Sienna had always believed that lines—once crossed—could never be uncrossed.
And yet, here she was, pressed against Damian Blackwood, his lips still lingering on hers, the taste of him still on her tongue.
A mistake.
It had to be.
But as she pulled back, breathless, she saw something in Damian's eyes—something dark and possessive.
Something that told her this wasn't just a moment.
It was a shift.
A dangerous one.
Damian exhaled sharply, his fingers still gripping her waist. "You're shaking."
Sienna swallowed hard. "That… that shouldn't have happened."
His jaw tightened. "But it did."
She stepped back, creating space. "This isn't real, Damian. We're in the middle of a war with Nathaniel Voss, and I am not going to be some distraction for you."
His eyes flashed. "You think that's what this is?"
Sienna folded her arms. "Isn't it?"
A muscle ticked in Damian's jaw. "If I wanted a distraction, Sienna, I wouldn't have chosen the one woman who drives me insane."
Silence stretched between them, charged with too many unsaid things.
Sienna wanted to argue. She wanted to tell him that this was just the pressure, the danger, the adrenaline.
But deep down, she knew it was more.
And that was what scared her the most.
Voss Strikes Again
Sienna didn't sleep that night.
Not because of the kiss. Not because of the way her body still burned from Damian's touch.
But because she knew Nathaniel Voss wasn't done.
And she was right.
By morning, the first headline hit the news.
MYSTERIOUS CONNECTION: JOURNALIST SIENNA CLARKE SPOTTED WITH DAMIAN BLACKWOOD—WHAT IS SHE HIDING?
Her stomach dropped as she scrolled through the article. Photos of them together. Leaked messages. Questions about her integrity.
Voss was coming for her career. For her credibility.
Damian's voice was sharp behind her. "He's making you a target."
She turned to find him staring at the screen, his expression unreadable.
"I can handle it," she said.
Damian's gaze darkened. "That's not the point. He's trying to control you. He wants to make sure you're too busy protecting yourself to come after him."
Sienna clenched her fists. "Then he's going to be disappointed."
A ghost of a smirk touched Damian's lips. "That's what I like about you."
Her pulse skipped. Too dangerous. Too close.
She turned back to the screen. "So what's our next move?"
Damian hesitated. Then—"I have something to show you."
Something about his tone sent a shiver down her spine.
"Show me what?"
He held out his hand.
Sienna hesitated only a second before taking it.
And just like that, she stepped deeper into Damian's world.
A Secret Unveiled
Damian took her to a hidden part of the city—a warehouse on the outskirts, heavily secured.
Sienna's heart pounded as they stepped inside.
The walls were lined with files. Documents. Old newspaper clippings.
And in the center of it all—a single framed photograph.
A man. Almost identical to Damian.
Sienna's breath caught. "Who is that?"
Damian exhaled. "Elias Carter."
She turned to him sharply. "That's you."
A long silence.
Then—
"That was me," Damian said. "Before I faked my death."
Sienna's mind spun. She had suspected something. But to hear it—to have him admit it—was something else entirely.
Her throat was dry. "Why?"
Damian's expression darkened. "Because Elias Carter had enemies. And I needed to become someone they couldn't touch."
Sienna swallowed hard. "Nathaniel Voss was one of those enemies, wasn't he?"
A muscle in Damian's jaw flexed. "Yes."
Everything clicked into place.
Voss wasn't just after Damian Blackwood.
He was hunting Elias Carter.
And if Voss uncovered the truth… Damian's entire empire could collapse.
Sienna exhaled, her chest tight. This wasn't just a story anymore.
It was a secret worth killing for.