The Way He Said My Name

Chapter 6: Somewhere Safe

Ariana stared at Damien's hand around hers.

For a moment, she forgot everything else.

The warning.

The photograph.

Her father's death.

The person who had broken into her apartment.

All she could feel was the warmth of Damien's fingers.

Then she pulled her hand away.

"I can go home."

Damien's expression hardened.

"No."

Ariana frowned.

"You don't get to decide that."

"Someone broke into your apartment."

"They didn't hurt me."

"Because you weren't there."

His voice was sharper than usual.

Ariana crossed her arms.

"So what do you suggest?"

"You're staying somewhere I can protect you."

She almost laughed.

"Of course."

"What?"

"You always have to be in control."

"This isn't about control."

"It feels like it."

Damien stepped closer.

"If this were about control, I'd order you to stay."

"Then what is it?"

His eyes held hers.

"Fear."

The single word silenced her.

Ariana had never heard Damien admit to being afraid.

He looked away.

"I'm afraid something will happen to you."

Her heart softened despite herself.

But she forced herself to look away.

"Where would I stay?"

"My house."

Her head snapped toward him.

"Absolutely not."

"You need somewhere secure."

"There are hotels."

"I have security."

"So do hotels."

"Not enough."

Ariana sighed.

"You really are impossible."

"I've been told."

Despite everything, she almost smiled.

Almost.

Then she remembered the photograph.

Her smile disappeared.

"Who would do this?"

Damien's expression became serious again.

"I don't know."

"Do you have enemies?"

"Yes."

"How many?"

"Enough."

"That's comforting."

He ignored the sarcasm.

"But this isn't random."

"Why?"

"Because they knew where you lived."

Ariana's stomach tightened.

"Maybe they were looking for something."

"They left a message."

"Exactly."

Damien's gaze darkened.

"They wanted us to know they're watching."

Ariana swallowed.

"And what do they want?"

"I don't know."

"Then how are we supposed to stop them?"

"We found out."

---

Twenty minutes later, Ariana was sitting in Damien's car.

She still wasn't convinced that going with him was the right decision.

But she knew one thing.

She didn't want to return to her apartment alone.

The city passed outside the window.

Neither spoke.

Ariana finally broke the silence.

"How long have you known?"

Damien glanced at her.

"Know what?"

"About my father."

He looked back at the road.

"Years."

"How many?"

"Almost twelve."

Ariana's heart sank.

"Twelve years?"

"Yes."

"And you've known who I was all this time?"

"Yes."

She stared at him.

"Why didn't you ever find me?"

Damien was silent.

"Damien."

"I tried."

"What does that mean?"

"After your father died, your mother moved away."

"We moved three times."

"I know."

Ariana turned toward him.

"You know where we lived?"

"I knew where you lived."

She studied his face.

"Why?"

Damien's hands tightened around the steering wheel.

"Because your father asked me to."

Ariana's breath caught.

"My father?"

"Before he died."

She stared at him.

"What did he ask you?"

Damien didn't answer immediately.

"He asked me to protect you."

Ariana's chest tightened.

"Why would he ask you?"

"Because he trusted my family."

She looked away.

"Apparently, he shouldn't have."

Damien flinched.

She immediately regretted the words.

"I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize."

"You looked hurt."

"I was."

Ariana turned toward him.

"Why?"

Damien's eyes remained on the road.

"Because I failed him."

Silence.

Ariana didn't know what to say.

---

The gates opened as Damien's car approached.

Ariana stared.

The property was enormous.

Tall iron gates surrounded the estate. Security cameras were positioned around the entrance, and two guards stood near the main building.

"This is your house?"

"Yes."

"It's more like a palace."

Damien glanced at her.

"Do you want to leave?"

"No."

She looked at the enormous building.

"Actually, I'm curious."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"That's dangerous."

"Why?"

"Curiosity gets people into trouble."

"So does keeping secrets."

His smile disappeared.

"Fair point."

