Unholy Matrimony

Clock it!

(Sapphire’s POV)

The knock echoed through the house like a haunting sound.

I stiffened, my heart already raw from everything that had happened tonight.

Blood stain was still on the marbled floor for god’s sake!

What now?

. The stench of gunpowder hadn’t gone away completely. My hands trembled in my lap as I shot a scared look at my husband.

But of course, his facial expression was masked. stone cold, unreadable, though the gun he’d discarded only minutes ago still sat on the table, a silent reminder of what he had just done and what he was capable of.

The knock came again. Louder. Sharper.

Like the person was impatient.

Damian flicked his wrist, and one of his men went to open it.

I prayed silently that it wasn’t another threat.

I promise I was ready to pass out there and then.

The door opened, and suddenly the tension cracked.

“Finally!” The voice rang out, warm and insistent. “Sapphy, do you know how many times I have called you today? I was this close to sending a search party.”

“Luke?” I breathed, pushing up from the couch in disbelief.

My best friend was really here.

Luke strode inside like he owned the place, his presence filling the air with a different kind of energy. He was like light, charming and demanding attention.

His shirt was open at the collar, his hair artfully messy and blue, his eyes sparkling with life. He looked completely out of place in Damian’s cold, dark house.

Damian stood. His shadow darkened the room. His voice was harsh enough to cut ice as he asked. “Who the hell are you?”

Luke turned his head towards him like he had not seen him there earlier, eyes flicking over him. For a moment, he only smirked. “You really don’t remember me? Well, I’m hurt” he pouted. His tone wasn’t timid, but sharp, edged with mischief.

When my husband said nothing, my best friend sighed and rolled his eyes disappointedly.

“You’ve seen me before. At the café. You just didn’t bother to look at my face while you were dragging her away.”

My chest squeezed. Heat rushed to my cheeks.

Damian’s eyes narrowed. He studied Luke, silent for several long, crushing seconds. Recognition flickered there. His jaw tightened.

Luke only arched a brow, shifting his weight casually, as though Damian Blackwood wasn’t the most dangerous man in the city.

“And?” Damian said at last, his voice low. “What are you doing here?”

Luke didn’t flinch. Instead, he walked further in, his steps loose, confident. “Checking on my best friend. Making sure she’s still breathing, considering her phone is basically dead.” He glanced at me, and his eyes softened. “You look pale, Sapphy. What’s going on?”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. What was left of the blood on the floor was artfully hidden beneath a rug now, but the metallic tang still clung to the air. My throat closed.

Damian cut in before I could answer. “She’s fine as you can see, so leave now.”

Luke’s gaze snapped back to him. A smile tugged at his lips but not his eyes, sharp as glass. “Funny. I don’t remember asking you.” He retorted.

The room went still. The guards stiffened. From the corner of my eyes I saw all three of them go for their guns.

My stomach twisted. “Luke…” I warned him.

I would die before I allow any of them to hurt him, but he still needed to be careful.

But Damian didn’t lash out. He didn’t raise his voice. He just watched. Cold. Silent. Measuring.

Luke turned back to me, brushing off the tension like it was nothing. “You’re safe, right? Really safe?”

I nodded, though my voice cracked. “I’m… okay.”

Luke studied me for a moment, his eyes softening, then nodded. He didn’t push further. Instead, he collapsed onto the edge of the sofa like he belonged there, legs crossed, shoulders relaxed.

The absurdity of it nearly made me laugh. Minutes ago, blood had been spilled on that same floor. Now Luke sat there like he was here for all the gossip in the city.

And for some reason he made the air feel lighter.

Damian noticed it too. His gaze flicked to me, narrowing slightly as he saw my shoulders loosen, the faint hint of a smile tugging at my lips.

Luke was doing what no one else could. He was pulling me back from the edge.

He was my best friend through and through.

Damian’s voice cut through the silence, harsh but decisive. “Enough.”

Everyone looked at him.

His eyes stayed locked on me, though his words were for his men. “No more body-blocking him at the door. If he comes here for her, let him in.” He finally turned to Luke, his expression unreadable. “You stay in her circle. No further. That, I can allow.”

It wasn’t approval. It wasn’t friendship. It was control, tempered with reluctant permission.

Because he saw that I was relaxed around him.

Luke tilted his head, a sly grin curving his lips. “Translation: I passed the test. Clock it!” He snapped his fingers loudly. I grinned from ear to ear at his behavior.

Damian’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t deny it.

Instead, he turned, his presence dark and suffocating as he strode toward the hallway. Just before he disappeared into the shadows, his voice drifted back, calm and final.

“She smiled because of you. That’s the only reason you’re still standing here. Don’t forget it and don’t push it.”

The echo of his footsteps faded, as did that of his bodyguards, leaving Luke and I in the living room alone.

For a moment, I just stared at the space Damian had left, my pulse still racing. He had killed a man tonight without blinking. For my sake. He had just given Luke permission to stay. And somehow, both things made the air heavier and lighter at once.

Luke let out a low whistle, breaking the silence. “Wow. He really doesn’t like me, does he?”

Despite everything, a laugh escaped me. Shaky, but real.

“He doesn’t seem to like anyone, bestie.” I assured him.

Luke raised an eyebrow as if surprised that I had said that.

“But he obviously likes you, see the way he hovers over you like a dark angel.” He added.

I blushed deeply. “What…?” I croaked.

Luke grinned, then leaned back into the sofa like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Don’t worry, Sapphy. If Mr. Tall, Dark, and Terrifying doesn’t scare me, nothing will.”

And for the first time since I had seen my painting ripped apart, I felt a tiny spark of warmth flicker back to life in my chest.

My best friend was here. Everything was going to be alright.

I shifted closer and rested my head on his chest, then closed my eyes while he played with my hair.