Elena's world tilted as Damien's words sank in. Her mother. Taken. The coffee she'd sipped earlier churned in her stomach, threatening to rise. Her heart raced as fear coursed through her veins like fire.
"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "No, this can't be happening."
Damien's jaw was set, his expression unreadable as he stood and grabbed his phone. His movements were sharp, calculated, as though the weight of the situation hadn't hit him yet—or maybe it had, and this was his way of maintaining control.
"They want me," Elena said, her voice trembling. "What are they going to do to her?"
Damien didn't respond immediately. He was busy typing something on his phone, his brow furrowed. Finally, he looked at her, his grey eyes filled with a mixture of determination and regret.
"They'll use her as leverage," he said bluntly. "They want to force your hand."
Her knees gave out, and she collapsed back onto the couch. "This is my fault. If I hadn't overheard that call, if I hadn't run—"
"This isn't your fault," Damien interrupted, his voice firm. "These people are predators. They would have found an excuse to come after you eventually. This is about them, not you."
"But my mom—" Her voice cracked, and tears blurred her vision.
"We're going to get her back," Damien said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "I swear to you, Elena. I won't let anything happen to her."
She searched his face for any sign of hesitation but found none. He looked unshakable, like he had already mapped out their path to victory. It was a small comfort in the chaos swirling around her.
"What do we do?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"They want to draw us out," Damien said, pacing the room. "We need to make them think we're playing their game."
Her stomach churned at the thought. "You mean... you're going to give me to them?"
"Not a chance," Damien said quickly, his gaze snapping to hers. "But we'll make them believe that's what's happening. We'll set a trap."
"A trap?" she echoed, her fear mixing with disbelief. "What kind of trap?"
Damien's lips curved into a grim smile. "The kind they won't see coming."
The sun was setting by the time they left the cabin. Damien had spent the afternoon preparing—phone calls, encrypted messages, and a flurry of plans that left Elena's head spinning. She followed him into the sleek black car, her pulse pounding as they drove away from the only place that had felt remotely safe.
"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice shaky.
"To meet my team," Damien replied. "If we're going to pull this off, we'll need backup."
"Team?" Elena frowned. "You mean there are more people involved in this?"
"People I trust," Damien said. "And that's a short list."
She nodded, her nerves fraying with every passing mile. The idea of confronting the people who had taken her mother was terrifying, but the thought of not doing so was even worse.
The car pulled into a secluded industrial area, and Damien parked outside an unmarked building. He opened the door for her, his hand brushing hers as he helped her out. The small gesture sent a spark through her, a reminder of their connection amidst the chaos.
Inside, the building was dimly lit, with a single table surrounded by a group of men and women who radiated competence. Their eyes flicked to Elena as Damien led her to the table, and she felt the weight of their scrutiny.
"This is Elena," Damien said, his tone brisk. "She's the one they're after. And they've taken her mother."
One of the men, a rugged-looking guy with a scar running down his cheek, leaned forward. "What's the plan, boss?"
"We're going to make them regret ever touching her family," Damien said, his voice sharp. "Here's how."
As Damien laid out his plan, Elena listened in stunned silence. It was bold, dangerous, and utterly terrifying. He wanted to use her as bait to lure the kidnappers into a trap, relying on his team's expertise to take them down before they could make their move.
"This is insane," she said when he finished. "What if something goes wrong?"
"It won't," Damien said, his tone unwavering. "Not with the team I have."
"And what about my mom?" she pressed. "What if they—"
"They won't," he interrupted. "I won't let them."
The confidence in his voice gave her a sliver of hope, but it didn't erase her fear. She glanced around the room, the faces of Damien's team blending into a blur as her anxiety took over.
"Elena," Damien said, drawing her attention back to him. "I need you to trust me."
Her throat tightened, and she nodded. "I do. I just... I'm scared."
His hand found hers, squeezing gently. "That's normal. But I've got this. I've got you."
For the first time in hours, she felt a flicker of calm. Damien's presence was like an anchor, grounding her in the storm.
"Let's do this," she said, her voice steadier than she felt.
As the team sprang into action, preparing for the dangerous mission ahead, Damien stayed by her side, his hand never leaving hers. Whatever came next, she knew one thing for certain: she wasn't facing it alone.