Chapter 7 Chapter 7

The air in Damien’s office felt heavier than usual, like it was pressing against my lungs with every breath. The quiet hum of the city outside was muffled, distant, as though we were sealed off from the rest of the world. Damien sat across from me, his piercing gaze fixed on my face, waiting for me to speak.

I hesitated, gripping the edge of my chair to steady my trembling hands. The voicemail from Claudia still echoed in my mind, her voice sharp with anger and betrayal. I had played it again and again, hoping to catch some hidden meaning, but there was none. Her message was clear: she didn’t trust me.

“She thinks I’m working with you,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

Damien leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest, a slow, deliberate rhythm that made my stomach twist.

“And?” he said, his tone calm but laced with something colder.

“And she won’t come to me if she thinks I’m on your side,” I replied, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “She’ll run. She’ll disappear for good.”

Damien tilted his head slightly, studying me like I was a puzzle he was trying to solve. “So convince her otherwise,” he said simply.

I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off with a wave of his hand.

“This isn’t up for discussion, Lisa,” he said, his voice firm. “You’re going to meet her. You’re going to bring her back to me. And if you can’t…”

He let the sentence hang, the unspoken consequences heavy in the air.

I clenched my fists, anger and frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “You don’t understand,” I said, my voice rising despite myself. “She’s scared. She thinks I’ve betrayed her. She won’t trust me.”

Damien stood abruptly, the sudden movement making me flinch. He walked around the desk, stopping just inches away from me. His presence was overwhelming, his eyes dark and unyielding.

“You don’t have a choice,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “You’ll make her trust you. You’ll say whatever you need to say. But you will bring her to me.”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. I wanted to scream, to fight back, but I knew it would be useless. Damien always got what he wanted.

As he stepped back, I noticed something—a flicker of tension in his jaw, a subtle tightness in his shoulders. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but it was there.

And then I saw it again, in the way Marcus shifted his weight near the door, his eyes darting briefly toward Damien before quickly looking away.

There was something brewing beneath the surface, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Damien was in control, as always, but for the first time, I sensed a crack in his armor.

He returned to his desk, his movements precise and deliberate. “I’ll be coming with you,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

My stomach dropped. “What?”

“You heard me,” Damien said, his eyes narrowing. “I’m not leaving this in your hands. If she tries to run, if she so much as breathes wrong, I’ll be there to handle it.”

I stared at him, my mind racing. If Damien came with me, there would be no chance to warn Claudia, no way to protect her. He’d see everything. He’d hear everything.

“You don’t trust me,” I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

Damien’s lips curved into a cold smile. “You’re catching on,” he said.

I looked away, my chest tightening. Every move I made, every word I said, felt like walking a tightrope over an open flame.

“Marcus will prepare the car,” Damien said, dismissing me with a wave of his hand. “We leave in an hour.”

I stood, my legs unsteady beneath me. As I turned to leave, Damien’s voice stopped me.

“Oh, and Lisa,” he said, his tone deceptively casual. “You’ll be the bait.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I spun around, my eyes wide.

“What?”

Damien leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. “She won’t come out for me,” he said. “But for you? She’ll come running.”

I shook my head, panic rising in my chest. “You’re putting her in danger,” I said, my voice trembling.

Damien’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “She made her choices, Lisa. Now it’s time for you to make yours.”

The room spun as his words sank in. He wasn’t just using me to find Claudia—he was using me to lure her into a trap.

I stumbled out of the office, my mind racing. Marcus was waiting for me in the hallway, his expression as stoic as ever.

“Let’s go,” he said, his voice gruff.

I followed him, my thoughts a blur. Damien’s plan was worse than I had imagined. If Claudia came out of hiding, she’d walk straight into his hands. And if she didn’t, he’d come after her anyway.

As we reached the car, I glanced at Marcus, searching for any sign of weakness, any hint that he might be on my side. But his face was a mask, giving nothing away.

The drive was tense, the silence between us thick with unspoken words. I stared out the window, my mind racing through possibilities. I had to find a way to warn Claudia without Damien catching on.

But how?

We arrived at the meeting spot—a quiet park on the outskirts of the city. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the empty benches and winding paths.

Damien stepped out of the car, his movements calm and controlled. He surveyed the area, his eyes sharp and calculating.

“Stay here,” he told Marcus, then turned to me. “You know what to do.”

My hands trembled as I pulled out my phone, dialing Claudia’s number. The line rang once, twice, and then—

“Lisa,” she answered, her voice tense.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to sound calm. “I’m at the park,” I said. “It’s safe. Just come talk to me.”

There was a pause, and for a moment, I thought she might hang up.

“Alone?” she asked.

“Yes,” I lied.

The line went dead. I stared at the phone, my heart pounding.

“She’s coming,” I said, turning to Damien.

He nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips.

As we waited, the shadows grew longer, the air colder. I could feel Damien’s eyes on me, watching, waiting.

And then, in the distance, I saw her. Claudia.

But she wasn’t alone.

She stepped into the clearing, her posture tense, her eyes scanning the area. And behind her, barely visible in the fading light, was a figure I didn’t recognize.

Damien tensed beside me, his hand moving toward his jacket.

“Who the hell is that?” he muttered.