The Reborn Mafia Queen

Chapter Five

**The taste of fear still lingered on my tongue.**

I slipped away from the crowded gala the moment Damien grabbed my arm. My legs felt weak. Celine’s body was not built for this kind of stress. Every step back to the car reminded me how fragile I was now.

"You are coming home with me," Damien said, voice leaving no room for argument. "No arguments."

I did not fight him. Not yet. My mind was still on the man who tried to poison me. I had spotted him near the exit. Low-level hired hand. I knew the type.

The car ride home was silent at first. Damien gripped the wheel tight.

"What the hell happened back there?" he finally asked. "You looked ready to pass out. And Victor would not leave you alone."

"Just an old argument," I lied. "Nothing I cannot handle."

Damien glanced at me. "You are shaking, Celine. Talk to me."

"I am fine," I said. But I was not. My stomach turned. The new body was crashing after the adrenaline.

We reached the Sawyer mansion. I went straight to my room, but I did not stay there long. I changed into darker clothes and slipped out through the side door. The hired man would still be nearby. Men like him always waited for confirmation.

I found him in the garden shadows, smoking a cigarette.

He did not see me coming. I moved fast, even in this weak body, and pressed a small knife I had taken from the kitchen against his side.

"Quiet," I whispered. "Who sent you?"

The man froze. "What? I do not know what you are talking about, lady."

I pressed harder. "The drink. Who paid you?"

He breathed fast. "Some guy. Paid in cash. Said it was just to make the Sawyer girl sick. Nothing deadly. I swear."

I believed him. Small fish. "Tell your boss the Sawyer heiress is off limits. Next time I will not be so nice."

I let him go with a hard shove. He ran into the night. My hands trembled as I walked back inside. This body was too slow. Too soft. Killing him would have been easy in my old life. Here it felt risky and exhausting.

Back in my room, I collapsed on the bed. My heart would not slow down. Revenge was going to be much harder than I thought.

A soft knock came at the door.

"Come in," I said.

Lila entered quietly. She carried a glass of water. "I saw you come back looking pale, Miss. Thought you might need this."

I sat up slowly. "Thank you, Lila. You did not have to."

She handed me the glass and stayed by the bed. "After what you did for me, it is the least I can do. You look really shaken. Was it Mr. Victor again?"

I took a sip. The cool water helped. "Partly. But there is more going on. Lila, can I trust you?"

She nodded without hesitation. "Yes. You stood up for me when no one else would. I am on your side."

That hit me somewhere deep. In my old life, loyalty was rare. Here, this girl was offering it freely. I felt the first real pull of attachment.

"Good," I said. "Keep your ears open. Anything about Marcus Hale or threats against the family, tell me first. Can you do that?"

Lila smiled a little. "I can. And Miss? Be careful with Mr. Damien. He has been asking the staff questions about you. He seems different lately. More intense."

"I noticed," I replied. "Thank you, Lila. Get some rest."

She left. I changed into silk pajamas and tried to plan my next move. The Sawyers had enemies. Marcus was closing in. I needed to strike first, but this body kept reminding me I had limits now.

A loud knock sounded. The door opened before I could answer.

Damien walked in. He closed the door behind him and locked it. His face was hard.

"Enough games, Celine," he said. "I found evidence of your late-night activities in the study. Papers moved. Footprints. You were there last night."

I stood up slowly, keeping distance between us. "You went through my things?"

"No. I went through the study. Someone had been reading the hidden files. The ones even I am not supposed to see." He stepped closer. "That was you, was it not?"

My mind raced. I needed a good lie. "I was just curious about the family business. Father never tells me anything."

Damien laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Curious? You have never cared about the business before. Now suddenly you are sneaking around at night? And the way you handled Victor tonight. The way you defended the maid. Everything about you is different."

He kept walking toward me. I backed up until I hit the wall.

"Damien, stop," I said.

He did not stop. He stood right in front of me, tall and overwhelming. "No. I have watched you my whole life. This is not the Celine I know. So tell me the truth. What happened to you?"

I could feel the heat from his body. His eyes were intense, searching mine. Part of me wanted to push him away. Another part, a dangerous part, did not.

"I told you," I said, voice softer. "I am tired of being weak. I am trying to change."

Damien lifted his hand and gently tilted my chin up. His touch burned. "You are not the Celine I know… and I am going to find out exactly who you are."

His face was inches from mine. The air felt thick. My heart raced for reasons that had nothing to do with fear.

I prepared my next lie carefully, but deep down I knew it would not be enough.

This man was going to be a problem. A big, complicated, magnetic problem.