They entered the house.

A woman in her late fifties appeared from the hallway.

"Mr. Laurent."

Damien nodded.

"Mrs. Collins."

Her eyes moved to Ariana.

For a second, she froze.

Ariana noticed.

"Hello."

The woman's face softened.

"Hello, dear."

Damien looked at her.

"Prepare the guest room."

"Of course."

Mrs. Collins walked away.

Ariana watched her.

"She recognized me."

Damien said nothing.

"Didn't she?"

"She knew your father."

Ariana looked at him.

"Everyone seems to know something about my family except me."

Damien's expression tightened.

"I know how that feels."

She stared at him.

"What does that mean?"

He didn't answer.

Again.

Ariana sighed.

"One day, you're going to have to stop doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Leaving half a sentence hanging in the air."

He looked at her.

"Maybe."

---

The guest room was beautiful.

Ariana stood near the window, looking at the garden below.

Her phone buzzed.

Her mother.

Where are you?

Ariana quickly replied.

I'm safe. I'll explain later.

Her mother responded immediately.

Are you with him?

Ariana stared at the message.

She didn't have to ask who he was.

Damien.

She typed:

Yes.

Three dots appeared.

Then it disappeared.

Then it appeared again.

Finally, the message arrived.

Ariana, leave that house immediately.

Her heart raced.

She turned toward the door.

Damien was standing there.

"What's wrong?"

She held out her phone.

"My mother says I should leave."

He read the message.

His expression became unreadable.

"Why?"

"I don't know."

He handed the phone back.

"You're staying."

Ariana frowned.

"You're not even going to ask her why?"

"I already know."

"What?"

Damien looked at her.

"She knows what happened."

"To my father?"

"Yes."

Ariana stared at him.

"Then I need to speak to her."

"Not tonight."

"Why?"

"Because she's afraid."

"Of what?"

Damien's eyes darkened.

"Of the same person who killed your father."

Ariana's blood ran cold.

---

Later that night, Ariana couldn't sleep.

She walked downstairs for water.

The house was silent.

As she passed the study, she noticed the door was slightly open.

Light spilled into the hallway.

She heard voices.

Damien.

And another man.

Ariana stopped.

"I told you to stay away from her," the stranger said.

Damien's voice was cold.

"You don't give me orders."

"You have no idea what you're doing."

"I know exactly what I'm doing."

"Then you're going to get her killed."

Ariana's heart pounded.

She moved closer.

The other man spoke again.

"The girl has no idea what her father left behind."

Ariana froze.

Damien answered quietly.

"She doesn't need to know yet."

"Then why bring her here?"

"Because someone already found her."

Silence.

The man sighed.

"You were warned."

Damien's voice became dangerous.

"And now I'm warning you."

"About what?"

"If anyone touches her, I will destroy everything they have."

Ariana stepped backward.

The floor creaked.

Both men went silent.

The study door opened.

Damien appeared.

His eyes immediately found her.

"Ariana."

She stared at him.

The other man stood behind him.

He looked familiar.

Too familiar.

Ariana's eyes widened.

She had seen him before.

Not recently.

Years ago.

In one of her mother's old photographs.

She whispered,

"Who is he?"

Damien looked at the man.

Then back at Ariana.

For the first time, he seemed completely caught off guard.

The stranger smiled.

"She remembers me."

Ariana's heart pounded.

"How do I know you?"

The man's smile disappeared.

"You don't."

Damien stepped between them.

"Go upstairs."

Ariana shook her head.

"No."

"Ariana."

"No."

She looked at Damien.

"I'm done being kept in the dark."

He stared at her.

She took a shaky breath.

"You said you wanted to protect me."

Her voice broke.

"Then start by telling me the truth."

Damien said nothing.

And somewhere outside the estate, hidden beyond the gates, a black car waited in the darkness.

Inside it, someone watched the house.

And smiled.

Because Ariana had finally stepped into the world they had been trying to keep her away from.

And now there was no turning back.