Damon Black’s Secret Bride: The Vegas Vow

Chapter 4

AURA’S POV.

“Damon Black.” He replied coldly, catching the tear with his thumb. “Do well to remember it, babydoll.”

Damon Black? Why does that name sound familiar?

Damon walked around the car and slid into the seat beside me. He slackened his tie with a harsh tug, unfastened the buttons on his sleeves, and rolled them up to his elbows, exposing his sleeve tattoos running along both arms.

“Why are you doing this?” I sobbed, scooting away from him until my body was pressed against the car door, desperate to put as much distance as possible between us.

His eyes narrowed slightly at my movements, but he said nothing. Instead, he pulled a cigarette pack from his pocket and slid one between his lips.

I darted my gaze from him and looked out the window just in time to see Jet rushing out of the chapel, followed by his family and a handful of guests.

My heart twisted painfully as the car began to pull away. Jet was chasing after us, his disheveled figure growing smaller in the distance.

“Let me out!” I screamed, hopelessly tugging at the door handle. But it wouldn’t budge because the child lock was on. “Please, let me out!” I turned to him, in shameless desperation.

Damon halted, his lighter halfway to the cigarette in his mouth. He clicked it shut and removed the cigarette, staring at me with an unreadable expression.

“If what you’re asking is for me to stop this car and let my wife run into the arms of another man,” He started, his tone calm but edged with steel, “then you clearly have no idea what kind of man I am.” He placed the cigarette back between his lips.

“Let me go!” I shouted as my voice shook. “Why won’t you let me go? I’m not your wife! I don’t know you! Why the hell are you doing this?”

His jaw tightened, and his eyes flashed dangerously. In a swift motion, he yanked his tie completely off and straddled me, pinning me with his weight. Before I could react, he grabbed my hands and deftly tied them together.

“What are you doing? Let go of me!” I thrashed against him, but his grip was unrelenting.

Grasping my chin, with an unexpected gentleness I didn't think he could ever possess, he tilted my face up to look at him, making me freeze.

For a fleeting second…. just a split second I almost made myself believe he wasn't as bad as he seemed but that illusion shattered when he stuffed a napkin into my mouth, silencing me.

“Mhmm!” I mumbled, glaring at him with all the defiance I could muster.

“Finally, some peace.” He muttered as he settled back into his seat with an air of satisfaction that only pissed me off more.

The rest of the ride passed by with me struggling relentlessly, my bound hands aching, but exhaustion eventually overtook me. I slumped against the seat, staring blankly out the window as the blur of trees zipped past.

Before long, the car slowed, pulling up to a massive black gate that stretched high into the sky. It was looking more and more like the gate of hell, not that I know what that looked like but I am sure it would look like this.

As it creaked open, it revealed a stunning mansion up the hill in the distance, surrounded by meticulously groomed hedges and vibrant flowers, the estate was so big it seemed to stretch on for miles.

With Damon’s personality, I would expect everything about this place to be dark and gloomy but I was wrong.

My breath hitched as my eyes caught sight of a waterfall shimmering in the sunlight, its cascading waters lending the scene an almost magical quality. Despite the beauty of this place, I was already planning my escape

“Welcome home.” Damon said, a smile tugging at his lips.

My eyes widened slightly at the rare sight. Since meeting him, It was the first time I’d seen anything but cold detachment or irritation on his face.

Home? My stomach twisted at his words. This isn’t my home. My home is with Jet.

As the car came to a stop, the driver stepped out and opened the door for me. The moment my feet hit the gravel, I bolted toward the gate, my wedding dress tugging heavily behind me.

“Do not touch her.” Damon’s voice rang out sharply, I didn't know who he was talking to and I didn't care, I just needed to get out of there. His words were followed by the sound of hurried heavy footsteps that were closing in fast.

I had no plan and the estate was vast, but one thing I knew was that I had to get to the gate and out of it.

I was running as fast as my wedding dress and bound hand would let me and I do not know how those runaway brides in romantic movies and books make it look so easy running in a wedding dress but it wasn't at all.

The dress was so heavy and it was weighing me down. I silently cursed Evelyne for choosing it. It was the only dress she had declared fit for the Winslows, disregarding my own preference entirely.

I wasn't even halfway to the gate when strong arms wrapped around my waist, and I was lifted off the ground and hoisted over a shoulder.

“Mmhmm!” I screamed for him to put me down but the sound was muffled by the napkin still in my mouth.

“You’re being a very naughty girl, babydoll.” Damon said, his voice laced with displeasure as he began to walk towards the mansion, ignoring my struggles.

His strides were steady and determined as he got to the enormous doors, it swung open, and the sound of synchronized voices startled me.

“Welcome back, Master Black.” A chorus of servants greeted him.

Damon didn’t acknowledge them. Instead, he turned so I could see them. “They’ll serve you with whatever you need.” He told me simply before heading toward the grand spiral staircase.

If I wasn't so angry and scared, I would be embarrassed that his servants were watching me being carried like a sack of potatoes.

Although I was hanging upside down over his shoulder, I could still see glimpses of how grand and majestic the mansion was. Its intricate designs and opulence left me momentarily speechless.

“Boss.” Someone called urgently, approaching Damon.

“What?” Damon snapped, irritation evident.

“There’s a problem.” The man said, shifting nervously.

“And you can’t fix it?” Damon replied flatly.

“It’s about the Lucius deal, boss.” The man explained.

Damon’s shoulder became tense and he let out a heavy sigh of annoyance. Setting me down, he beckoned to one of the servants. She was a young, beautiful woman, likely in her mid-twenties, with a calm but suspicious demeanor.

“Take her to a room.” He ordered. Then, fixing his gaze on me, he added darkly, “Stay put. If you try another stunt like the one outside, you won’t like what I’ll do to you.” His eyes bore into mine, the hazel pool turning dark, sending a chill down my spine and reminding me just how dangerous this man was.

I nodded, in response. Not like I could speak due to the napkin still stuffed in my mouth. He pulled the gag from my mouth and walked away without another word.

The woman led me upstairs silently, steering me through a maze of hallways before we finally reached a door at the end of the hallway.

“It’s only a matter of time before he gets rid of you.”She muttered under her breath.

“What?” I asked, startled. I had heard her clearly.

“Master Black is the devil himself.” She said, her voice filled with malice. “Shouting won’t help you.”

Before I could react, she shoved me into a small, closet-like room and quickly locked the door behind me.

The click of the lock sent panic surging through me as my heart began to race.

“No, no, no.” I muttered in fear, my breathing speeding up as I looked around the confined space. It seemed to be closing in on me.

I tried to practice the breathing technique Oliver would use but it wasn't working. How did he make it look so easy?

“Let me out!” I screamed in fear, banging at the heavy door with all my strength but it was of no use.

I don't know how long I was in there because without a window in the room, time seemed to blur just as my fear grew, consuming me.

My breaths came in short, desperate gasps, and my vision dimmed at the edges. Just before I succumbed to the darkness, the door burst open, and Damon’s furious voice echoed in the room as he picked me up.

“Why?” I whispered in pain, tears streaking down my face, before the darkness finally pulled me under.