Chapter 26: Velvet Lies
279 Words
Chapter 26: Velvet Lies
(Not all truths set you free)
The next morning came dressed in quiet.
Too quiet.
Aria stared at the untouched space beside her—Damon had left before sunrise, no note, no sound. Just silence... and the faint scent of him on her pillow.
She hated that it made her ache.
Downstairs, her phone buzzed.
Cade: We need to talk. It’s urgent.
Her stomach turned.
After everything, after Damon’s confession, Cade was the last person she thought she could face. But the word “urgent” echoed louder than her hesitation.
The café was half-empty when she walked in.
Cade stood by the window, looking out like he was searching for something he’d already lost.
His eyes met hers.
No smile. No warmth.
Just the storm they hadn’t survived.
“You look tired,” he said quietly.
She sat across from him. “Not sleeping does that.”
A pause.
Then Cade dropped it—hard.
“I have evidence Damon’s been working with her.”
Aria blinked. “Who?”
“The woman in the photo,” he said. “Her name’s Elena Vos. Ex-intelligence. Blacklisted. Dangerous.”
Aria felt her pulse spike. “You think he’s using me?”
Cade didn’t answer.
He slid a USB drive across the table.
“See for yourself.”
Her hand hovered over it, unsure. Afraid.
Cade leaned closer, voice low. “You’re not safe, Aria. And you’re still not hearing me. He’s not who you think he is.”
She stared at the drive. It felt like holding a loaded gun.
And she had no idea who the bullet would hit first—Damon… or herself.
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