Chapter 5 - A Fire in the Dark
That night, Briar couldn't eat. She sat at the long dining table, picking at her roasted chicken, her hands shaking so violently she dropped her silver fork onto the porcelain plate with a loud clang.
Titan immediately trotted over, resting his heavy head against her knee, sensing her distress.
Damien set his wine glass down. His sharp eyes had missed nothing—not the way she had jumped at every thunderclap, nor the dark circles under her eyes.
"Viktor," Damien said quietly without turning his head.
Viktor stepped out from the doorway. "Boss?"
"Bring me the security logs for the service elevator today at two o'clock."
Briar gasped, standing up so fast her chair screeched against the floorboards. "No! Damien, please, it's nothing—"
Damien stood up smoothly, stepping around the table until he stood directly in front of her. He reached out, his long fingers gently catching her chin, lifting her face so she had no choice but to look into his dark, burning eyes.
"You have been terrified all evening, Briar," he said softly, his voice containing a dangerous, rolling heat. "You are in my house. Under my roof. Nothing touches you here unless I allow it."
"You don't understand," Briar wept, tears finally overflowing down her cheeks. "I lied to you. My name isn't Briar Lennox. I'm... I'm a fugitive, Damien. I shot a man three years ago."
Damien didn't flinch. He didn't look surprised. He gently wiped a tear from her cheek with the pad of his thumb.
"I know," Damien said quietly.
Briar blinked, stunned. "You... you know?"
"I had your file the night I picked you up from that clinic," Damien revealed, his tone completely calm. "I know about Corbin Vance. I know he abused you for two years. I know you shot him in self-defense to save your own life. And I know the police in Chicago were in his father's pocket."
Briar stared at him, her chest heaving. "And you... you didn't turn me in?"
Damien’s eyes darkened, a terrifying, protective flame leaping into his gaze. "Turn you in? Little bird, the only mistake you made three years ago was not putting a bullet between his eyes."
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He reached into his pocket and pulled out the crumpled photograph she had tried to hide under her mattress.
"Viktor already intercepted his courier," Damien whispered, his voice smooth as venom. "Corbin Vance came to my city thinking he could blackmail my woman. He is about to learn how big of a mistake he made."
