A Dangerous Gamble
1226 Words
Long after the call was over, Celeste was still affected by what Damian had said.
"Savour the moment while it lasts. We have unresolved business.
Like an impending storm, the threat lingered in the atmosphere.
Adrian stood opposite her, his eyes burning with barely controlled rage, his jaw set. She could see it in the way his fists clenched at his sides and the tension in his muscles without him having to say it.
Although Damian had always been a domineering man, something had changed this time.
This went beyond simple possessiveness.
It was war.
With a slow exhale, Celeste clutched her phone as though it were the only thing keeping her grounded. She reiterated, her voice hardly audible above a whisper, "He knows."
Adrian stepped forward. "Then you are unable to return."
There was no humour in her laughter. "Do you truly believe I have an option?"
His eyes grew gloomy. "A choice is always available."
Celeste threw her arms around herself and turned away. "You have no idea what he is capable of."
"I am fully aware of his capabilities."
She looked at him because of the icy certainty in his voice.
Adrian was not merely speaking in an alien voice. He had a deeper understanding of Damian than she did.
That was the world he had lived in.
fought within it.
He was prepared to fight for her now.
She gave a headshake. “You don’t—” Adrian
She turned to face him as he grabbed her wrist before she could finish. In sharp contrast to Damian's bruising hold on her life, his touch was firm but gentle.
"You believe that I will simply watch him ruin you?" Adrian spoke in a low, emotionally charged voice. "I refuse to."
She felt a cold chill.
The words alone were not enough.
He said them in a certain way.
similar to a pledge.
similar to a promise.
She looked up at him and swallowed hard. He will not just harm me if you oppose him. He will also harm you.
Adrian grinned, but his eyes were not amused. "Give him a chance."
The moment was broken by a knock at the door.
Celeste stopped.
Adrian stiffened.
Then—
A voice on the other end called out, "Adrian." "Be open."
The heart stopped in Celeste.
Damian.
A Lethal Altercation
Adrian's jaw tightened and his body went rigid.
With a step back, Celeste felt panic rise in her chest. "He is present."
Adrian's calm yet perceptive eyes met hers and began to analyse. Making plans.
He signalled her to keep quiet by putting a finger to his lips.
One more knock. This time, it is harder.
"I am aware that she is inside." There was something darker underlying the smoothness of Damian's voice. "Adrian, open the door."
After letting out a slow breath, Adrian looked at Celeste. "Enter the bedroom. Secure the door.
She paused. "Adrian—"
"Go."
There was no room for debate in his tone.
With her heart pounding, Celeste crept into the bedroom down the hall. Breathing in short gasps, she pressed her back against the door and locked it.
The front door opened with a creak.
Then—
Adrian said, "Damian," in a neutral tone. "I did not anticipate a visit."
Celeste shut her eyes.
She had a clear mental image of it.
Standing there in his immaculately fitted suit, Damian radiated strength and authority. Adrian turned to face him with the same unwavering assurance that initially drew her to him.
Two males.
Both are harmful.
They are both prepared to destroy one another.
Damian remarked, "I would enquire as to whether I was disturbing anyone, but we both know the answer."
A pause.
Then came Adrian's steely voice. "What are you looking for?"
A gloomy laugh. "My spouse."
Celeste felt a knot in her stomach.
She covered her mouth with a hand and forced herself to remain silent.
Adrian's tone remained steady. "She is not present."
Silence for a beat.
Then—
A gentle clink.
Celeste gasped in surprise.
A firearm.
Anywhere she heard that sound, she recognised it.
As though he were simply bored, Damian let out a sigh. "Now, Adrian, come. I gave you better instruction than this.
Celeste's heart froze.
You learnt better from me than this?
Although she had always been aware of their past, it felt much more sinister to hear it directly from Damian.
Adrian's tone did not waver. "Damian, at least be a man enough to shoot me if you are going to do it."
A gloomy laugh. "Who said I was going to shoot you here?"
One more pause.
Then, with a gentle, almost amused tone, Damian spoke once more.
Then he called, "Celeste." "Now come out."
Her heart ceased beating.
He was aware.
He knew somehow.
A Decision That Revolutionises Everything
Celeste reached for the door handle, her hands shaking.
She could remain unnoticed.
Let Adrian take care of this.
However, if she did Only later would Damian punish him for it.
She could not allow that to occur.
She swallowed, opened the door, and went outside.
Damian was standing with his gun lowered at his side, looking totally relaxed, just as she had imagined.
However, his eyes...
Something dark burned in his eyes.
possessive.
Risky.
As she got closer, Adrian tensed up, but he remained silent.
Celeste compelled herself to look into Damian's eyes. "I intended to return home."
A slow, knowing smile curved his lips. "You were, of course."
Deceptively soft, his fingers brushed her cheek as he reached for her.
Celeste, however, was wiser.
What was behind that mask was visible to her.
For her own ears only, Damian's voice dipped to a whisper.
"My love, you forget... You are mine.
Her stomach churned.
To him, she was not a person.
She was someone is property.
Adrian stepped forward. "Damian, she is not yours."
Before letting go, Damian's fingers moved down Celeste's arm. His eyes flickered with amusement as he turned to face Adrian.
"Oh?" he thought. "And how will you respond to it?"
There was silence between them.
Celeste was aware of Adrian's desire to fight.
knew he wanted to punch Damian, to use his fists to break his arrogant demeanour.
However, this was not a brawl on the street.
It was a game of power.
And Damian had all the cards at the moment.
"Celeste, let us go." His voice was confident and smooth. He was aware of her response already.
Celeste looked at Adrian and hesitated.
His hands were balled into fists at his sides, and his jaw was clenched.
He desired to halt her.
His eyes showed it to her.
However, if he did Damian would destroy him without hesitation.
She nodded slowly as she turned back to Damian.
"I am going."
Adrian took a deep breath. "Celeste—"
She gently squeezed his hand as she reached for it. An unspoken message.
Not right now.
For the smallest instant, his fingers clenched around hers before he released them.
Damian grinned. "Wise girl."
He led her away without any further explanation.
Returning to the world she had battled so hard to leave behind.
back into his hands.
One thought, however, kept coming to Celeste as she slid into the car next to him, her heart racing.
It is not over yet.
By no means.
- Writer
