The Promise
1100 Words
I didn’t sleep last night; hours had passed, and at six in the morning, I was still staring at the photograph.
Damien.
My father.
The man who had been shot.
Three men connected by something nobody wanted me to know.
I closed the laptop when I heard footsteps. Damien appeared in the doorway.
He stopped when he saw me.
“You’ve been awake.”
“So have you.”
He looked tired. For the first time, I noticed the faint shadows beneath his eyes.
“Coffee?”
“Please.”
He walked into the kitchen.
I watched him pour two cups.
One black.
One with milk.
He placed mine in front of me without asking.
I stared at it.
“What?”
“You remembered.”
“I remember everything about you.”
The words came casually. But they didn’t feel casual.
I looked away. “We need to talk.”
His expression became serious.
“About?”
“My father.”
He went still. “What about him?”
“What did you promise him?”
Silence.
He put his coffee down.
“Where did you hear that?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to know who is telling you things.”
“I found it.”
“Where?”
“My laptop.”
His eyes narrowed. “You didn’t put it there?”
“No.”
He came around the counter.
“Give me the laptop.”
“Why?”
“Because someone has access to it.”
“I know.”
“Seraphina.”
“Damien.”
We stared at each other for a moment, and he sighed.
“Your father asked me to protect you.”
I froze.
“What?”
“The night he died.”
My throat tightened.
“He knew he was in danger?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t he tell me?”
“Because he thought keeping you uninvolved would keep you alive.”
I laughed bitterly.
“And how did that work out?”
His expression tightened. “He was wrong.”
I looked at him. “About what?”
“About how long they would leave you alone.”
The room went silent.
“Who are they?”
“I don’t know.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s the truth.”
I stepped closer.
“You knew my father.”
“You knew something was going on, but you couldn't tell me a thing, ABOUT MY OWN DAMN FATHER, THE REASON I AM IN THE MESS.”
He sighed and looked away. “Say anything?”
“He saved my life once.”
I blinked.
“What?”
“Years ago.”
He leaned against the counter.
“I was twenty-two. I had just taken control of the company. Someone tried to have me killed.”
My chest tightened.
“Who?”
“I never found out.”
“And my father?”
“He found me before they could finish the job.”
I stared at him.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“Because I didn’t know who to trust.”
“Not even me?”
His eyes met mine.
“Especially not you.”
That hurt more than it should have.
I stepped back.
“Right.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“It sounded like it.”
He moved toward me.
“Seraphina.”
I held up a hand.
“No.”
He stopped.
“I need answers.”
“You’ll get them.”
“When?”
“When I know they’re safe to give you.”
“Safe?”
His jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
“You’re still trying to protect me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He didn’t answer.
I looked into his eyes.
“Why me?”
He finally spoke.
“Because I promised your father.”
My chest tightened.
“And now?”
His expression softened.
“Now I don’t think I need a promise.”
I swallowed.
“Then what do you need?”
He stepped closer.
“Nothing.”
“That’s a lie.”
He stopped inches away.
“Fine.”
His voice dropped.
“I need you to stop walking away from me.”
I stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because every time you do, I want to follow.”
My breath caught.
He reached for my hand.
I let him.
His thumb moved slowly across my knuckles.
“You’re dangerous,” I whispered.
“So are you.”
“I don’t know whether I can trust you.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you so sure I should trust you?”
“I’m not.”
He looked at me. “I’m asking you to give me a reason to earn it.”
Something in my chest broke.
For one moment, I almost told him everything.
The real reason I’d joined Blackwood Holdings.
The investigation.
The false identity.
The evidence.
All of it.
Then my phone buzzed.
I pulled it out.
A new message,
Unknown: He lied.
Another arrived.
Unknown: Your father didn’t ask Damien to protect you.
I looked at Damien.
He was watching my face.
The final message appeared.
Unknown: He asked Damien to kill you.
My blood turned cold.
Damien saw the screen.
His expression changed instantly.
“Give me the phone.”
I stepped backward.
“Did he?”
“No.”
The answer was immediate.
“Then why would someone say that?”
“Because they want you to turn against me.”
“Maybe they know something you don’t.”
His jaw tightened.
“Seraphina.”
I took another step back.
“Did my father ask you to kill me?”
“No.”
“Swear it.”
“I swear.”
I searched his face.
He looked completely sincere.
But sincerity didn’t prove innocence.
Not anymore. I turned away. “I think I need to,”
“You’re avoiding me.”
“I’m thinking.”
“About what?”
“About whether I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life.”
He stared at me. “What mistake?”
I looked back. “Trusting you.”
I walked toward the guest room. Behind me, Damien didn’t move. But I heard his voice.
Quiet.
Almost broken.
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
I closed the door. Neither of us knew that by morning, one of us would be lying unconscious. And the other would finally understand just how much there was to lose.
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