All Chapters of SEDUCTION AND ASCENSION: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Damian Caldara’s POVWhere the hell did he go? Where’s my baby?My heart pounds rapidly.My sense of reason is about to leave me. For a second, I think I made the worst decision coming here. That everything is one enormous mistake. Then I hear running water. The shower.“Ahh.” I breathe a sigh of relief. What the hell is wrong with me? I rehearse in my head. It feels ridiculous, this much fear over a guy just taking a shower.Then I come to a realization, that self-awareness that comes to one’s consciousness. I am hooked. That is the kind of hold he has on me. One little action from him could break me. His absence could shatter me.The water stops. A few minutes later, he steps out with a towel wrapped around his body, steam rising behind him.“You’re awake,” he says, drying his hair. “I was going to bring you breakfast.”“You disappeared,” I mutter.He laughs softly. “You’re dramatic in the mornings.”No, I wasn’t. Not until I met him. He crosses the room, sits beside me, and kisses

Damian POVMy mind travels up and down the room as an unutterable feeling washes over me.I sit, and an unspeakable sorrow engulfs me, settling deep in my bones, leaving me bewildered. My everlasting love has been taken away from me. We once sat on a mountain on that glorious day and exchanged vows.He promised me he would never leave me. The recent turn of events has been going against my favour.He isn’t faithful and keeps secrets, but he’s still been sweet and loving at times. He knows how to make me feel good, even if it's built on lies. We are still partners, and I don’t want him to leave me like this.“Caleb?” I call again, this time even louder. My stomach tightens. I check the whole apartment, room to room, my heartbeat racing with each empty find. No note. No explanation. No sign of where he went. Just an absence that feels wrong enough to taste like fear.My mind darts backwards, searching for anything, anyone, who might know something. I search outside, but there is nothing

Damian’s POVThe drop-off point is an abandoned half-opened warehouse with a lot of crates and rusted metal containers.“Hurry up,” I speak rudely to the driver, but he wears an unusually happy smile.When we approach a tunnel, the driver begins to whistle as he turns on the radio and loud music roars out of the car’s speakers. He mimics the song and sings aloud, “Country rose, take me home, to a plaaace, I belooong. West Viginiaaaaa.”The lyrics he sings are totally wrong, but it is just the comfort I need as I am about to trade my freedom and liberty for an ungrateful lover.When the vehicle roars towards the middle of the alley, the driver stops the humming, stares at the rear-view mirror, and places his hands into a cabinet of the car.Then the unthinkable happens.He takes out a pistol and points it straight to my head. “Hand over the briefcase now,” he shouts.I hesitate, contemplating my next line of action, but when he cocks the military pistol, it finally dawns on me. This gu

Damian’s POVThe moment I step out of the house, the smell hits me. The smell of rum, thick, raw, and intoxicating. It invades my nose like poison, clinging desperately to the back of my throat. I grimace, dragging in a breath that does nothing to clear it.Then I see him, sitting on top of the car, a pipe in his hand and a half-empty bottle resting on the bonnet.The music crashes into me, loud and violent, ringing all the way down the street. Heavy metal. Just the kind of comfort one would need in trying times. Raw acoustic guitar from the 90s bursts out from the radio speakers, following the rhythm.“It’s a good day, Damian, cheer up!” Mark raises his voice.“You could just turn down the speakers instead of shouting,” I thunder back in frustration.But raising my voice is a mistake. It drains my strength instantly, dragging every bruise from last night back into awareness.I stagger, trying to regain balance, using the door as support. One hand presses against the frame to steady m

Damian POVThe trailer speeds towards us. I see my death welcoming me like a disaster waiting to unfold, my life flashing before my eyes.Then, in a split second, Mark turns the steering wheel and our car is saved. I think it is just an accident until I turn and meet the gaze of the clerk, a blond-haired muscular guy I saw when I signed the loan.“They are here!” I scream in panic.“I know,” Mark replies. “These kinds of accidents don’t occur naturally.” Then he steps on the gas, and the car accelerates, leaving the truck far behind.In two seconds, we see two bikes join the chase.“How do we evade these guys?” I ask in panic.“The mafia underworld works in phases and territories, Damian. In five minutes, we will be off the route and they will definitely give up the chase.”“And if they don’t?” I ask in panic.“Then they are searching for death.”“Do it!!!” Mike shouts, and one of the thugs at the back of our vehicle picks up a large hammer and opens the door.Mark steps on the brakes