Chapter 7: Trapped In The Lion's Den.
1243 Words
Serena sat stiffly in the leather seat of Damian Blackwood’s car, her fingers clenching and unclenching on her lap. The city lights blurred past as they sped through the streets, their destination unknown to her but clear in Damian’s mind.
Cole sat in the passenger seat, his shoulders tense, eyes scanning every shadow outside. He hadn’t spoken much since they left her apartment, but his presence was enough to make her uneasy.
But nothing compared to the storm brewing beside her.
Damian.
The billionaire CEO, the man who claimed control over everything—including her life—sat beside her, his jaw locked, his fingers curled into a fist against his thigh.
He was angry.
No, not angry. Livid.
And yet, beneath the iron exterior, something else lurked. Something darker.
Fear.
Not for himself.
For her.
Serena exhaled sharply. “Where are we going?”
Damian didn’t look at her. “Somewhere safe.”
Her fingers tightened on her lap. “I was safe in my apartment.”
His head snapped toward her, eyes flashing like molten steel. “You call that safe?” His voice was dangerously low, a quiet fury bubbling beneath the surface. “Someone was watching you. They were outside your window, waiting. And you think you were safe?”
Serena swallowed but refused to back down. “You’re overreacting.”
His laugh was humorless. “Overreacting?” He turned his whole body toward her now, the weight of his presence suffocating. “Do you have any idea what kind of people would dare to threaten me?”
Serena’s throat went dry. “I—”
“These aren’t petty criminals, Serena,” he cut her off. “These are men who don’t leave warnings. They don’t make threats. They eliminate obstacles.”
She shivered at the finality in his tone.
“You’re pregnant with my child,” Damian continued, voice like a whip. “That makes you my responsibility. And I do not take that lightly.”
Serena’s pulse pounded. She should have been furious at his possessiveness. But the way he said it—so absolute, so unwavering—sent a shudder through her.
Still, she wasn’t about to let him bulldoze over her life.
“I never asked to be your responsibility,” she snapped. “And I’m not some property you can lock away.”
Damian’s fingers curled tighter. “You don’t have a choice.”
Serena let out a bitter laugh. “You always say that. ‘You don’t have a choice, Serena.’ ‘This isn’t up for debate, Serena.’” She turned to face him fully, her eyes burning. “But I do have a choice, Damian. And I choose to live my life without a leash around my neck.”
Damian leaned in, so close she could feel the heat radiating from him. His scent—smoky, dangerous, intoxicating—wrapped around her like a trap.
“You think this is about control?” he murmured. “This is about keeping you alive.”
Serena’s breath caught.
For the first time, she saw past the iron walls, past the ruthless CEO.
She saw the man.
The man who would burn the world down for her.
Before she could speak, the car slowed, then turned down a private driveway, leading to—
Her eyes widened.
A mansion.
No. Not just a mansion.
A fortress.
Towering gates loomed ahead, armed guards standing at attention. The sleek black exterior of the estate stretched across acres, its sharp angles and glass windows reflecting the moonlight like a beast watching from the darkness.
The Blackwood Estate.
Her stomach twisted. “You’re taking me to your house?”
Damian didn’t respond. The answer was obvious.
Her pulse skittered. Living under the same roof as Damian Blackwood? With his overwhelming presence, his intense gaze, his control?
It was suffocating.
It was dangerous.
The car rolled through the gates, stopping in front of the grand entrance. Two guards stood on either side of the massive double doors, their expressions unreadable.
Damian turned to her. “You’re staying here. No arguments.”
Serena clenched her fists. “And if I refuse?”
His gaze darkened. “Then I make the choice for you.”
She gasped. “You wouldn’t dare—”
In one swift motion, Damian was out of the car, rounding to her side. He yanked open the door, his towering frame blocking her escape.
“Try me.”
Serena’s breath hitched.
The air crackled with something electric. A battle of wills.
And she was losing.
Inside the Blackwood Estate
The moment she stepped inside, Serena felt trapped.
The estate was breathtaking—pristine marble floors, high ceilings, walls lined with modern art. But it wasn’t the luxury that unsettled her.
It was the security.
Every hallway had discreetly placed cameras. The staff moved with precision, their eyes sharp, their posture straight. Even the warmth of the chandeliers felt calculated, as if nothing in this house was left to chance.
This wasn’t just a home.
It was a stronghold.
Damian walked beside her, his presence impossible to ignore.
“I had a room prepared for you,” he said, leading her down a hallway. “You’ll be comfortable here.”
Serena clenched her teeth. “You mean prisoner.”
He stopped abruptly, turning to face her. “Prisoners don’t get silk sheets and personal chefs, Serena.”
She crossed her arms. “That doesn’t change the fact that I’m being held here.”
Damian exhaled, rubbing his temples. “Would you rather be dead?”
Serena flinched.
The weight of his words crushed her protests.
Damian sighed, his voice lowering. “I don’t expect you to like this. But I will not risk your life—or our child’s.”
Something in his tone softened the fight inside her.
He wasn’t just protecting her.
He was afraid.
Serena swallowed hard. “How long?”
Damian’s expression darkened. “Until I find out who’s behind this.”
Her chest tightened. That could take weeks.
Or worse—months.
She was stuck.
Trapped in the lion’s den.
And the worst part?
The lion was looking at her like she was the only thing keeping him sane.
Later That Night
Serena stood on the balcony of her new gilded cage, the cool night air brushing against her skin.
Below, security guards patrolled the grounds. The estate was a fortress, but for some reason, she didn’t feel safer.
She felt watched.
A knock on her door made her jump.
She turned, expecting one of the staff, but her breath caught.
Damian.
He stood in the doorway, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, his sleeves rolled up. The shadows played against the hard planes of his face, making him look even more dangerous.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he murmured.
Serena exhaled, trying to steady herself. “You have a habit of doing that.”
He stepped inside, closing the distance between them. “You’ll get used to it.”
Her heart pounded. “I don’t want to get used to it.”
Damian’s gaze dropped to her lips, then back to her eyes.
“Then stop making me care.”
Serena’s breath hitched.
Before she could respond, he turned and left, leaving her alone with a racing heart and a sinking realization.
She was trapped.
Not just in this house.
But in him.
And there was no way out.
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- Writer
