Damian moved through the halls of Blackwood Manor with the precision of a predator. His footsteps were soundless against the marble floors, his mind already working through the possibilities.
Someone had breached his security. Someone who knew the estate well enough to cut power to a specific wing her wing.
This wasn't a random act. It was a message.
And Damian Blackwood didn't take kindly to threats.
Reaching the east wing, he found two of his security guards already stationed near the electrical panel. Their expressions tensed when they saw him approach.
"Sir," one of them—Marshall—started, "we've restored power, but we're still assessing"
"Spare me the excuses," Damian cut in, his voice like ice. "Tell me how someone managed to get past my security unnoticed."
The guards exchanged a glance. Too long. Too hesitant.
Damian's gaze sharpened. "You don't know, do you?"
Marshall's throat bobbed. "We're checking the camera feeds now, but"
Damian reached past him, punching in a code on the security panel himself. The screen flickered to life, displaying multiple feeds from the estate's surveillance system.
Except
His jaw tightened.
Half the feeds were dead.
Someone wiped the footage.
"Sir, we think"
"Stop thinking and start acting," Damian snapped. "Lock down the estate. No one leaves until I say so."
"Yes, sir." Marshall turned to his radio, barking out orders to the rest of the security team.
Damian's grip tightened on the edge of the panel. His instincts were screaming now. This wasn't just a simple breach—whoever had done this was skilled. Calculated. And worse, close.
His phone buzzed.
He pulled it out, seeing a single message flash across the screen.
Unknown Number: You're slipping, Blackwood.
Damian's blood ran cold.
A challenge.
A warning.
His fingers hovered over the keypad, considering a response, but then the phone buzzed again.
This time, an image.
Lena.
Sitting alone in his study.
His breath stilled.
The message beneath it sent a sharp, lethal rage surging through him.
Unknown Number: Can't protect her forever.
Damian's hand clenched around the phone, his pulse pounding in his ears.
Whoever was behind this had just made a grave mistake.
They had threatened the wrong man.
And now, he was going to hunt them down.
One by one.
Until there was no one left.