My Safest Danger

A Weakness I Won't Fix

Damien's Pov

My men had called me about an urgent situation that required my attention. They'd discovered someone else was watching her.

I knew exactly who was behind it. They'd noticed my surveillance too, and they were powerful enough to blind it without leaving a trace.

Luckily, every camera had already been located before they lost access, so I knew where they were planted.

My biggest mistake was leaving her alone.

I was too occupied giving my men orders, making sure they had everything under control. Then, I decided to check on her, slipping my AirPod into my ear and expecting to maybe hear her voice, or even better, silence.

Nothing came through at first. Her signal was jammed, but the device had been recording everything. When the connection returned, those bastards’ voices greeted me. Every f*****g thing they'd said to her reached my ears.

The pain in her voice still echoed in my ears. But seeing her on my screen now, a low chuckle escaped me.

She insisted someone had been watching her and that her life was in danger. 'Damien' had slipped from her lips countless times.

I never knew my name could sound so perfect until she said it. The way it rolled off her tongue made me want to hear it every single day.

"I'm serious. Someone is after me! Do you want to see me dead before you take me serious?" she snapped at the detective.

The detective didn't look convinced. He scribbled something into his notebook, nodding absentmindedly.

Why would they listen to her when most of them worked for the man who ruled this city?

On my laptop screen, the video wobbled as the officer wearing the body camera shifted a bit.

“Hold still," I commanded, my voice low. The officer adjusted it without a word. “Take a few steps closer".

He obeyed, bringing her face into closer view.

She dragged a hand over her face, looking completely drained. My fingers tightened around the edge of the desk. The dark circles beneath her eyes told me she hadn't slept a wink.

The door opened, and a familiar cologne filled the air. The lights flicked on, forcing me to squint against the brightness. I glanced at the clock on the wall, then reached for my phone on the desk. No new notifications.

Placing the phone down on the table, I stared at my reflection in the mirror, noticing the dark circles under my eyes. I rubbed them tiredly before flipping the laptop shut.

“So, Damien...”

I didn't raise my head. The mutt knew the right thing to do. But sometimes, he could just be annoying. With my head still lowered, his footsteps slowly faded away.

Three loud knocks sounded at the door.

“Come in,” I murmured.

“Bastard,” Damon hissed, storming in. “Ignoring me because I forgot to knock?”

I rolled my chair away from the desk and faced him. “You know the rules.” I leaned back, setting my eyes on him. “But you insist on testing my patience. What if I were naked?”

“What an excuse. I should have been born first.” He snorted. “Did you block me? I've been trying your number for hours.”

“I've been busy.”

“So busy you couldn’t spare a minute for me? I swear I hate you, grumpy bear.”

His gaze went to the pile of files on my desk. His brows knitted together. Before he reached for them, I snatched the top file away and rested it on my lap.

Damon stared at me, and I shot him a glare.

“Touch it,” I said, my voice flat. “And I'll break your little fingers.”

“That was fast.” He wiggled his fingers in the air. "Come on, if you knew what these little fingers do to the ladies, you'd respect them.” He dropped into the chair opposite mine. “Can't believe I'll be far from you soon.”

“Aren't you happy?” My gaze shifted to the tie hanging loosely around his neck. This mutt was never serious.

He smirked, flicking his hair over his shoulder. “Very happy. So, a little birdie told me you’ve been trailing behind that pretty vixen.”

If Damon knew, it was only a matter of time before everyone else did. Good. Let them hear every single detail.

“So, the news already got to your ears.” I let out a humorless laugh. “Matheo might be aware, then.”

Damon's gaze dropped to the table. “Probably.” His fingers tapped against the surface before he looked back at me. “What’s the plan? Are you actually going to protect her or what?”

“When have you ever known me to listen to Matheo?” My fingers smoothed over the wrinkled file. “He wants her dead.” My lips curved slowly. “I want her alive.”

He blew out a breath. “I thought we agreed never to get involved with him again. And unless the rumors are wrong, do you know this girl is Jace's fiancèe? I heard they're getting married soon,” he mumbled the last part under his breath, but I caught it anyway.

“Now ex,” I corrected, emphasizing the word

His eyes went wide, and then he burst into laughter, clutching his stomach so hard tears almost fell from his eyes. “Tell me she dumped that b***h, please.”

“The bastard cheated.”

The smile wiped off his face, replaced by a frown. “Jace hasn’t changed a bit. A b***h incapable of loyalty.” He scoffed. “No wonder you didn’t waste your chance to lock lips with her...Bad boy Damien.”

I grabbed a piece of paper from the desk and threw it at him. “Get out, right now!“

He tilted his head, letting it fly past him. “Matheo wouldn't sit still, though. And don't forget about your Fiancèe...”

My hand shot out before I could stop myself. I grabbed his collar and yanked him forward.

“Don't.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Ever finish that sentence.”

He grabbed my wrist, trying to free himself.

My grip on him tightened. “Fiancee? Me? You must have lost a screw. If you want her, I'll kindly sponsor your wedding, give you my f*****g blessings, and pay every bill concerning your kids.” I loosened my hold on him, my chest still heaving.

I straightened his collar, my fingers going down to fasten the buttons that had come undone before adjusting the knot of his tie until it sat perfectly in the center.

“You’re meeting with the board in an hour, and you’re standing here with a crooked tie. Where are your manners, Damon?”

“Damien..."

I patted his shoulder, signaling the conversation was over. He let out a heavy breath and shook his head before heading for the door.

The door closed behind him. I reached for my phone on the table and picked up her file from the floor before moving toward the wall safe.

My gaze lingered on her face for a while. Most women smiled when taking a picture, but not her.

She looked as though she wanted to break the camera. A scowl pulled at her lips, with impatience laced in her eyes, as if she were seconds away from telling the photographer to hurry up before she kicked his ass.

I traced her face with my thumb. My Sky.

This is someone Matheo wants me to get rid of? Very funny, old man. Just as I placed her file inside the safe, my phone vibrated.

A message from Damon flashed across it.

*I pray your day is as bad as your attitude.

I slipped the phone into my pocket. A second buzz followed almost immediately. This time, the notification I had been waiting for, her location.

Studying the blinking dot moving across the map, I bit back a smile. She was out of the station already, off to God knows where.

I snatched my keys from the table and headed straight for the door.

That stubborn scowl of hers. The fire in her eyes. I liked every single bit of it. It was a weakness I had no intention of fixing. But those same eyes still held something like an emptiness, one she masked perfectly well.

I didn't know who had put it there... but they'd regret it soon.