Aria’s POV
The door banged hard and I jumped up because I knew right away it was him. Damien never came back quiet, but tonight it was worse, the sound heavy like something had broken with him. I turned and saw him standing there, his shirt dark, his hand pressed tight against his arm, and I froze because at first I thought it was dirt on him, until I smelled it.
It was blood. Sharp and strong in the air, and the sight of it made my stomach twist.
He walked inside without a word, his steps heavy, his shoulders bent, and he went straight for the table where he dropped his gun. The sound was loud and sharp, and I flinched because it felt like the sound of an ending.
“Damien…” my voice came out small, like it wasn’t mine.
He lifted his hand as if to tell me to shut up, his jaw set hard,
