et chaise in Damian's study, watching the fireplace ca

hadn't seen Damian in hours, not since our confrontation

answer. Ju

vanished, leaving me to

ightened aro

ion. One moment, Damian is as cold as ice. The next, he's like a fire pinning me against

ft click at the d

e, his shirt half-buttoned, dark hair tousled as if he

he asked, his voice laz

aid my words would betray

him and approached me like

zed. "Because I didn't tell you wh

*You didn't tell m

uestions are loaded. You're not looking f

hy would you care if yo

pause. A charged sil

th on my skin. "Careful, Claire. I didn't drag you into th

d back. *You? Or the gho

is jacket, pulling out a file-a slim black en

his codes, his movements, and even his arrangem

art s

My fingers moved towards it slowly, filled with dread. T

ye

ing this to me?

g you see it. Ther

th wen

an Cross, the master of giving ju

y? Wh

hing, just

hands, I open

handwriting,his careful notations, codes I hadn't seen in years. As I

breath

d in red ink: D.M. Transfer

ned. *He used me as p

for you, and he offe

he wo

oice softening. "He trusted me

ou didn'

His hands tightened around mine. "I

father. But he had sold me, traded me like a pawn, while

let me believe

u would've never belo

s for you? Ownershi

irk this time, no cold distanc

cause you're weak, but because you're the only thing in this

htened. He di

ing me there with the file and the t