Chapter Eleven
1139 Words
Three Words
"I love you."
The world stopped.
At least, that's what it felt like to Elena.
The rain outside disappeared.
The storm disappeared.
The mansion disappeared.
Everything disappeared except Damien.
And those three words.
Three impossible words.
Three words she never expected to hear from him.
For a moment, she couldn't breathe.
Couldn't think.
Couldn't move.
Damien looked away first.
A rare occurrence.
As if exposing his feelings made him uncomfortable.
As if he'd rather face Victor Kane than the possibility of rejection.
The realization almost made Elena smile through her tears.
The mighty Damien Vale was nervous.
Because of her.
"I know this isn't the right time," he said quietly.
His voice sounded rough.
Uncertain.
A side of him she'd never seen before.
"But I couldn't leave tomorrow without telling you."
The words hit her like a punch.
Leave tomorrow.
The reminder hurt.
Because tomorrow wasn't guaranteed.
Not with Victor waiting.
Not with Daniel in danger.
Not with death hanging over all of them.
Elena stood slowly.
Her heart pounded so hard she could hear it.
Damien watched her carefully.
Waiting.
Bracing himself.
The vulnerability in his eyes nearly shattered her.
This man had faced killers.
Faced loss.
Faced years of pain.
Yet somehow this terrified him.
Her answer terrified him.
And suddenly Elena knew exactly what she wanted to say.
She stepped closer.
One step.
Then another.
Until only inches separated them.
"You're an idiot."
Damien blinked.
"What?"
A laugh escaped her.
Soft.
Emotional.
"You are such an idiot."
Confusion appeared on his face.
And honestly, it was adorable.
Which was dangerous information to discover right now.
"You spent years protecting me."
She took another step.
"You carried guilt that wasn't yours."
Another step.
"You watched over my family."
Damien remained silent.
Listening.
"You loved me."
Her voice softened.
"For years."
A muscle twitched in his jaw.
And that alone was answer enough.
The realization made her chest ache.
Because she'd only known him for weeks.
Yet somehow he'd been carrying this alone for years.
Elena reached up carefully.
Touching his cheek.
Damien froze instantly.
As if nobody had touched him like this in a very long time.
Maybe nobody had.
Her heart hurt at the thought.
"I love you too."
The words slipped out naturally.
Honestly.
Without fear.
Without hesitation.
Silence followed.
Then Damien closed his eyes briefly.
Relief.
Pure relief.
The emotion crossed his face so quickly she almost missed it.
Almost.
When his eyes opened again, they looked brighter.
Softer.
And somehow even more dangerous.
Because now she knew exactly how he felt.
And he knew exactly how she felt.
No more pretending.
No more denying it.
The tension between them had nowhere left to hide.
"Elena."
The way he said her name made her pulse race.
Again.
Always.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"What?"
His gaze dropped briefly to her mouth.
Then returned to her eyes.
The movement lasted less than a second.
But she noticed.
And judging by the look in his eyes—
he knew she noticed.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The air felt warmer.
Heavier.
Charged.
Neither moved.
Neither looked away.
The distance between them suddenly felt too small.
And yet not nearly small enough.
Then—
A loud knock exploded against the library door.
Both jumped apart.
Reality returned immediately.
The storm.
Victor.
Daniel.
The danger.
The door opened.
A guard entered.
His expression was grim.
"Sir."
Damien's entire demeanor changed instantly.
Back to business.
Back to survival.
"What is it?"
"We found the location."
The room fell silent.
Elena's stomach dropped.
The location.
Daniel.
Victor.
Everything was happening.
Now.
Damien stood immediately.
"Where?"
The guard handed him a piece of paper.
Damien read it.
His expression darkened.
"How reliable?"
"Ninety percent."
The guard hesitated.
"Maybe more."
Elena rose from her chair.
"Where is Daniel?"
Nobody answered.
Which terrified her.
Because if nobody wanted to tell her—
it couldn't be good.
Finally Damien spoke.
"An abandoned estate."
She frowned.
"That's it?"
The guard looked uncomfortable.
"It's Victor's old family property."
A chill ran down Elena's spine.
The room suddenly felt colder.
Because she immediately understood.
Victor wasn't choosing that place randomly.
He wanted Damien there.
He wanted memories.
Pain.
History.
He wanted control.
Damien reached for his jacket.
Decision already made.
"I'm leaving at midnight."
"No."
The word escaped Elena instantly.
Everyone looked at her.
She didn't care.
"No."
Damien sighed.
"We've discussed this."
"No, we haven't."
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
She stepped forward.
"I'm coming with you."
The silence that followed was immediate.
And dangerous.
The guard actually took a step backward.
Smart man.
Damien stared at her.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
His jaw tightened.
"Absolutely not."
She folded her arms.
"Try stopping me."
The look Damien gave her would've terrified most people.
Unfortunately—
she wasn't most people.
The guard quietly left the room.
Probably deciding he valued his life.
A wise decision.
Once they were alone, Damien rubbed a hand across his face.
"You are impossible."
"I've heard that before."
"Elena."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
Their eyes locked.
Neither backing down.
Neither willing to surrender.
Finally Damien sighed again.
A defeated sound.
"Why?"
The question surprised her.
She blinked.
"What?"
"Why do you want to come?"
The answer was obvious.
Painfully obvious.
"Because Daniel is my brother."
Damien nodded slowly.
"And?"
She stared at him.
Then realization dawned.
He wasn't asking about Daniel.
He was asking about him.
The answer scared her.
Because it was terrifyingly simple.
She stepped closer.
Then placed a hand over his heart.
The steady beat echoed beneath her palm.
"Because I love you."
Damien went completely still.
The room fell silent.
Even the storm outside seemed quieter.
For a moment neither moved.
Then Damien covered her hand with his.
Holding it there.
Against his heart.
As if he never wanted to let it go.
The emotion in his eyes nearly stole her breath.
Then—
a sudden scream echoed somewhere upstairs.
Both froze.
The scream was familiar.
Too familiar.
Vivian.
Fear slammed into Damien instantly.
Without another word he sprinted toward the door.
Elena followed.
Her heart pounding.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
They raced through the hallways.
Up the staircase.
Toward the third floor.
The closer they got—
the louder the chaos became.
Shouting.
Running.
Crashing.
Then Damien reached Vivian's room.
The door stood open.
The room was destroyed.
Furniture overturned.
Glass shattered.
Curtains torn.
And in the middle of the floor—
lay one of the guards.
Unconscious.
Blood on his forehead.
Elena's blood ran cold.
Damien looked around frantically.
Searching.
Hoping.
Praying.
But deep down—
he already knew.
The room was empty.
Vivian was gone.
On the wall, written in red paint, were five chilling words:
Bring Elena. Come alone.
And beneath the message—
Victor had drawn a smiley face.
- Writer
