Alina hadn’t moved from the spot where Damon had left her. The weight of his words pressed against her chest like an invisible force, suffocating, inescapable.
*If you walk away, Adrian will use you against me. And when that happens, you won’t be safe. No matter how far you run.*
She had spent so long convincing herself that she still had a choice. That she could step away from Damon’s world before it completely consumed her. But standing here now, with his warning echoing in her head, she realized—she had never really had a way out.
A sharp knock on the door made her jump.
Her heart pounded as she turned toward it.
Damon wouldn’t have knocked.
A chill ran down her spine.
Slowly, she walked toward the door, hesitating before unlocking it.
"Who is it?" she asked, her
