My chest was tight, my heart rate was high.?... 

Even though Damian was still inside his car, the engine was running... Stone-like face, he was full of frustration and anger. Yet, there was something significantly heavier beneath that surface. Guilt. 

The question about the relationship with "Damian" was so intimidating that I almost had to stop talking before answering it. 

He finally met my gaze. He had sharp eyes and his jaw was tightly clenched, which gave me the impression that it could be broken. 

We're going to save your dad. 

It was proving difficult for me to keep up with my thoughts. I muttered, wondering how to make sense of the situation. He won't be handed over solely by Lucian. Only he cares about himself.'". 

Damian's tone was eerie and melancholic. "But we won't be waiting patiently for him to come back to us next.". 

I was hit like a wave of salt in the pan. I had no idea what Lucian was capable of, but if his ambition was to go this far, he wouldn't stop until a certain outcome was achieved. I was aware of my father's actions, which made it more difficult than I could have imagined. 

I sensed a hand resting on my wrist and looked up to see Damian's fingers wrapping around my arm. "Aria, please listen attentively.". I'm not losing you. Not like this.”. 

Without hesitation, I nodded and didn't feel like speaking out to avoid feeling panicked inside. 

With everything hanging in the balance, I had to rely on my instincts and tell someone to do it. 

The road before dazzled Damian's gaze as he looked back at the time. He wasn't just angry anymore. There was a different reason for my frustration I had sworn off and there was an unyielding determination. 

Lucian is being held in a specific location, which we will uncover. 

I've resources. People. I will provide us with the necessary information. 

I shrugged that I had no idea where he was, but there must be something amiss with the other person. 

Lucian won't ease us in this matter. 

"I promised you that we would resolve this issue, Aria," he said with a more determined expression. "We're going to kill him, and I'm not leaving without your father.". 

I felt a sense of motion in my body. He wasn't going to stop. That was the most frightening thing for me. The level of Damian's determination was so high that I was unsure of his willingness to go the extra mile and achieve what he wanted. 

"Upon discovering him, what are you going to do?" I inquired, my voice barely surviving. 

Steering wheel: Damian gripped the steering wheel tightly. The hardness of his face was still unreadable. 

It was those words that gave me chills. Whether it was due to his assurance or the murky tone of his voice, I was uncertain. 

After that, I stared at him for a few minutes, trying to piece together everything that had occurred in the past few hours. I experienced an assault, discovered that my father was involved with Lucian's business, and realized that I wasn't safe anywhere. What happened? I was hit like a freight train, breathless. 

"I have apprehensions," I stated, with my voice shaking slightly. 

Damian remained silent and closed his eyes before sighing. His hand was squished into his by him, but I know you are still with me," he said in a low voice. "I'm not going to betray you," the speaker continued quietly. You have to trust me.”. 

I gave a nod, but I wasn't entirely sure. 

Our apartment was found by Damian who had driven us through a blurry city. I couldn't help but think about my dad, who had given his life to protect me. Would safety be compromised if we were all trapped in this nightmare? 

When we got to Damian's apartment, the tension was so high that it felt like jumping a rock wall. He wasted no time in going to his office and making phone calls that he couldn't pick up. The thought of my father's death and the possibility of never seeing him again kept recurring in my mind. 

Minutes passed like hours. 

After a while, Damian emerged from his office with firmly planted facial expressions. "I have someone inside me.". They will furnish us with details about Lucian's whereabouts. 

I breathed deeply, trying to keep my balance. "And then?" I inquired. 

Damian sounded determined and stated that they would move forward before the enemy returned to us. 

The uncertainty still gripped my heart as I nodded off. I was aware that Lucian wouldn't be patient. The first step would be taken by him, and we'd be left resolute. It felt like a trap. I was forced to play a dangerous game, and I wasn't prepared for what lay ahead. The situation was dire. 

We need to be prudent with this situation," I said, my voice trembling. 

The absence of a smile from Damian made me feel as though there was still something human inside him. 

“We'll be. 

I promise.”. 

I didn't believe him, but I nodded in agreement. 

It was our turn to face Lucian Cole. The monster we were going to confront was unknown until the pieces were put together. 

I could tell you one thing for sure. 

In any case, it was going to alter everything. 

Aria. 

I couldn't stop pacing. Every thought was intertwined with fear, hope, and doubt, causing me to feel overwhelmed. In the other room, Damian was still in contact and focused on finding my father. Why? Every time I answered the phone, my heart rate was too high. I had no idea how much longer I could be delayed. 

I couldn’t help but hear Damian’s voice: ‘Aria. 

With a grim-faced but determined demeanor, he stood in the doorway. "I have news to share.". 

I sped away from him and asked, "What the heck is that?" with only a slight murmur. "And what's going on?". 

He approached me with a darkened expression, his seriousness unrecognizable. "We've found someone to take the lead.". Keeping a close eye on your father, Lucian has been moving him around in one of his properties near the city. We need to move quickly.”. 

The words didn't make a mark before my stomach began to hurt. My prayers were answered with the belief of a miracle, but it never came to fruition. My father was alive, and Lucian was also. Once Lucian was aware of our arrival, I had no idea what his course of action would be. 

With a lack of expression, I inquired, "What's your next step?". 

The small room was filled with the sound of Damian approaching his father. “We're going to meet him,” he whispered, his voice still high and inviting him. "I just ask you to listen in.". It will become a dangerous situation. It's impossible to predict what he will do if Lucian knows we're on his side. My protection cannot be achieved if you don't listen.’ 

I nodded, despite my desire to protest. I wished that I could endure the situation and fight for my father's well-being with as much determination as Damian did. But I knew the truth. I wasn't ready for this. I lacked the necessary skills and knowledge to confront someone like Lucian. 

I said, “I will do whatever it takes.” To be more honest, I tried. But this time feeling shaky. 

Only for a few moments, Damian's eyes seemed to soften slightly. The tension in his jaw caused him to turn around and grab his coat from the chair beside it. “Leave me alone, then.”. 

It was a blur as we drove towards the city's periphery. We moved away from the city center and found that the streets became quieter, with buildings falling into fewer places. It was a different world altogether, with more isolation and darkness present. We were on the brink of falling into a trap. 

In an attempt to soothe myself, taking brief deep breaths as the world shone through. ". The white knuckles on Damian's hand made the steering wheel stick to him tightly. The car was tense and had a heavy load on it. 

What makes us believe that this lead is trustworthy, "Damian?" I muttered. 

What if it's a setup?”. 

He remained silent and focused on the road ahead. "We don't.". Currently, we have only what we possess. 

My heart dropped. The ambiguity in his voice wasn't soothing. It was a reminder of the magnitude of what was at stake. We sprinted down the road, and as we drove by, I could feel my palms sweating, the trees on both sides becoming thicker and more melancholic. 

Damian said, "Let's take it slowly when we're there," feeling calmer. "No one moves at all.". 

We are uncertain about the destination of our walk.' 

I swallowed hard. The air seemed to become thicker as we neared. The situation in this place was not ideal. Whether it was the stillness or all of the trees that were slowly coming to rest around us, I couldn't help but feel like we were being watched. 

Upon arriving at a gated property, Damian caused the car to slow down slightly. I was aware of the old, rusted gate that seemed to be abandoned. However, it wasn't true. Lucian was a firm believer in giving no one away.