Chapter Seven

I should have shut the door in his face.

I should have pushed him away, told him to get away from me, and reminded him I wasn’t in town for this.

But I didn’t.

I felt the world expand into the space between us as Damian inched closer, just enough for me to feel the heat rising off his body as my breath caught in my throat.

"You’re lying," he murmured.

I swallowed hard. "About what?"

His fingers skimmed over my jaw, a whispering caress that had me shivering in response, whether I wanted to or not. "About not wanting me."

The heat curling in my stomach, I willed myself to hold his gaze, to stand against it. “You think you can scare me into admitting to something that’s not true?”

He chuckled, low and amused. “I do not need to terrorize you, Aria. I just need to wait."

"Wait for what?" I snapped.

“For that moment you can no longer lie to yourself.”

I hated how smug he looked. How confident. How he pretended he already knew how this would go.

I breathed slowly and stepped back, clutching the frame of the door. “Go back to whatever game you were playing before I showed up, Damian. Because I’m not interested."

His expression darkened, and amusement gave way to something hotter. He held up his hand, slapping it flat against the door just as I was starting to close it.

“You are pushing me away,” he said gently. “But tell me, Aria — what will you do when I stop allowing you to?”

I felt a cold shiver run down my spine.

“I’m not yours,” I whispered.

His gaze dropped to my lips. "Not yet."

I shut the door in his face.

I locked it, my hands shaking, my heart pounding against my ribs.

Not yet.

His words resounded in my ears long after I had heard his footsteps retreat down the hall.

I should not have let him get under my skin. Like he affected me, and I shouldn’t have let him.

But I still felt his ghost on my skin.

And the worst part?

I wasn’t sure I didn’t want to forget it.

I barely slept that night.

Whenever I closed my eyes, I saw him. The way he looked at me. The way his voice curled around my name like a promise.

The sun was rising by the time I was exhausted yet resolute.

I was not going to let Damian into my head. I was not going to be falling for whatever trap he was setting.

I had one priority—Leo.

I dressed hurriedly, throwing my hair into a scruffy bun and wearing a plain t-shirt and denim. No fancy gowns, no expensive jewels, nothing that suggested I belonged in this house.

Because I didn’t.

As I stepped into the hallway, the house was silent. Too quiet.

As I padded downstairs, my feet felt like feathers hitting the ground.

Perhaps I would be able to spend some time with Leo before Damian decided to play mind games with me again.

I rounded the corner near the dining room. 

And stopped cold.

Damian was already seated at the head of the table, sipping his coffee and pretending he had all the time in the world.

Leo was next to him, crunching on a piece of toast, entirely relaxed.

And across from them

Damian’s mother.

Wearing a nice silk blouse, with her hair pinned back perfectly, she hardly noticed as I came in.

“Good morning,” she said casually, stirring her tea.

I forced a smile. "Morning."

Damian was peering at me over the rim of his coffee mug, and his eyes were inscrutable.

Leo grinned. "Mom! Look, Damian said he’s going to show me how to drive his fancy cars!"

I shot Damian a glare.

He smirked. "The kid has good taste."

"Leo is six," I said flatly.

Leo pouted. "But I want to drive!"

I sighed, ruffling his hair. "Maybe when you're older."

Damian laughed, but his mother didn’t seem amused. She placed her cup down with a gentle clink.

“So, Aria,” she said, her voice deceptively buoyant. “Did you think any more about your… situation?”

I stiffened. "What situation?"

Her lips curled. "Your future. My son’s future. Leo’s future."

I met her gaze evenly. “You're not in charge of Leo's future; I am.”

Her smile didn’t waver. “That’s where you go wrong, honey.

Tension thickened the air.

Damian said nothing, observing the exchange like a bystander at a game of chess.

I folded my arms. “I don’t care how powerful you are or how much money you have. You don’t get to dictate what happens to me or my son.”

Her face was placid, but there was a sharpness in her gaze.

“You’re naive,” she said softly. “You think that love is enough to protect him? So he can have a life without fear?”

My chest tightened.

“I’m not trying to take Leo away from you,” she added. “But make no mistake — this world is merciless. And if you don’t play by its rules, it will devour you.”

I gritted my teeth. "I don’t need your advice."

She smiled. "We’ll see."

Damian finally put his coffee down and sighed. “If you’re done trying to scare her, Mother,” I said, “I would like to enjoy my breakfast.”

She stood up, pulling the wrinkles from her blouse.

“Just think about what I said, Aria,” she said, before leaving.

I let out a slow breath.

Damian smirked. “You’re doing better than I thought you would.”

I shot him a glare. "Don’t talk to me."

He chuckled. “You’re so cute when you’re angry.”

I whirled around and grasped Leo’s hand. "Come on, sweetheart. We’re leaving the table."

“Hey, I wasn’t finished with my toast. 

"Now."

Leo groaned but followed.

I sensed Damian’s gaze was still on me as I walked away.

Like he was waiting.

Like he knew I’d never be able to stay mad at him forever.

I gritted my teeth.

He was wrong.

He had to be.

I led Leo down the hall with a firm but gentle grip. My heart was still racing from that talk with Damian’s mom.

Who did she think she was?

I was already aware of how cruel the world could be. I had lived it. Survived it. Ploughed through it on sheer fucking will.

And now she thought she could terrify me into doing what she wanted?

No.

I wouldn’t have her or Damian dictate my life.

"Mom?" Leo tugged on my hand, his little voice unsure.

Looking to quell the anger as best I could, I breathed out at a slow pace. "Yeah, sweetheart?"

"Are we in trouble?"

I knelt in front of him, holding his tiny face in my hands. "No, baby. We’re not in trouble. No one can hurt us, okay?"

His blue eyes, so much like his father’s, searched mine. "Even the scary lady?"

I forced a smile. "Especially her."

Leo inclined his head, looking comforted. But when I stood up and took his hand again, I couldn’t stop thinking that trouble was coming.

And this time, I wasn’t sure I could outrun it.