THE ONE HE TOOK...
3422 Words
For several seconds, Amara could not move.
The apartment was silent.
Too silent.
Noah's phone remained in her hands.
The note lay on the kitchen table.
NOW YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS.
The words seemed to grow larger every time she looked at them.
Her breathing became uneven.
Damian stood beside her.
He looked furious.
But beneath the anger, there was something else.
Fear.
“Amara.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
His voice softened.
“Look at me.”
“No.”
“Amara.”
Her eyes finally lifted.
“My brother is gone.”
Damian swallowed.
“I know.”
“He doesn't know anyone who would do this.”
“We don't know that yet.”
“He wouldn't just leave his phone.”
“I know.”
“Then where is he?”
Her voice rose.
The question echoed through the small apartment.
Damian had no answer.
And Amara knew it.
That was the worst part.
Damian Blackwood always had an answer.
He always knew what to do.
He always had a plan.
But now—
His silence frightened her.
She turned away from him.
“I need to call the police.”
“I already did.”
Amara froze.
She looked back.
“You did?”
Damian nodded.
“They're on their way.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
She hated that.
She hated feeling helpless.
Damian stepped toward her.
Amara immediately took a step back.
His face changed.
She wasn't rejecting him.
She just needed space.
But Damian still noticed.
“I'm sorry.”
Her eyebrows drew together.
“For what?”
“This is because of me.”
Amara stared at him.
“No.”
“Amara—”
“No.”
Her voice became firmer.
“Do not start blaming yourself.”
He looked at her.
“You were just doing that.”
“I can do it.”
His mouth almost moved.
Amara pointed at him.
“But you cannot.”
Despite everything, the smallest sound escaped him.
Almost a laugh.
Amara looked at him.
Then her expression broke.
Damian immediately stepped forward.
This time, she didn't move away.
She grabbed the front of his shirt.
“He has to be okay.”
Damian's hands came to her arms.
“He will be.”
“You don't know that.”
“No.”
His voice became low.
“But I know we're going to find him.”
Amara looked into his eyes.
“Promise me.”
Damian became still.
He knew better than to make promises he couldn't control.
But Amara was looking at him as though the world had just fallen apart.
So he answered.
“I promise I'll do everything I can.”
Her fingers tightened.
“Everything?”
“Yes.”
The apartment door opened.
Security officers entered first.
Then police officers.
Damian immediately stepped back.
His expression returned to the cold, controlled mask Amara had grown used to.
But she knew him now.
She could see the tension in his shoulders.
The anger in his hands.
The fear he was hiding.
The officers began asking questions.
When was Noah last seen?
Who had spoken to him?
Did he have enemies?
Did Amara know Adrian Mercer?
She answered what she could.
“No.”
“No.”
“I don't know.”
Every answer felt useless.
Damian spoke less.
But when he did, everyone listened.
Mr. Harris arrived twenty minutes later.
He walked directly toward Damian.
“Sir.”
“Anything?”
“We're tracing Noah's phone.”
“Good.”
“The last signal was from this area.”
Amara turned.
“What does that mean?”
Harris hesitated.
Damian answered.
“It means his phone was here when it stopped.”
Amara looked down.
That changed nothing.
Someone could have left it behind intentionally.
Adrian wanted them to know Noah had not simply gone out.
He wanted fear.
He wanted panic.
And he had succeeded.
Amara suddenly remembered something.
“Wait.”
Everyone turned toward her.
“I spoke to him yesterday.”
Damian looked at her.
“What did he say?”
“Nothing unusual.”
She closed her eyes.
“Actually…”
Her heart tightened.
“He mentioned someone.”
Damian stepped closer.
“Who?”
“I don't know his name.”
“Think.”
Amara squeezed her eyes shut.
Noah's voice returned to her memory.
A casual conversation.
A name.
Something about the neighborhood.
Then—
“He said someone had been asking questions.”
Damian's face hardened.
“What kind of questions?”
“About me.”
The room went silent.
Amara opened her eyes.
“He said it was probably nothing.”
Damian's jaw tightened.
“What exactly did the person ask?”
“I don't know.”
She looked toward Noah's room.
“Maybe he wrote it down.”
Damian immediately turned toward Mr. Harris.
“Search his room.”
Amara frowned.
“Wait.”
Everyone stopped.
She walked toward the bedroom herself.
“Noah deserves privacy.”
Damian looked at her.
“Amara—”
“I'll look.”
He nodded.
Together, they entered Noah's room.
It looked normal.
