Chapter 15: Truths and Deceptions
The elegant atmosphere of Café Verona was a stark contrast to the tension Evelyn and Alexander carried as they waited for Sophia. The quiet hum of conversations and the clinking of silverware barely registered over the storm of possibilities racing through their minds.
Sophia arrived on time, her usual composed demeanor giving way to visible anxiety. She glanced over her shoulder before slipping into the booth opposite Alexander and Evelyn.
"You came," Evelyn said softly, offering a reassuring smile.
"I don't know why I'm doing this," Sophia said, her voice low. "Damian's dangerous, even to me."
"We understand," Alexander replied, his tone steady. "But you're the only one who can help us stop him."
Sophia hesitated, then took a deep breath. "What do you want to know?"
Unraveling Damian's Past
Sophia began to speak, her words hesitant at first but gradually gaining momentum.
"Damian wasn't always like this," she said. "We grew up in a good family, but after our parents died, everything changed. He felt… abandoned, like the world owed him something for what he lost."
She paused, her hands trembling slightly. "He's brilliant, but he uses his intelligence to manipulate and control. For him, power is the only way to feel safe."
Evelyn leaned forward, her voice gentle. "Does he have a weakness? Something we can use to reason with him?"
Sophia hesitated, then nodded. "He's obsessed with control. If you threaten something he can't bear to lose, he'll listen. But it has to be something significant—something personal."
Alexander frowned. "And what would that be?"
Sophia looked away, her voice barely a whisper. "Me."
Damian's Counterstrike
As Sophia spoke, Damian's assistant entered his office, holding a tablet. "They've made contact with Sophia," he said.
Damian's face darkened. "Of course they have."
"They're meeting at Café Verona," the assistant added. "Should I send the team?"
Damian's lips curled into a cruel smile. "No. Let them think they're making progress. But ensure our next move is ready. It's time to remind Alexander that no one takes what's mine."
The assistant nodded and left the room, leaving Damian to brood over his next move.
The Warning
Back at Café Verona, Sophia leaned closer, her voice urgent. "If Damian finds out I'm helping you, he won't hesitate to hurt me. You have to promise you'll protect me."
"You have my word," Alexander said firmly.
Suddenly, Evelyn's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and froze.
"What is it?" Alexander asked, his tone sharp.
Evelyn turned the phone to show him. It was a text message with a photo attached—an image of the mansion's gate, taken from just outside.
Below it was a single message: "You're running out of time."
Sophia's face went pale. "That's his way of saying he knows."
"We need to move," Alexander said, rising from his seat. "Marcus will meet us at a safe house. We can't risk going back to the mansion."
Evelyn nodded, her heart pounding. "Sophia, you're coming with us."
Sophia hesitated, then stood. "Alright. But we need to be careful. Damian won't stop now."
The Cliffhanger
As the trio exited the café, Alexander's phone buzzed. It was Marcus.
"Boss, we've got a problem," Marcus said, his voice grim. "The mansion's been breached. Damian's men are inside."
Alexander's grip tightened on the phone. "Get everyone out. We'll regroup at the safe house."
As they rushed to their car, Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Damian was escalating, and their battle was about to reach a breaking point.