Amara's POV
Amara lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing. The fight with Damien had left her emotionally drained, but beneath the exhaustion, a storm of frustration swirled. She couldn't live like this. Every time she tried to break free, Damien only tightened his grip, suffocating her with his so-called love.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and she reached for it, grateful for a distraction.
Sophie: "Hey! Wanna meet at the café tomorrow? I miss you :)"
Amara smiled faintly, but then her stomach twisted with unease. She knew Damien would never let her go, especially not without him.
Her thumb hovered over the reply box. Could she sneak out? Just once? What if Damien found out?
A chill ran down her spine at the thought of his reaction. She knew him too well—his anger wasn't loud; it was cold and calculated.
Still, the temptation was too great. Amara quickly typed:
"Yes, let's meet at noon!"
For the first time in days, she felt a flicker of excitement.
---
Damien's POV
Damien leaned against the wall outside Amara's room, listening to the soft hum of her voice. He knew she was talking to Sophie—he had installed monitoring software on her phone weeks ago.
He told himself it was necessary. He wasn't trying to invade her privacy; he was protecting her. The world was full of people who could hurt her, and Sophie... Well, she was too carefree, too unpredictable.
When he heard Amara confirm the meeting at the café, a dark smile tugged at the corner of his lips. She thought she could sneak away from him?
Not a chance.
He would give her this moment of freedom—just enough rope to remind her how much she needed him.
---
Amara's POV
The next morning, Amara woke with a knot of both excitement and dread coiling in her stomach. She dressed quickly, slipping into jeans and a hoodie—something casual, something that wouldn't draw Damien's attention.
When she tiptoed downstairs, the house was oddly quiet. Damien's absence sent a wave of both relief and suspicion through her. Where was he?
Trying not to overthink it, she grabbed her backpack and slipped out the front door. Her heart hammered in her chest as she made her way to the bus stop.
The café wasn't far, just a short ride away. She could do this. She just needed a few hours to breathe, to feel normal again.
---
Damien's POV
Damien's black SUV trailed discreetly behind the bus, his gaze never leaving the small figure huddled by the window—Amara. She was so predictable, so naive.
It infuriated him, how she always tried to run from him, as if the world outside could offer her anything better.
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, already planning his next move. He wouldn't confront her right away. No, he would let her enjoy her little taste of freedom—just enough to remind her how unsafe it was without him.
Then, when the time was right, he would pull her back.
---
Amara's POV
The café smelled of coffee and pastries, and for a moment, Amara allowed herself to relax. Sophie was already seated by the window, waving enthusiastically.
"You made it!" Sophie grinned, pulling her into a quick hug. "I was starting to think your brother wouldn't let you out."
Amara gave a tight smile. "He didn't. I kind of… sneaked out."
Sophie's eyes widened. "Wow, badass move! You need to do this more often."
Amara laughed softly, but the sound felt hollow. She wished it were that simple.
They spent the next hour chatting, but Amara couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She glanced out the window a few times, her heart skipping every time she thought she saw a familiar black SUV parked down the street.
She told herself she was being paranoid. Damien wouldn't follow her. Would he?
---
Damien's POV
From his seat in the corner of the café, Damien watched them like a predator stalking prey. Amara's laugh sent a ripple of satisfaction through him—seeing her happy was almost worth the trouble of letting her go.
But it wouldn't last. She belonged with him, and soon enough, she would understand that.
When she glanced toward the window again, a flicker of fear crossed her face. Damien's smile deepened. She could sense him, even when she didn't know he was there.
Good.
She needed to remember that no matter where she went, she could never truly escape him.
---
Amara's POV
As the time neared noon, Amara's nerves began to fray. "I should probably head back," she told Sophie, trying to mask the unease in her voice.
Sophie frowned. "Already? We just got here!"
"I know, but…" Amara trailed off, biting her lip. "If Damien finds out I left, it won't be good."
Sophie rolled her eyes. "You have to stop letting him control you, Amara. He's your brother, not your warden."
Amara forced a laugh, though her chest tightened. If only Sophie knew the truth.
---
Damien's POV
Damien's patience wore thin as he watched Amara say her goodbyes. It was time to end this little game.
He slipped out of the café before she could spot him, positioning himself near the bus stop she would take back home.
When Amara finally arrived, looking around nervously, Damien stepped out from the shadows.
Her eyes widened in shock. "Damien?"
He gave her a slow, deliberate smile. "Missed the bus?"
---
Amara's POV
Amara's heart stopped as Damien appeared, his smile cold and knowing.
"How… how did you find me?" she whispered.
His smile didn't falter. "I told you, Amara. I'll always know where you are."
Her stomach churned. The brief freedom she had tasted evaporated, replaced by the familiar weight of his presence.
"Let's go," Damien said softly, but the command in his voice was unmistakable.
Amara knew better than to argue. She followed him to the car, her legs heavy with dread.
As they drove home in silence, Amara stared out the window, feeling the walls of her life close in tighter than ever before.
---
Damien's POV
Damien's grip on the steering wheel tightened as he glanced at Amara's pale reflection in the passenger window.
She thought she could outrun him, but she was wrong.
She was his.
And no matter how hard she fought, she would always be his.