Amara's POV
The ride home felt like drowning in silence. Damien's presence loomed large, but his lips remained pressed into a firm line, eyes locked on the road. Every now and then, Amara stole glances at him, hoping for some sign of softness—but there was none.
The café incident had been a mistake. She knew that now. Damien wasn't just angry—he was calculating, simmering beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to punish her.
She clutched her backpack tightly, willing herself to stay calm. It was just one day. One slip-up. Maybe, if she behaved, things would go back to normal.
But deep down, she knew better. Damien didn't forgive easily.
When they reached the house, he killed the engine, but neither of them moved.
"You shouldn't have gone," Damien said quietly, breaking the silence.
Amara swallowed hard. "I just wanted—"
"Wanted what?" His voice sharpened, cutting her off. "Freedom? Space? You think the world is safe for you?"
Her heart raced as she opened her mouth, but no words came.
Damien leaned closer, his gaze cold and unrelenting. "You belong with me, Amara. You know that, don't you?"
---
Damien's POV
The fear in Amara's eyes both satisfied and infuriated Damien. He hated scaring her, but how else would she learn? She was reckless—naive. And the world outside was too dangerous for someone like her.
She didn't understand it yet, but she would. One day, she would realize that everything he did was for her.
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I only want to protect you."
Amara flinched at the touch, and something inside Damien twisted painfully.
"Why do you keep running from me?" he whispered, his voice laced with quiet desperation. "You know I'd never hurt you."
Her lips pressed into a thin line, but the doubt in her eyes cut him deeper than any words ever could.
---
Amara's POV
Amara felt trapped beneath Damien's gaze. His words sounded tender, but the weight of his obsession was suffocating.
"You say you're protecting me," she murmured, gathering what little courage she had left. "But it doesn't feel like protection. It feels like a prison."
Damien's expression darkened, and for a moment, she thought she had crossed a line she couldn't come back from.
"You think I'm the bad guy?" His voice was low, dangerous. "You think this is a prison? Fine. Let me show you what the real world is like."
Before she could process his words, Damien grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the door.
---
Damien's POV
Damien dragged Amara out of the car, ignoring her protests. She needed to understand—really understand—how dangerous life could be without him. He wasn't trying to scare her. He was trying to save her.
"We're going for a drive," he said, his grip on her wrist firm but not painful. "You want to see the world so badly? Fine. I'll show you."
Amara struggled against him, panic flickering in her wide eyes. "Damien, stop—"
He didn't let go. He couldn't.
Because if he let go now, he might lose her forever.
---
Amara's POV
Panic clawed at Amara's chest as Damien forced her back into the car. The lock clicked, trapping her inside.
"Damien, you're scaring me," she whispered, her voice shaky.
His hands stilled on the steering wheel, and for a fleeting moment, regret flickered across his face. But it vanished just as quickly, replaced by that cold, obsessive determination.
"You need to see why you can't leave me," he said softly, starting the engine. "I'll show you, Amara. And then you'll understand."
The car roared to life, and Amara's heart pounded wildly as they sped down the dark streets.
---
Damien's POV
The city blurred past them as Damien drove through streets soaked in shadow. He wasn't taking her anywhere dangerous—not really. Just somewhere that would scare her enough to make her realize how much she needed him.
She didn't know the kinds of men who lurked in the dark—criminals, predators, monsters. But Damien knew. He knew because he was one of them.
And he wouldn't let any of those monsters get close to her. Ever.
He glanced at Amara, who sat rigid in her seat, her breath coming fast and shallow. The sight made something sharp twist in his chest, but he shoved the feeling down.
This was for her own good.
---
Amara's POV
Amara's hands clenched the seatbelt as the car sped through unfamiliar streets. She didn't recognize the part of town Damien was driving through—it was dark, deserted, the streetlights flickering overhead.
Her pulse raced with fear, and she struggled to keep her voice steady. "Where are we going?"
Damien's gaze stayed fixed on the road. "Someplace that'll show you why you can't leave me."
Tears stung her eyes, but she blinked them away. She couldn't let him see her cry.
"Damien, please. Let's just go home."
For a moment, he hesitated. But then his hands tightened on the wheel, and she knew he wasn't going to stop.
---
Damien's POV
Damien pulled the car into a dark alleyway, the engine humming softly in the tense silence.
He turned to Amara, his expression unreadable. "See this?" he whispered. "This is the world you think you want to be part of."
Amara's breath hitched, her eyes darting around the shadowy street.
"There are people out here," Damien continued, his voice low and steady, "who would hurt you without a second thought. And you'd never even see them coming."
He leaned closer, his gaze burning into hers. "But I won't let that happen. Do you understand now, Amara? You belong with me. I'm the only one who can keep you safe."
---
Amara's POV
Amara's heart thundered in her chest as Damien's words sank in, each one tightening the chains around her.
This wasn't love. This was possession. And no matter what she said or did, Damien would never let her go.
Tears welled in her eyes, and this time, she couldn't hold them back.
"Please," she whispered. "Take me home."
For a long moment, Damien said nothing. Then, slowly, he reached over and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"Okay," he murmured. "I'll take you home."
But as the car rolled out of the alley, Amara knew—deep in her bones—that home was just another prison.