THE PHOTOGRAPH
1591 Words
Serena stared at the photograph until the words on the screen blurred.
Her father’s face.
Damian’s face.
Together.
The night before her father died.
Her fingers trembled.
She zoomed in.
There was no mistake.
Her father stood beside Damian outside a dark building. Damian looked younger, but unmistakably himself.
Serena’s breathing became uneven.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
The bedroom door opened.
She quickly locked her phone.
Damian stood there.
“Breakfast.”
Serena looked at him.
He immediately noticed her expression.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
He studied her.
“You’re lying.”
“Maybe I’m tired.”
“Serena.”
She looked away.
“I said I’m fine.”
Damian walked closer.
His eyes narrowed.
“You’re frightened.”
“I have a reason.”
“What happened?”
She finally looked at him.
“Were you with my father the night he died?”
Damian stopped.
Silence.
That was all the answer she needed.
“You were.”
His jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
Serena’s heart sank.
“Why?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Then make it simple.”
Damian looked at her.
“Your father called me.”
“What did he want?”
“To meet.”
“About what?”
“I can’t tell you yet.”
Serena laughed bitterly.
“Of course.”
She grabbed her phone.
“Who sent you the photograph?”
“Someone trying to manipulate you.”
“Maybe they’re telling me the truth.”
Damian’s eyes darkened.
“Don’t trust whoever sent it.”
“Why should I trust you?”
That question changed something in his expression.
Pain.
Just for a second.
Then it disappeared.
“You shouldn’t.”
Serena stared at him.
“What?”
“You shouldn’t trust me blindly.”
He stepped closer.
“But you should know one thing.”
His voice became low.
“I didn’t kill your father.”
THE TRUTH HE COULDN’T TELL
Serena crossed her arms.
“Then what happened that night?”
Damian looked toward the window.
“Your father discovered Victor was planning something.”
“What?”
“A shipment.”
Serena frowned.
“Drugs?”
“No.”
“Weapons?”
Damian nodded.
“He wanted to stop it.”
“And you helped him?”
“Yes.”
“Then why was he killed?”
“Because we were too late.”
Serena’s eyes filled with tears.
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“You watched him die?”
Damian’s expression hardened.
“I tried to save him.”
“Did he say anything?”
Damian looked at her.
“He said your name.”
Serena’s breath caught.
“What?”
“He told me to protect you.”
She shook her head.
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“Because you were safer not knowing.”
“You don’t get to decide that.”
“I know.”
“Then stop treating me like a child.”
Damian stepped closer.
“I’ve spent six years keeping people away from you.”
“Why?”
“Because your father made me promise.”
Serena looked into his eyes.
“And now?”
He hesitated.
“Now I have another reason.”
“What reason?”
His gaze dropped briefly to her lips.
Then returned to her eyes.
“You.”
Her heart raced.
“Damian…”
“I don’t want to lie to you.”
“Then don’t.”
“I don’t know how to do this.”
“Do what?”
“Care about someone.”
The admission was so quiet she almost missed it.
Serena stared at him.
For the first time, she saw beyond the Mafia King.
She saw a man who was tired.
A man carrying years of guilt.
A man who had lost people.
And somehow, she wanted to reach him.
A DANGEROUS ATTRACTION
Damian turned away.
“I’ll have someone take you home.”
Serena frowned.
“I thought you wanted me here.”
“I do.”
“Then why are you sending me away?”
“Because keeping you close is becoming dangerous.”
“For me?”
“For both of us.”
She stepped closer.
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“Because I want you.”
The room went silent.
Serena’s heartbeat thundered.
Damian continued.
“And I don’t mean protecting you.”
She swallowed.
“What do you mean?”
He moved closer.
“I mean I think about you when I shouldn’t.”
His fingers brushed hers.
“I notice when you enter a room.”
His voice lowered.
“I notice when you smile.”
He stepped closer.
“And I notice every time you look at my mouth.”
Serena’s cheeks warmed.
“I don’t.”
