Tempting The Forbidden

Concealed Truths.

(Elara’s POV)

My father led me back into the house, one arm around my shoulders, the other already dialing someone on his phone, probably calling the police or the FBI. As a diplomat , he had access to every security protection the country had to offer. Damon stayed close, his eyes scanning every shadow, every corner of the room like a man ready for war.

Camila rushed to me the moment I stepped inside.

“Are you okay?” she whispered, eyes wide, grabbing my arms as if to check for wounds.

I nodded. “I’m fine. Just shaken.”

“Someone opened fire on your house, Elara. On your birthday at that! You’re allowed to be more than just shaken,” she half-screamed.

But she wasn’t wrong.

The texts I had gotten prior to the shooting didn’t make it better and I wondered if it would be a good idea to tell her about those, seeing as she was worried.

“I know that face,” she suddenly said as she studied me carefully.

“Huh?,” I replied absentmindedly as I tried to process the events of this evening.

“Come on Elara. I don’t want to ask you twice please,”

I sighed deeply and handed her my phone. Her brows furrowed as she scrolled through the messages. The color drained from her face.

“Elara… what the hell is this?”

“I got them right before the shots were fired,” I said, my voice low as I didn’t want my dad to hear. “From an unknown number.”

Her eyes darted across the screen again. “You looked stunning tonight. Shame it’s your last birthday with all of them?” She looked up, panic creeping into her tone. “That’s not just creepy. That’s a threat.”

I nodded as I folded my arms tightly across my chest. “And the second one… ‘Tell your father the past doesn’t stay buried.’ Cam, what does that even mean?”

She stepped back like the phone had burned her. “It means someone knows things they shouldn’t. About your dad. About Damon. About you.”

We both fell silent as we tried to process the messages and the meaning behind them. Something was coming. I didn’t know what but I knew it was after me.

“They’re not just after my dad,” i whispered in realization. “They’re after me too,”

Camila reached out and grabbed my hands. “Okay, listen to me. You’re going to be okay. Whatever this is, your dad will handle it. Damon will handle it.”

I didn’t miss the way the tone of her voice changed when she said his name.

“You think he’s involved?” I asked softly.

“I don’t know but I am sure he knows more than he is letting you on,” she replied as she flashed me a look.

“Come on,” she said gently. “Let’s get upstairs. You need to change out of this dress and breathe. I’ll stay with you tonight.”

I nodded, following her up the stairs, my body moving as though it was being controlled while my mind spun in a hundred directions.

When we reached my room, I removed the silk dress and slipped into one of my oversized shirts. Camila handed me a glass of water before crawling into bed beside me, still scrolling through the messages on my phone.

“Whoever this is,” she said after a long silence, “they’re smart. No name. No number. And no fear.”

“But they messed with the wrong girl.”

I gave her a weak smile, grateful for her fire. But even her boldness couldn’t shake the cold creeping into my bones.

Just as I started to settle under the covers, still holding the glass of water Camila had handed me, there was a soft knock at the door.

Before either of us could respond, it creaked open.

My mother stepped in first, her silk robe tied tightly around her waist,her face was pale but composed. My father followed behind, looking tired but sharp, his jaw set like stone. And right behind the them was Damon.

He stood slightly apart from them, his frame leaning against the doorframe, his eyes wee dark and unreadable.

“Elara,” my mother said gently as she came to sit beside me on the bed. “Are you alright?”

I nodded, sitting up straighter. “I’m fine, Mom. Cam’s been with me.”

My dad’s gaze swept the room, landing on Camila. “Sweetheart, we need a moment with Elara. Alone.”

Camila stiffened but nodded. “Sure,” she said as she got up from the bed. She leaned in and whispered, “If they stress you out, call me.”

I gave her a small, grateful smile as she left, the door clicking softly shut behind her.

Damon stepped further into the room now, keeping his distance, but his eyes never left me. He looked like he hadn’t taken a full breath in hours.

My mom sat at the edge of the bed, taking my hand in both of hers. “We didn’t want to do this tonight… not after everything. But we have no choice.”

My father nodded. “The threats… the texts… whoever’s behind them isn’t just trying to scare us. They’re provoking us. And tonight proves they know where we live, when we gather, and how to strike without being caught.”

Of course Damon told him about the text.

I swallowed, my throat dry. “So what does that mean? What are you going to do?”

“We’re leaving the house for a while,” he said. “A safe house. Government-secured. They’ve already arranged it.”

My stomach dropped. “You’re going into hiding?”

He nodded. “Temporarily.”

“What about me?” I asked,almost in a whisper.

My father turned to Damon, and I knew what he was about to say before the words left his mouth.

“You’ll be staying with Damon.”

My heart stopped.

“What?”

“It’s the safest option,” he continued. “He lives off-grid, minimal surveillance. No one knows the location unless he tells them.”

“But Dad—”

“It’s not up for debate,” he said firmly. “You’ll have a separate room. Damon will ensure you’re protected at all times.”

I looked at Damon then. His jaw was tight, his fists buried in the pockets of his slacks. He wasn’t arguing, but he didn’t look thrilled either.

“Do you trust him?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“With my life,” my father said. “And more importantly, with yours.”

I looked back at my mother, who gave me a faint nod, then back at Damon, whose eyes held something unreadable—regret, maybe. Or restraint.

“I’ll go,” I said finally.

My mother squeezed my hand. “We leave at dawn. You’ll go with him. Cam can help you pack”

They stood, both looking exhausted beyond words. “Try to rest,” she added.

My parents left the room together.

But Damon stayed.

I looked at him as he looked at anywhere but me. “Are you okay with this?”

“No,” he said after a pause. “But I’ll protect you. Even with my life if I have to.”

His words hit somewhere deep.

Then he turned and disappeared into the hallway, leaving my room heavy with silence.

Tomorrow, I’d be waking up in this room for the last time.

And moving in with the man I’d been dreaming about in ways no one should dream of their father’s best friend.

The universe was punishing me but something in me didn’t mind.