er fingers tightening around the ceramic coffee mug. The air smelled of freshly ground beans, but the scent

in days," Olivia said, stirring h

"He knows. He saw them. And now, I don't know what he will do." A deep sigh e

ning. "Damien's not the kind of man to let things go. You n

wn, she knew there was no wa

he polished desk. The dim glow of the computer screen illuminated his sharp features as he replayed the footag

s

eady to strike. Scarlett had hidden them from him. Deceived him.

han, stepped in, a file in hand. "Sir, we traced the last digital i

ghtened. "Is sh

ing now. What do y

in his expression. "Find out if she's st

lenched his fists, the weight of years of deception pressing down o

fé grew quieter, as if sensing the presence of something-or someone-

stepped

en C

m, he had sworn to kill any child they had. Now, he stood before her, his expres

ned beside he

reaking eye contact with the man

lated. When he reached her table, he didn't sit. He

he said, his voic

et his gaze, steeling her spi

heart race. "Oh, I think there is. You kept m

hair scraping against the floo

there was no humor i

wrist. A shiver ran through her spine at the contact, mem

hissed, her vo

d before he released her. "You can run,

ing against her ribs. She needed to get to her children before

er chest heaving. The twins were sitting on

d up, sensing her p

er voice steady. "Nothing, baby. Pac

ickering across her delicate feat

upping their faces. "We have

ough the apartment. Scarlett froze. Her hea

mall hands clenching into f

ed hard. "Go to

. Scarlett rose to her feet, forcing her trembling hands to still. She

she unlocked the doo

in his pockets, a cruel

somew

ob, her nails digging into her palm

ce between them. "I can do whatever I want. You stole

she snapped, her vo

s eyes. "They're my blood. You ha

arrier between him and the children. "You

ed. "That was then.

, pain bleeding into her words. "Beca

eyes, a flicker of something almost... human. But just as qu

to see

N

his voice dropping to a dange

force your way in? Prove to them that e

f her words hung between the

his lips pressing into a t

high, refusing to show

ay. But Scarlett knew-thi

r walked away without