Damian's fingers tightened around the black envelope, the paper crinkling slightly under his grip. Lena watched the shift in his expression a flicker of something unreadable, something controlled yet laced with tension.
"What does it say?" she asked, her voice steady despite the unease crawling up her spine.
Damian exhaled sharply and handed her the letter.
Lena's gaze skimmed over the neatly typed words:
Blackwood Holdings will fall, just as you thought I had. The past doesn't stay buried forever. You should know that better than anyone.
E.V.
A chill ran through her.
It wasn't a direct threat, not in the legal sense. But it was a warning, a declaration of war.
Lena looked up at Damian. "What does he mean by 'just as you thought I had'?"
Damian leaned back against his desk, crossing his arms. "Vaughn was declared dead years ago. I let that narrative stand because it benefited everyone including him."
Her pulse quickened. "You knew he was alive?"
"No," he admitted, his voice edged with frustration. "I suspected. But there was never any proof."
Lena studied him. "And now?"
"Now, he's making it clear he never truly left." Damian's jaw clenched. "And he's coming for everything."
A tense silence settled between them before Damian pushed off the desk and reached for his phone. "I need to make a call."
Lena watched as he dialed, his voice turning crisp and authoritative. "Get me Monroe. Now."
Within moments, a deep voice answered.
"Blackwood."
"Vaughn resurfaced," Damian said without preamble. "He's already moving against my investors. I need to know where he is, who he's working with, and how deep his reach goes."
A pause. Then Monroe's voice turned grim. "It's worse than that."
Lena saw Damian's fingers tighten around the phone. "Explain."
"Word is, Vaughn's been gathering allies former rivals of yours, people who have been waiting for a chance to strike back."
Damian's gaze darkened. "Names?"
"I'll send what I have, but it's more than just business, Blackwood. Vaughn doesn't just want your company. He wants to tear you down personally, professionally, and financially."
Lena swallowed hard. "How do we stop him?"
Monroe hesitated. "That's the problem. He's already one step ahead."
The call ended, leaving the room heavy with unspoken tension.
Damian turned to Lena, his expression unreadable. "This isn't just a game anymore."
Lena lifted her chin. "It never was."
His gaze held hers for a long moment before he nodded. "Then we fight."