A messy bed.
Books.
Headphones.
Clothes on a chair.
A life interrupted.
Amara's chest tightened.
She began searching his desk.
Damian remained nearby.
“Don't touch anything.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“In case there are fingerprints.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You're becoming very sensible.”
“Don't get used to it.”
She almost smiled.
Almost.
Then she found a notebook.
“Damian.”
He walked over.
She opened it.
Most of the pages contained random notes.
Schoolwork.
Numbers.
Ideas.
Then one page caught her attention.
Written in Noah's handwriting was a name.
J. MERCER
Amara froze.
Damian looked over her shoulder.
His face darkened.
“Mercer.”
Her fingers tightened around the notebook.
“What does the J stand for?”
Damian's eyes narrowed.
“Adrian's father's name was Jonathan.”
Amara looked at him.
“But you said Adrian's name was Adrian Mercer.”
“I know.”
“So why would Noah write J. Mercer?”
Damian took the notebook.
He stared at the page.
There was something else beneath the name.
An address.
Partially crossed out.
Amara's heart began racing.
“Can we go there?”
Damian looked at her.
“No.”
She stared.
“What?”
“You're not coming.”
“Damian.”
“No.”
“Together.”
His eyes closed briefly.
Amara folded her arms.
“You cannot start this again.”
“This is different.”
“Why?”
“Because whoever took Noah may be there.”
“Exactly.”
His jaw tightened.
“Amara.”
“I am not sitting here while you search for my brother.”
The anger in her voice surprised everyone.
Damian stared at her.
Amara stepped closer.
“You promised.”
His eyes remained fixed on hers.
“We make decisions together.”
He said nothing.
Her voice softened.
“You promised me.”
Damian looked away.
Then back.
“Stay behind me.”
Amara blinked.
“What?”
“If anything happens, you stay behind me.”
She nodded quickly.
“Fine.”
“And you do exactly what I say.”
She smiled faintly.
“No.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Amara.”
“Compromise.”
He sighed.
“Unbelievable.”
But she saw the relief in his face.
He knew he couldn't leave her behind.
Not now.
---
The address was on the edge of the city.
An old industrial area.
Most of the factories had closed years ago.
Amara sat beside Damian in the back of his security vehicle.
Two cars followed behind them.
She stared out the window.
Her hands were shaking.
Damian noticed.
Without saying anything, he placed his hand beside hers.
Not forcing.
Not grabbing.
Just waiting.
Amara looked down.
Then slipped her fingers into his.
Damian's hand immediately closed around hers.
“You don't have to be brave every second,” he said.
She looked at him.
“I know.”
“Then stop pretending.”
Her eyes filled.
“I don't know what else to do.”
Damian's expression softened.
“You don't have to do anything.”
Amara gave a weak laugh.
“That is terrible advice.”
“I know.”
“I need to find Noah.”
“We will.”
“What if he's scared?”
Damian looked toward the window.
His voice became quiet.
“Then we make sure he's not alone for long.”
Amara leaned her head back.
She wanted to believe him.
She needed to.
Then Damian's phone rang.
Mr. Harris.
“Blackwood.”
Amara listened to his side of the conversation.
“What?”
His hand tightened around hers.
“Send it to me.”
He ended the call.
Amara looked at him.
“What happened?”
Damian's expression had changed.
“Security found something.”
“What?”
“A camera.”
Her stomach dropped.
“At the apartment?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Across the street.”
Amara's fingers became cold.
“Someone was watching us.”
Damian nodded.
“For how long?”
“We don't know.”
Her breathing became shallow.
Damian turned toward her.
“Amara.”
She shook her head.
“This is insane.”
“I know.”
“My brother…”
“We're finding him.”
“But what if this isn't even about you anymore?”
Damian's expression darkened.
“What do you mean?”
Amara looked at him.
“What if Adrian wants to hurt me because I stayed with you?”
Damian became completely still.
Her words hit him.
Amara saw it.
He had thought the same thing.
He looked away.
“This ends now.”
His voice was quiet.
Cold.
Amara frowned.
“What are you going to do?”
Damian looked at the road ahead.
“Find him.”
---
They arrived at the industrial area shortly after midnight.
The address led to an abandoned office building.
Amara stared at it.
“Noah wouldn't come here.”
Damian stepped out.
Security moved around them.
“Stay close.”
She followed.
The front door was unlocked.
Damian stopped.
His entire body became tense.
“What?”
He lifted one hand.
Silence.
Amara listened.
Nothing.
The building was dark.
