Seduced By Villain

The Enemy Within

Chapter 15 — The Enemy Within

(Dual POV — Aria & Damian)

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Aria’s POV

Pain.

That was the first thing I felt when consciousness clawed its way back.

A dull throbbing in my skull, sharp stings along my wrists where the cuffs had dug into my skin. My throat was dry, every breath scraping like broken glass.

I forced my eyes open.

The ceiling above me was unfamiliar — cracked, faded paint, an exposed bulb swaying gently.

I wasn’t in the warehouse anymore.

I pushed myself up slowly, groaning when my vision blurred, and looked around.

A small, dimly lit room.

Concrete walls. No windows. One steel door.

And on the table beside me — a single black phone, its screen glowing faintly.

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Damian’s POV

I should have killed him.

Victor Hale.

The bastard escaped in the chaos, taking Aria with him — again.

The gunfight replayed in my head like a curse, every decision I’d made dissected and hated.

Cole slammed his fist on the hood of the car. “We had him, Damian! We had him!”

I said nothing, just stared at the city skyline in the distance, jaw clenched so tight it hurt.

Sofia’s voice cut through the silence over comms, calm but sharp.

> “I’ve traced a possible signal. Abandoned building, District 12. But… there’s something you need to know.”

“What.”

A pause. Then, softly:

> “Victor didn’t take her alone. Someone from inside helped him.”

I turned, locking eyes with Cole.

“What are you saying?”

Sofia hesitated, then:

> “Damian… it’s Sofia Monroe.”

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Aria’s POV

The phone buzzed suddenly, making me flinch.

I reached for it with trembling hands and tapped the screen.

A video call.

Victor’s face appeared, lit by dim shadows, his smile sharp and cruel.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” he said smoothly. “Sleep well?”

I gritted my teeth. “Where am I?”

“A safe place,” he replied lazily, leaning back in his chair. “Well… safe for me. Less so for you.”

“You’re insane,” I snapped. “Damian will find me.”

Victor chuckled softly, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand.

“Oh, I want him to find you,” he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “That’s the point.”

Before I could respond, a second figure stepped into view on the screen.

My stomach dropped.

“Sofia?” I whispered.

She looked at me — eyes cold, expression unreadable.

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Damian’s POV

I stared at Sofia across the dimly lit control room, my blood boiling, every instinct screaming to put a bullet in her head.

“You helped him,” I said quietly, dangerously calm.

Sofia didn’t flinch. “I had no choice.”

“There’s always a choice,” I growled, stepping closer. “You chose to betray me.”

Her lips trembled, but her gaze stayed steady.

“I didn’t betray you,” she said softly. “I betrayed your empire.”

Cole’s hand went to his gun. “Damian, she’s compromised. Let me handle it.”

“Stand down,” I ordered without looking at him.

I grabbed Sofia by the collar, forcing her to meet my eyes.

“Where is she?”

Sofia hesitated, and for a moment I thought she’d stay silent.

But then she whispered:

> “District 12. Building 47.”

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Aria’s POV

I couldn’t breathe.

Sofia.

My best friend. The one person I trusted completely… standing beside Victor Hale like she belonged there.

“Why?” My voice cracked, raw and broken. “Why would you do this?”

Sofia’s jaw tightened, her eyes darkening.

“Because,” she said softly, “you were never supposed to be part of his world, Aria. And Damian… Damian killed my brother.”

I froze, words dying in my throat.

Victor’s smirk widened, enjoying every second of my confusion.

“Didn’t he tell you?” he said mockingly. “The man you’re so hopelessly falling for has more blood on his hands than you can imagine.”

My chest tightened, panic clawing up my throat.

Damian… killed her brother?

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Damian’s POV

We stormed Building 47.

Cole flanked left, two of my men covering the exits while I moved in, weapon raised, every step silent and calculated.

The moment I kicked the door open, the world slowed.

Aria sat in the middle of the room, hands bound, eyes red and glistening with unshed tears.

Beside her stood Victor, gun pressed to her temple.

And next to him — Sofia.

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Aria’s POV

“Damian,” I breathed, my voice shaking, equal parts relief and terror.

Victor tightened his grip on me, his breath hot against my ear.

“One wrong move, and she dies,” he hissed.

Damian’s icy gaze locked on Victor’s, his expression unreadable, but I saw the storm raging beneath it.

“Let her go,” Damian said softly. Deadly. Final.

Victor chuckled darkly. “Oh, Damian. Always giving orders. Always thinking you’re in control.”

Then he tilted his head, smirking.

“You want her back? Then you’ll have to choose.”

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Cliffhanger Ending

Victor tossed a second gun onto the floor between them.

“Pick it up,” he said coldly. “One bullet. One life.

Me… or Sofia.”