Chapter 9
11
“What made you think you could ever take her place?”
Alaric’s eyes were bloodshot, and his roar shook the whole room.
Amara was terrified. She crawled to his feet, grabbed the hem of his pants, and begged as her life depended on it.
“Alaric, I didn’t mean to! I didn’t know she’d take it so hard!
“I just love you so much. I didn’t want to share you with anyone else!”
But Alaric’s presence was ice–cold, deadly. He leaned down, eyes so red they looked like they could bleed, and clamped her chin tightly in
his hand.
His voice was low and cruel, with each word cutting like a blade.
“But I still think you deserve to die.
“I was okay sharing you with someone else\”
Then he kicked her. Hard. She flew like a rag doll, tumbling across the floor, covered in blood and dirt, a total mess.
Alaric barked at his men.
“Take her. Give her to the guys downstairs.
“Don’t break her too fast. I want her to last a while.”
At that same moment, I’d already stepped onto Damian’s turf.
Chapter 9
He looked as relaxed as ever, eyeing my red dress with amusement.
“Where are your two big machetes? Didn’t bring them?” he teased.
I froze. I didn’t think he’d remember those weapons.
When I chased him through 9th Avenue, he finally caught me, but I still refused to let go of my twin blades.
He laughed at me, then said a woman as wild as I would never get to be someone’s wife, especially not Alaric’s.
He said I was digging my own grave. Funny. He turned out to be right.
Seeing the change in my expression, Damian quickly raised his hands. in mock surrender and changed the subject.
“Alright, alright, my bad. I was being a jackass.”
I blinked, a little caught off guard. Alaric never apologized to me. Ever. He always stood above me, like I was beneath him.
But Damian felt different.
I swallowed the bitterness in my chest, pulled up a smile, and played it
cool.
“My blades are rusted. Some people are too. You were right before. Some things just need to be thrown out.
“Damian, forget the apology. You should be congratulating me.”
The sea breeze was sharp and salty, brushing cool against my skin.
But the way Damian looked at me burned. Hot. Intense. Like nothing could stop him.
Chapter 9
We stood in silence, letting the wind wash over us. Then he gave me a slow, meaningful smile.
“Yeah. I should. Congrats on leaving your past behind and starting fresh. And congrats to me.
I turned to him, confused. “Congrats to you for what?”
“For finally winning you,” he said.
Damian’s eyes sparkled, bright like starlight, staring straight into me.
My heart skipped. My face heated up.
I quickly shook my head and said sternly, “This is a deal, Damian. I didn’t sell myself to you.”
He burst out laughing, his smile lazy and teasing.
“Right, right. You’re sharp as ever. You’re the kind of treasure money can’t buy.”
I rolled my eyes.
For years, I’d tangled with Alaric and fought like hell for his power, money, and approval. I killed for him, plotted for him, and worked in the underworld and high society.
And in the end, he betrayed me like I was nothing.
All that sweet talk, all those promises, they’re just lies. Only money and power are real. The rest is just pretty garbage.
Even with someone like Damian, who knows me inside and out, I won’t gamble my soul again.
55.257
And what I’m offering in this deal, it’s never been me.
“When you take Alaric down, I want half his cash and property. Agree to that, and I’ll give you all his shipment routes and schedules.”
I paused, then added, “Just one more thing, aside from his core guys, don’t wipe out the rest.
“Let the smaller ones stay. Let them survive. That’s enough. And when it’s all done, let me walk.”
“No.” Damian stepped in close and leaned down until his face was inches from mine. His voice left no room for argument.
“Tll agree to everything, except that last part.”
I bit my lip, glaring. “Why not?”
Damian reached up, gently pinched my cheek, and grinned.
“Because I’m gonna chase you.”