Empty.
Too empty.
They walked inside.
Amara's heart pounded.
Every sound felt louder.
Her footsteps.
Damian's breathing.
The distant hum of electricity somewhere in the building.
A security officer moved ahead.
“Clear.”
Another room.
“Clear.”
Amara followed Damian upstairs.
The second floor was darker.
Then—
A sound.
Amara froze.
“Did you hear that?”
Damian immediately placed himself in front of her.
“Yes.”
Another sound came.
A chair scraping against the floor.
Amara's heart stopped.
“Noah?”
She tried to move forward.
Damian grabbed her hand.
“Wait.”
“That's him.”
“Amara.”
“NOAH!”
Her voice echoed through the building.
A voice answered.
“Amara?”
She gasped.
“Noah!”
Damian and the security officers rushed toward the sound.
Amara followed.
They reached a locked door.
Damian immediately stepped forward.
“Move.”
One of the officers forced the door open.
Amara rushed inside.
“Noah!”
Her brother was sitting in the room.
He looked frightened.
Tired.
But unharmed.
“Noah!”
Amara ran to him.
He stood quickly.
She wrapped her arms around him.
“Noah held onto her tightly.
“I knew you'd come.”
Amara closed her eyes.
“You scared me.”
“I didn't know what was happening.”
She pulled back.
“Did he hurt you?”
“No.”
“Who?”
Noah looked around.
“Where is he?”
Damian's face changed.
“Who?”
Noah looked at him.
“The man.”
Everyone became still.
“What man?”
“He said his name was Mercer.”
Damian stepped forward.
“What did he look like?”
Noah frowned.
“I don't know.”
“What do you mean?”
“He wore a mask.”
Amara held Noah's hand.
“What did he want?”
Noah looked at Damian.
“He wanted me to give you a message.”
Damian's expression hardened.
“What message?”
Noah swallowed.
Then looked at Amara.
“I'm sorry.”
Her eyes widened.
“For what?”
Noah pointed toward the wall.
A television screen suddenly turned on.
Everyone turned.
Static appeared.
Then—
Adrian Mercer.
His face filled the screen.
Amara became still.
He looked younger than she expected.
Calm.
Well-dressed.
Almost ordinary.
That made him more frightening.
Damian stepped forward.
“Where are you?”
Adrian smiled.
“You found him.”
Amara held Noah closer.
“Why did you take him?”
Adrian looked at her.
“You should ask Damian.”
Damian's face went cold.
“Leave her out of this.”
Adrian laughed.
“That's the problem, Damian. You never learned how.”
Amara looked between them.
Damian clenched his jaw.
Adrian leaned closer to the camera.
“Three years ago, you watched my family lose everything.”
Damian's expression changed.
“I tried to fix it.”
“After.”
Adrian's smile disappeared.
“Always after.”
Silence filled the room.
Adrian continued.
“My father lost his company.”
Damian stared at him.
“I know.”
“He lost his home.”
“I know.”
“He lost his health.”
Damian's eyes hardened.
“I know.”
“And what did you lose?”
The question landed heavily.
Damian didn't answer.
Adrian smiled.
“Nothing.”
Amara looked at Damian.
For the first time, she saw guilt in his eyes.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Guilt.
Adrian continued.
“You paid money.”
Damian's voice was low.
“It wasn't enough.”
“No.”
“I know.”
Adrian's expression changed.
He had expected Damian to argue.
To deny.
But Damian didn't.
Amara looked at him.
Adrian leaned closer.
“Then say it.”
Damian stared at the screen.
“Say what?”
“Say you destroyed us.”
The room became silent.
Amara's fingers tightened around Noah's hand.
Damian's jaw clenched.
For years, he had hidden behind lawyers.
Settlements.
Executives.
Contracts.
But now there was nowhere to hide.
“I was responsible.”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
Damian continued.
“I didn't create the plan.”
“But you benefited.”
“Yes.”
“You knew something was wrong.”
“Yes.”
“And you did nothing.”
Damian's voice became quieter.
“Yes.”
Amara looked at him.
The honesty hurt.
But he didn't stop.
“My name gave the deal power.”
Adrian's expression changed.
Damian stared directly into the camera.
“And I let my fear of losing my company become more important than what happened to your family.”
Silence.
Even Adrian looked surprised.
Then his face hardened.
“Too late.”
Damian nodded once.
“I know.”
The screen went black.
Amara stared.
“Is that it?”
Damian stepped toward the television.
A new message appeared.
NO.
Then another.
