Chapter 8 — The Blood On His Hands
1238 Words
Another gunshot exploded through the penthouse.
Adaeze’s heart nearly stopped.
“Damien—”
“Stay behind me.”
His voice came low and deadly calm as he pulled her against his back, the gun steady in his hand.
Everything about him had changed now.
No billionaire charm.
No cold elegance.
This was something else entirely.
Something violent.
The hallway lights reflected sharply against the black gun in Damien’s grip as he moved forward carefully.
Adaeze’s breathing became uneven.
She had never been around real violence before.
Not like this.
Richard’s abuse had always happened behind closed doors.
Private.
Controlled.
But this?
This felt like stepping inside a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.
More shouting echoed ahead.
Then a man screamed.
The sound cut off suddenly.
Adaeze flinched hard.
Damien didn’t even react.
He moved toward the source of the noise with terrifying focus.
When they reached the main living area—
Chaos exploded before her eyes.
Broken glass covered the marble floor.
One of Damien’s guards lay unconscious beside the staircase.
Another was bleeding heavily near the wall.
And Serena—
Serena stood trembling near the dining area while a masked man held her violently by the arm.
A gun pointed directly at her head.
Adaeze stopped breathing.
The masked man looked up instantly.
And smiled beneath the mask.
“Finally.”
Damien raised his gun immediately.
The room froze.
The attacker laughed softly.
“There he is. Lagos’ favorite billionaire psychopath.”
Damien’s voice remained ice-cold.
“Let her go.”
The man tightened his grip on Serena. She whimpered in pain.
“No.”
Adaeze’s stomach twisted violently.
Serena looked terrified.
Young.
Fragile.
Nothing like Damien.
And yet her eyes instantly found her brother like he was the only safe thing left in the room.
“Damien…”
His jaw tightened at the fear in her voice.
“You’re okay,” he said calmly.
The lie shocked Adaeze.
Because nothing about this situation was okay.
The masked man suddenly looked toward Adaeze.
And everything changed.
“There she is.”
Fear slammed into her chest instantly.
The way he looked at her—
Recognition.
Obsession.
Like he’d been searching for her specifically.
Damien stepped slightly in front of her immediately.
Shielding her.
Possessive instinct.
“You should’ve handed her over peacefully,” the attacker said casually.
Adaeze’s pulse became erratic.
“What are you talking about?”
The man ignored her.
His attention remained on Damien.
“She belongs to people you shouldn’t have crossed.”
Something dark flickered across Damien’s expression.
“She belongs to herself.”
The words hit Adaeze unexpectedly hard.
Because somehow—
Coming from Damien—
That sounded almost protective.
The attacker laughed again.
“You really think this is about choice?”
Silence stretched sharply.
Then the man tilted his head slightly toward Adaeze.
“Tell him what happened in London.”
Her blood turned cold instantly.
Damien noticed.
Immediately.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
He looked back at her.
“What happened in London, Adaeze?”
Panic exploded inside her chest.
“No…”
The attacker smiled wider.
“She never told you?”
Damien’s voice lowered dangerously.
“Told me what?”
Adaeze shook her head rapidly. “Don’t listen to him.”
But the masked man continued anyway.
“She stole something.”
The room went silent.
Adaeze felt sick.
“No!”
“She ran before our employers could retrieve it.”
Damien’s eyes darkened sharply.
“What did she steal?”
Adaeze’s breathing became uneven now.
Because she already knew.
The memory hit her violently.
London.
Richard’s apartment.
That night.
The hidden flash drive.
Oh God.
“Oh,” the attacker whispered mockingly. “She remembers.”
Damien turned toward her slowly.
And for the first time since meeting him—
Adaeze saw genuine shock in his face.
“Adaeze.”
Tears burned behind her eyes instantly.
“I didn’t know what it was.”
The attacker laughed loudly.
“But you still took it.”
“I was trying to survive!”
Her voice cracked painfully.
Damien stared at her intensely now.
“What did you take?”
Adaeze closed her eyes briefly.
Because saying it aloud made everything real.
“A drive.”
The attacker nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Fear spread through the room like poison.
Even Damien’s guards looked tense now.
“What’s on it?” Damien asked quietly.
The attacker smiled beneath the mask.
“Everything.”
Silence.
Then—
“Bank accounts. Politicians. Trafficking routes. Powerful men.” The attacker’s gaze sharpened. “Enough information to destroy empires.”
Adaeze’s knees nearly gave out.
No.
No no no.
She never knew it was that serious.
She thought it was evidence against Richard.
Just Richard.
Damien’s expression became terrifyingly still.
“Where is it now?”
Adaeze looked at him helplessly.
“I don’t know.”
The attacker laughed.
“She’s lying.”
“I’m not!”
“Richard tore half of London apart looking for that drive.”
Damien’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“And now?”
“Now our employers want their property back.”
The attacker pressed the gun harder against Serena’s head.
“And if we don’t get it…”
Serena cried softly.
Adaeze felt physically sick.
“This is my fault.”
Damien’s gaze snapped toward her instantly.
“No.”
“It is!”
“No,” he repeated more firmly. “You didn’t create those men.”
The attacker smirked. “Emotional. Interesting.”
Damien ignored him completely.
His eyes stayed on Adaeze.
And somehow—
Even now—
Even surrounded by violence—
The way he looked at her felt dangerously personal.
Like her fear affected him.
The attacker suddenly spoke again.
“You have twenty-four hours.”
Damien’s attention shifted instantly.
“To return the drive?”
“Yes.”
“And if I refuse?”
The attacker’s eyes darkened.
“Then next time we don’t take your sister.”
Silence.
Cold.
Deadly silence.
Then Damien smiled slightly.
It was the most terrifying thing Adaeze had ever seen.
Because there was no warmth in it.
Only promise.
“You made one mistake tonight.”
The attacker frowned slightly.
“You walked into my home.”
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Every guard straightened.
Every person in the room felt it.
Danger.
Real danger.
The attacker slowly stepped backward toward the balcony doors while dragging Serena with him.
“Twenty-four hours, Black.”
Then suddenly—
Everything happened too fast.
Serena slammed her heel backward onto the attacker’s foot.
He cursed violently.
Damien moved instantly.
A gunshot exploded through the penthouse.
Adaeze screamed.
The attacker staggered backward—
Blood spreading across his shoulder.
Serena broke free immediately.
Damien caught her before she fell.
And the masked man jumped backward through the shattered balcony doors.
Gone.
Silence crashed over the room.
Adaeze’s entire body shook violently now.
Her ears rang from the gunshot.
Serena burst into tears against Damien’s chest.
And for one shocking second—
Damien held her gently.
Actually gently.
“It’s okay,” he murmured quietly to his sister.
Adaeze stared.
Because she had never imagined Damien Black capable of softness.
But then Serena looked up.
And saw Adaeze.
Fear instantly crossed her face.
Real fear.
She pulled away from Damien slowly.
And whispered the words that made Adaeze’s blood run cold.
“She’s the girl from the photograph.”
- Writer
