The air in the safehouse grew colder as Damien's words sank in. Elena sat frozen, her mind spiraling as fear for her family consumed her. Her mother, her little brother—they had nothing to do with any of this. How could they possibly be dragged into this nightmare?
"No," she whispered, her voice shaking. "They can't... They wouldn't—"
"They can," Damien interrupted, his voice cold but steady. "And they will."
Her wide, tear-filled eyes snapped to his. "Then you have to do something! You're the one who brought this chaos into my life!"
Damien's jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought she saw guilt flicker in his stormy eyes. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by his impenetrable mask of control.
"I already am," he said firmly. "Marcus will secure your family. I won't let anything happen to them."
"How can I believe you?" Elena demanded, standing abruptly. "You've done nothing but drag me deeper into this mess! Now my family's in danger because of you."
Damien took a step closer, his towering presence forcing her to look up at him. "Do you think I wanted this, Elena? Do you think I enjoy cleaning up messes other people make? You stumbled into something you shouldn't have, and now I'm the only reason you're still breathing."
Elena's hands clenched into fists at her sides. "You keep saying that, but all I've gotten from you are threats and half-truths. Why should I trust you?"
"Because," he said, his voice dropping to a low growl, "I've lost people before. People who trusted me to protect them. And I won't let it happen again."
His words were like a punch to the gut, leaving her speechless. The vulnerability in his tone, however brief, caught her off guard. She wanted to hate him, to scream at him for upending her life, but the weight in his eyes made her pause.
Before she could respond, the screen on the wall lit up again, and Marcus's voice broke the tense silence.
"Her family's address is compromised," Marcus said urgently. "We've got movement—two cars heading their way."
Elena's blood ran cold. "No..."
Damien's expression darkened, and he turned to Marcus. "Intercept them. Use whatever force is necessary."
"Yes, sir," Marcus replied before the screen went dark.
Damien turned back to Elena, his tone softening just enough to ground her spiraling fear. "They'll be safe. I won't let them touch your family."
Elena wanted to believe him, but the fear clawing at her chest refused to let go. "And what about me?" she asked, her voice trembling. "How do I know I'm not next?"
"You're under my protection now," Damien said, his eyes locking onto hers. "And that makes you untouchable."
"Untouchable?" she repeated bitterly. "You make it sound like I'm a possession."
"You're a responsibility," Damien corrected, his voice hardening again. "One I didn't ask for, but one I'll handle nonetheless."
Elena opened her mouth to argue, but a sudden loud noise—like a distant explosion—echoed through the safehouse, cutting her off. She froze, her heart pounding as Damien's eyes narrowed.
"Marcus," Damien barked into his earpiece. "Report."
Static crackled for a moment before Marcus's voice came through, tense and clipped. "We've got company. They've tracked the safehouse."
Elena's breath hitched. "What? How?"
Damien didn't answer her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward another hidden door at the back of the safehouse. "Move. Now."
"What's happening?" she demanded, panic rising in her chest.
"They're here," Damien said, his tone cold and controlled. "And they won't leave without blood."
The door slid open to reveal a narrow stairwell leading downward. Damien pushed her ahead of him, his hand firm on her back as they descended into the shadows.
"Where are we going?" Elena asked, her voice shaking.
"Somewhere safer," Damien said curtly. "They won't find us there."
"And if they do?" she pressed, unable to stop the tremor in her voice.
Damien's silence was answer enough.
The stairwell opened into another underground passage, dimly lit and eerily quiet. Damien led her through the maze-like corridors with the confidence of someone who had done this before. Elena struggled to keep up, her bare feet aching on the cold concrete floor.
"Wait," she said, breathless. "I can't—"
"You don't have a choice," Damien interrupted, turning to face her. "If you stop now, you'll die. Is that what you want?"
"No," she whispered, tears pricking her eyes. "But I can't keep running like this. I'm not... I'm not built for this."
Damien's expression softened for a moment, and he stepped closer, his hand brushing her arm in a surprisingly gentle gesture. "You're stronger than you think, Elena. You've survived this long, haven't you?"
Before she could respond, the distant sound of footsteps echoed through the passage. Damien's entire demeanor shifted, his body tensing as he pulled a gun from a concealed holster.
"Stay behind me," he ordered, his voice low and deadly. "And don't make a sound."
Elena's heart raced as she pressed herself against the wall, her breath coming in shallow gasps. The footsteps grew louder, closer, until they were just around the corner.
Damien raised his weapon, his finger hovering over the trigger. The air was thick with tension, every second stretching into an eternity.
Then, without warning, the figure stepped into view.
Elena gasped as recognition struck her like a lightning bolt.
"Marcus?" Damien growled, lowering his weapon.
But Marcus wasn't alone. The man standing beside him held a gun to Marcus's head, a twisted smile on his face.
"Well, well," the man said, his voice dripping with malice. "Looks like I found the infamous Damien Blackwell."
Damien's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Let him go."
"Or what?" the man taunted. "You'll shoot me? Go ahead, Blackwell. Let's see if you're willing to kill to protect her."
The man's gaze shifted to Elena, and his smile widened. "So, this is the woman causing all the trouble."
Elena's blood ran cold as his eyes raked over her. "Leave her out of this," Damien said, his voice dangerously low.
"Oh, I don't think so," the man said, his smile turning cruel. "She's the reason we're here, after all."
And then he turned the gun on her.