THE GALA TOMORROW.
Amara's heart dropped.
The screen displayed one final message.
BRING THE TRUTH WITH YOU.
Then it went dark.
---
They left the building with Noah.
The police continued searching the area.
Noah sat between Amara and Damian in the back of the car.
Amara refused to let go of his hand.
“You're sure you're okay?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Are you—”
“Amara.”
She stopped.
Noah smiled faintly.
“I said I'm okay.”
Her eyes filled.
She pulled him into another hug.
“Okay.”
Damian watched them silently.
Noah looked at him.
“Thanks.”
Damian met his eyes.
“You don't have to thank me.”
“I know.”
Noah leaned back.
Then looked between them.
“So…”
Amara immediately frowned.
“No.”
Noah smiled.
“I didn't even ask anything.”
“You were about to.”
Damian looked out the window.
Noah grinned.
“Are you two dating?”
Amara covered her face.
“Noah!”
Damian looked at her.
Then at Noah.
“We're working on it.”
Amara's head snapped up.
“What?”
Noah burst out laughing.
Damian looked almost pleased with himself.
Amara stared at him.
“You said that on purpose.”
“Yes.”
“You are horrible.”
Damian almost smiled.
Noah leaned toward Amara.
“I like him.”
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
---
But the relief did not last.
When they arrived back at Amara's apartment, Mr. Harris was waiting.
Damian immediately knew something was wrong.
“What?”
Harris looked toward Amara.
Then Noah.
“Sir…”
Damian's voice became sharp.
“What happened?”
“The gala.”
“What about it?”
Harris took a breath.
“The board refused to cancel.”
Damian's expression became cold.
“Then I'll fire them.”
Amara stared.
“Damian.”
“No.”
He turned toward Harris.
“Cancel the event.”
Harris hesitated.
“Sir, the merger announcement—”
“I don't care.”
“But the press has already been informed.”
Damian's jaw tightened.
“Then let them come.”
Amara stepped closer.
“Damian.”
He turned.
She looked into his eyes.
“You heard Adrian.”
His expression hardened.
“No.”
“Damian.”
“He wants me there.”
“Yes.”
“Which means we don't go.”
Amara folded her arms.
“Or it means we go prepared.”
His eyes narrowed.
“I am not using you as bait.”
“Who said anything about bait?”
“You're not going.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“There we go again.”
“Amara.”
“No.”
Noah looked between them.
“Should I leave?”
Both of them turned.
“No.”
Noah immediately sat back.
“Interesting.”
Amara pointed at him.
“Go to your room.”
“No.”
Damian looked at him.
Noah stood.
“Fine.”
He disappeared.
Amara returned her attention to Damian.
“You promised.”
His jaw tightened.
“Do not use my own words against me.”
“I will continue to.”
“This is dangerous.”
“So was going to find Noah.”
“You had no choice.”
“I always have a choice.”
Damian stared at her.
Amara stepped closer.
“Adrian wants the truth.”
“He wants revenge.”
“Maybe both.”
His eyes became darker.
“You don't understand what could happen.”
“Then explain it to me.”
Silence.
Amara's voice softened.
“Don't shut me out because you're afraid.”
Damian looked at her.
The anger slowly disappeared.
Only exhaustion remained.
“I can't lose you.”
The words made her stop.
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“I couldn't…”
He looked away.
Amara stepped closer.
“Damian.”
He shook his head.
She placed her hand against his face.
Damian became still.
“Look at me.”
He did.
“We are not doing this alone.”
His eyes searched hers.
“We?”
“Yes.”
His hand covered hers.
The room became quiet.
Then Amara smiled faintly.
“And you're still taking me to the gala.”
Damian stared.
“You're impossible.”
“I know.”
He exhaled.
A tired smile almost appeared.
Almost.
Then—
“Fine.”
Amara blinked.
“Fine?”
“We go.”
Her eyes widened.
“Really?”
“We go.”
She smiled.
“But you stay beside me.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“That's negotiable.”
“Amara.”
She laughed.
Damian shook his head.
And for one brief moment, the fear around them disappeared.
But only briefly.
Because the gala was now less than twenty-four hours away.
Celeste was still watching.
Adrian Mercer was still free.
Damian's past was about to become public.
And somewhere inside Blackwood Holdings—
Someone was helping Adrian.
Someone close enough to know every security plan.
Every schedule.
Every weakness.
As Amara looked toward Damian, one question remained.
If Adrian Mercer was outside the walls, then who was opening the doors from within?
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