“You do.”
She tried to step away.
Damian didn’t stop her.
Instead, he waited.
She looked at him.
“Maybe I do.”
His eyes darkened.
“Serena.”
She whispered his name.
Neither moved.
Then Damian gently touched her cheek.
He gave her enough time to pull away.
She didn’t.
His lips met hers.
The kiss was slow.
Careful.
Nothing like the dangerous man everyone feared.
Serena’s fingers curled into his shirt.
Damian wanting more
His finger move slowly than to her tilt
He wanted to shift the s**t
To have full access
But his heart was screaming something
He deepened the kiss for a moment before Damian pulled away.
Their foreheads rested together.
“You’re making this difficult,” he whispered.
Serena breathed softly.
“Maybe I don’t want easy.”
He closed his eyes.
“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”
THE FAMILY SECRET
Later that afternoon, Serena called her mother.
“Mom, I need the truth.”
Her mother was silent.
“About Dad.”
“What did Damian tell you?”
“That Dad was killed because he discovered Victor’s operation.”
Her mother’s voice trembled.
“There’s more.”
Serena sat up.
“What?”
“Your father wasn’t working alone.”
“Who was helping him?”
Her mother hesitated.
“Someone inside the Romano family.”
Serena froze.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Mom.”
“I never met the person.”
“How do you know?”
“Your father told me.”
Serena’s heart began racing.
“Could it be Damian?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“Because your father trusted him.”
“Then who?”
Her mother whispered:
“Damian’s older brother.”
Serena froze.
“Damian has a brother?”
“He did.”
“What happened to him?”
Silence.
“Mom?”
“He disappeared six years ago.”
The same year Serena’s father died.
Serena slowly lowered the phone.
Someone had been helping her father.
Someone from Damian’s family.
And that person had disappeared.
THE WARNING
That evening, Serena returned to the library.
Damian was standing by the fireplace.
She walked toward him.
“You have a brother.”
He looked at her.
“Who told you?”
“My mother.”
His expression changed.
“What else did she say?”
“That he helped my father.”
Damian said nothing.
“Where is he?”
“Dead.”
Serena’s heart stopped.
“When?”
“The same night your father died.”
She stared at him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it doesn’t change anything.”
“It changes everything!”
Damian stepped closer.
“No. It doesn’t.”
“Your brother was helping my father.”
“Yes.”
“And they both died the same night.”
“Yes.”
“Then someone killed them both.”
Damian’s expression became cold.
“Exactly.”
Serena whispered:
“Victor?”
“Maybe.”
“Then who sent me that photograph?”
Damian’s phone suddenly rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
“What?”
He listened.
Then his eyes moved toward Serena.
“Are you sure?”
A pause.
“Find him.”
He ended the call.
Serena stepped closer.
“What happened?”
Damian looked at her.
“They found the man who sent the photograph.”
“Who is he?”
Damian’s jaw tightened.
“He was one of my father’s men.”
Serena’s eyes widened.
“Your family knew?”
“He disappeared six years ago.”
“Where is he now?”
Damian looked toward the door.
“Dead.”
Serena felt a chill.
“Who killed him?”
Damian’s expression became terrifyingly calm.
“He left one message before he died.”
“What message?”
Damian looked directly into her eyes.
“He said the person who killed your father is still inside my family.”
Serena’s heart dropped.
Then the mansion doors suddenly slammed open.
A guard rushed inside.
“Boss!”
Damian turned.
“What?”
The guard’s face was pale.
“We found something in the east wing.”
“What?”
The guard swallowed.
“Your brother’s belongings.”
Damian went completely still.
Serena looked at him.
“Your brother’s belongings?”
The guard nodded.
“And, sir…”
“What?”
“There was a letter.”
“Whose name is on it?”
The guard looked at Serena.
“Serena Blake.”
Her blood ran cold.
Damian’s eyes met hers.
And suddenly, the past wasn’t buried anymore.
It was coming back for them.
END OF CHAPTER FOUR
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