velvet and vegance

Chapter 6:the breaking point

Days passed in uneasy silence, sienna kept her distance , though her thought betrayed her every night .She could still feel Damien touch _the ghost of his fingers against her skin ,the heat of his gaze before he pushed away.

But something in him had changed since that night,he was colder, quieter,is phone calls grew longer,his temper shorter, every time she asked what was wrong,he bruised it off with that same careful calm that made her want to scream . Then ,one afternoon, she found him in his study , pacing .His tie loosened,his sleeves rolled up ,his jaw was tight .

"You're hiding something",she said softly from the door way.

"He froze, you shouldn't be here ".

"I live here now, remember? part of the performance".

"Performance,he echoed out with a bitter laugh ,"that all this has ever been for you , hasn't it ?."

Her heart thudded ."Don't twist this on me , Damien ". you're the one who dragged me into your chaos ".

His eyes snapped to her ,Strom gray and full of fires ," you think this is about me?" that attack at the gala ,it was random- sienna,"someone wanted you silenced". She blinked "Me".

He nodded,jaw clenched."You've been digging into powerful people for years ". Some one must have decided there had enough."

Her stomach dropped"why didn't you tell me before "?

"Because if you knew how dangerous this was, you will run ".

"Maybe I should ".

He stepped closer his voice breaking just slightly"Don't .I can't protect you if you leave.

The words hung between them, heavy and raw.For the first time, sienna saw the truth in is eyes.not arrogance,not anger but fear .

She whispered "you actually care ,"Don't you "'.

He didn't answer.He didn't have to.The look he gave her said everything worlds couldn't .

Before either could speak,his phone rang . He glanced at the screen and all the color drained from his face.

"What is it?',she asked ".

His voice was low , urgent ."Some one broke into your apartment ".

Her breath cut.The past,the danger, the lies,_thet were all catching up .

And this time ,she wasn't sure either of them would survive what came next .