“You’ll sleep even better tonight,” he continued, taking a casual sip. “I’ve been patient, Aria.” His eyes lifted, slow. “I won’t be anymore.”
My fingers tightened around my glass. My body went still. I tried to keep my heartbeat from showing in my face.
“Tonight,” he said, as if announcing a business meeting. “I want what’s mine.”
The rest of breakfast passed in silence — the kind of silence that was too loud, too sharp.
He left for a meeting afterward. I stayed behind, air frozen around me like I’d stepped into a grave.
I had to get to Damon.
He was already there when I reached our hidden spot — the sliver of open beach beyond the gardener’s quarters where the security cameras didn’t reach. Sitting on a rock by the water, wearing the driver’s uniform like a disguise for his so
