Chapter 4 The First Night

If fear had a shape, it would look like the elevator doors sliding shut in front of me... trapping me inside with Damon Black.

‎I stood beside him, my pulse vibrating under my skin, my fingers clenched around my phone so tightly they hurt. The message from Collins replayed and replayed in my mind until my stomach churned.

‎Her test results were CHANGED.

‎The real diagnosis was hidden.

‎Don't trust Damon Black.

‎I swallowed thickly, trying to steady my breathing as the elevator ascended. Damon didn't look at me, but I felt him, his presence heavy, controlled, like silent storm clouds before lightning.

‎The tension pressed against my lungs until I whispered, "I need to see my mother."

‎"You will," he said calmly.

‎"When?"

‎"After she's moved to the private ward."

‎The way he said it like he owned the hospital, the elevators, the air left no room for argument.

‎And yet the words strangled me.

‎"Damon... what if something is wrong?"

‎He finally turned his head, slowly.

‎"Something is wrong," he said. "She's sick. That's why I'm helping you."

‎I looked away, because if he stared any harder, he'd see everything I was hiding behind my lashes.

‎My phone buzzed again in my palm. Just once.

‎A short vibration.

‎I didn't check it.

‎Not with Damon standing so close that I felt his warmth like heat from fire.

‎The elevator doors opened with a soft chime. He gestured for me to step out first.

‎I did my legs shaky, my thoughts scattered.

‎We walked through the underground parking lot where a black car waited. One of his drivers opened the back door immediately.

‎"Sir."

‎Damon nodded and motioned for me to enter.

‎

‎I hesitated

‎Just a fraction of a second.

‎

‎But he saw it.

‎His jaw tightened the way it did when he restrained emotion. "You're safe, Mia."

‎My throat burned.

‎The part of me that trusted him wanted to step in.

‎The part of me that remembered Collins' warning wanted to run.

‎I climbed inside.

‎The door shut with a heavy thud, sealing me inside a luxury cage.

‎---

‎

‎The car glided out of the compound like a shadow. The city lights flickered through the windows, painting lines across Damon's face, sharpening the angles, making him look even more unreadable.

‎

‎He didn't take his eyes off me.

‎"Why are you so quiet?" he asked softly.

‎

‎"I'm... overwhelmed."

‎

‎"That's normal."

‎

‎He said it like he'd seen this a thousand times before people drowning in situations he controlled.

‎My phone vibrated again.

‎Damon's gaze dropped to my hands. "You keep gripping your phone like it's a lifeline. Who keeps messaging you?"

‎My breath caught. "N-no one."

‎"Mia."

‎I flinched at the sternness in his tone.

‎Before he could press further, he reached into his pocket and handed me something small.

‎A silver ring.

‎Simple. Elegant. Cold.

‎"We're married now," he said. "Put it on."

‎My stomach flipped.

‎I stared at the ring like it was a live wire.

‎"I didn't-" My voice nearly cracked. "I didn't know it would be this real."

‎He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a faint whisper.

‎"Everything with me is real."

‎The air thickened.

‎I slipped the ring onto my finger, my hands trembling.

‎He watched every second.

‎When it settled against my skin, a strange shiver ran through me, half terror, half surrender.

‎Damon leaned back, satisfied. "Good."

‎---

‎

‎The car pulled into a private skyscraper with security so tight it borderline felt military. The elevator shot us to the 42nd floor, where glass doors opened into a penthouse that looked more like a museum.

‎Cold. Perfect. Expensive. Silent.

‎Like its owner.

‎I stepped in with caution.

‎The entire place was dimly lit golden lights reflecting off marble floors and black tinted windows. Everything smelled faintly of cedar and something darker.

‎Damon loosened his tie as he walked past me. "You'll stay in the guest bedroom tonight."

‎Tonight.

‎Meaning tomorrow would be different.

‎"Is this really necessary?" I asked quietly.

‎"Do you want your mother alive by dawn?"

‎The answer lodged painfully in my throat.

‎"Yes."

‎"Then everything I say is necessary."

‎I swallowed hard. "What about school? My friends? My job?"

‎"You won't be returning to your old life," he said simply.

‎My chest tightened until it felt like my ribs might crack.

‎I looked around, feeling small and lost in his enormous, perfect space. "I don't fit here."

‎"You will."

‎His certainty was terrifying.

‎He handed me a keycard. "Your room is down the hall, third door on the left. Everything you need is inside. I had your belongings brought from your hostel."

‎I stared at him.

‎"When?"

‎"While you were signing."

‎My stomach dropped. "You sent someone into my room?"

‎"My wife cannot live with strangers' newspapers taped to her window." His voice hardened. "And you won't return there. Ever."

‎Cold fear slid down my spine.

‎He wasn't controlling the situation.

‎He was controlling me.

‎I forced a trembling breath and stepped back. "I need to call the hospital."

‎"You will."

‎His eyes stayed locked on mine. "But not tonight."

‎"Why?"

‎He stepped closer until my back brushed the hallway wall.

‎

‎"Because you're shaking," he whispered. "If you hear anything emotional right now, you'll pass out."

‎

‎My breath hitched. "Stop acting like you know me."

‎"But I do." His voice softened just slightly. "I know panic when I see it."

‎I shivered.

‎"You're not safe," he added.

‎My heart stuttered. "From who?"

‎His jaw clenched. "From the people watching me. And now, watching you."

‎Fear spiked through me. ‎"What does that mean?"

‎He didn't answer.

‎He simply reached out, cupped my chin gently and lifted my face toward his, a surprisingly soft gesture for a man like him.

‎"You chose this," he murmured. "But I'll make sure you survive it."

‎My pulse hammered so loud I could hear it.

‎He let go. "Go to bed."

‎I nodded and walked down the hallway, each step heavier than the last.

‎When I reached the guest room, the door closed behind me with a soft click.

‎I exhaled shakily.

‎I finally pulled out one to check the messages I had ignored.

‎Collins (6 messages): ‎Mia please answer.

‎The file was altered.

‎Her real condition is worse.

‎Someone covered it up.

‎I think it's connected to Damon.

‎Mia, please don't be alone with him. Not tonight.

‎My blood ran cold.

‎A sharp knock hit my door.

‎I jumped so hard I nearly dropped my phone.

‎"Mia."

‎Damon's voice. ‎Low. Unreadable.

‎"Open the door."

‎My heart climbed into my throat. ‎I wasn't ready.

‎Not for him.

‎Not for whatever he was about to say.

‎I turned the knob slowly, bracing myself.

‎The door opened and there he stood.

‎His expression shadowed.

‎His voice quiet.

‎"Mia... we need to talk."