2. FIRST AND LAST CHANCE

**Zeus**

For the first time in my life, I felt chills at being called Damon. 

Every face, name, and power play in Damon’s world was etched into my memory like a ghost. I hadn’t just studied Damon’s life, I’d absorbed it, drilled into me by Victor over the years. His enemies, allies, friends, even obscure acquaintances… I knew them all. Their faces, their sins, their individual stakes in Damon’s empire, each piece embedded as deeply as my own childhood memories. I could call up the name of a distant cousin Damon hadn’t spoken to in years or the backstory of a mistress hidden away for “family honor.” These people existed like ghosts, ready to come to life in my mind whenever the role demanded it.

But this man… this man with those intense brown eyes and that presence sharp as steel… he wasn’t among them. No name, no whispers, no power that I could link back to Damon’s world. His face held a confidence that matched Damon’s, yet I couldn’t place him anywhere in the network of people Damon called his own…or that he counted among his enemies. 

The realization crept over me like a chill, gnawing at the confidence I’d learned to summon like second nature. For the first time, I couldn’t rely on Damon’s identity to help me figure this out. I had no idea who this man was or why he was staring down at me as if he could see right through the layers of facade I wore to survive. 

“Who are you?” I asked, forcing a steady tone even though my mind was spinning. This guy had just welcomed me to "hell" like he was the gatekeeper himself. “Why did you kidnap....” 

Before I could even finish, the cage door flew open, and a rough hand grabbed me, hauling me out like I was nothing more than a ragdoll. My arms and legs scraped against the ground, pain flaring up as skin tore beneath the sharp edges of gravel. The man’s grip on my collar was relentless, as he yanked me forward without a care for the damage he caused.

“What the hell are you doing?!” I yelled, stumbling as I tried to keep up. My body felt like it had been through a meat grinder; after hours of lying in that cramped space, every muscle screamed in protest. But he didn’t even flinch. He just kept dragging me, as if I were some beast being led to slaughter.

“LET ME GO! LET ME GO!” I shrieked, clawing at his hand, trying to pry his fingers off me, but his grip only tightened. I was struggling to breathe, my voice growing raw with each yell, but he didn’t seem to give a damn. He just dragged me along, every step making it clear I had zero control here. “I SAID LET GO. WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE DOING?!!”

Suddenly, he stopped. I barely had a chance to catch my breath before he spun around, glaring at me with an intensity that could’ve shattered steel. “Shut your damn mouth if you want to live,” he snarled, his voice dripping with malice. Then his hand shot up, wrapping around my neck, pulling me in close. I found myself staring into those dark, furious brown eyes, his face inches from mine. “Or I might just drag you by this skinny throat of yours or end up snapping in two, Damon.”

I went still. Not just because his grip was like a vice, but because he’d just called me that name again. Damon. Twice now.

“You… what did you just call me?” I managed to choke out, still trying to process what the hell was going on.

His face twisted with pure disgust. “Love your name so much you want to hear it again, Damon? How about I say it three times and send you straight to hell?"

And just like that, it hit me. The realization was cold, sharp, and horrifying. I wasn’t the one he wanted. This man thought I was Damon. This could not be happening to me. 

I forced myself to breathe, my mind racing as the man’s fingers dug mercilessly into my throat. It was clear now—I’d been mistaken for Damon due to my face. I was just the guy who wore the suit, learned the lines, and played the part. None of this was supposed to turn into a kidnapping or a fight for my life.

“Listen… I think you’ve got the wrong person,” I managed to say, trying to keep my voice calm even as panic clawed at me from within.

The man let out a dark chuckle, a sound that cut like a blade. “What did you say?”

“You have the wrong—”

“WRONG? DID YOU JUST SAY WRONG?!” His grip tightened around my neck, and I fought to stay conscious, clawing at his hand in a desperate attempt to loosen it. But he didn’t budge; the hate radiating from him was deadly. I realized then that I hadn’t just fallen into the hands of a regular thug....I was facing a beast.

“I’m not Damon!” I gasped, the words barely escaping past the iron grip.

“Pretending to be someone you’re not?”

With all the strength I could muster, I pushed out, “I’m telling the truth. I am not Damon.”

His eyes burned with rage, and I could see that he was ready to tear me apart. “Want to play your little game? Then tell me who the fuck you are!”

His question hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me momentarily speechless. Who was I, really? The person I used to be had vanished twelve years ago. I had become a mere shadow, an impersonator. I couldn’t reveal the truth—that I was just a hired double playing Damon for money—because that would breach the contract I had signed with him. The repercussions of spilling the truth would be catastrophic. If I survived this, I would lose not only my identity but also twelve years of my life and the money I had earned. More importantly, I would never dare to betray Damon. Never.

I took a shaky breath, desperately searching for a way out of this mess that didn’t involve betrayal or death.

I looked into the man’s eyes, my voice soft yet firm as I tried to convey sincerity. “Please believe me when I say that, I am not Damon.” 

For a fleeting moment, his expression shifted from pure rage to something more contemplative, and a glimmer of hope sparked in my chest. But that hope vanished just as quickly when he pulled me forcefully against his chest, a predatory gleam in his eye.

“Are you trying to seduce me?” he asked, his tone dangerously laced with malice.

“What?” My face paled in shock, disbelief coursing through me. “What the hell are you talking about? Can’t you see I’m a man?” I couldn’t deny that the guy in front of me was dangerously handsome, but the idea of seducing my captor was the last thing on my mind.

His expression darkened as he reached out, brushing his fingers against my cheek. “A man? All I see is a cunning fox who can’t keep his tail down.” Heat rushed to my cheeks, a mix of humiliation and anger flooding me. 

His touch sent unwanted shivers through my body, and I recoiled. “Hey! What the hell are you…”

His eyes flickered with disgust and renewed hatred. “Is this how you seduced Lynn?”

My blood ran cold, “Who is Lynn? I never seduced anyone!” Panic bubbled up within me, but I fought to maintain my composure. As soon as those words left my lips, I could see his fury reigniting.

“What did you say, motherfucker? You don’t know Lynn?” He mercilessly yanked my hair back, shooting pain through my scalp. I hissed, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment, trying to steady my racing heart. When I opened my eyes again, his cold, furious gaze pierced through me, sending shivers down my spine. Yet, despite the fear, I forced myself to stare back defiantly.

“I really don’t know any Lynn. I just heard that name for the first time! Let me go! I’ll tell you again, you’ve got the wrong person!!”

He gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on my hair even further. “You dare to lie to my face?!”

Panic clawed at my insides, but I pushed it down. “Why would I lie? If you don’t believe me, then bring that Lynn here. Once I talk to her, she can confirm that I’m not Damon. You’ve made a mistake!”

I watched as his expression shifted, weighing my words. But then, without warning, he pulled out a gun and pressed it against my throat, tilting my head up. “You want me to bring a girl here that you killed?”

My heart raced, and my face drained of color. The gun was real, and the threat behind it was terrifying. “I killed her?” I murmured in disbelief. This had to be a cruel joke—one that would haunt me forever if I survived. But the fire in his eyes told me this was no game.

“Who are you to Lynn?” I asked, curiosity getting the best of me before I could stop myself. Instantly, regret washed over me as his aura darkened, becoming a menacing presence that felt like it could consume me.

“I am her brother.” 

Those words hit me like a thunderclap, reverberating in my mind as if the universe itself had shifted. My heart raced, and my eyes widened like an owl caught in the light. Her brother? The girl I’d never seen and was accused of killing was this vengeful, handsome stranger who looked at me with eyes blazing like fire. In that moment, I became the monster in his story, the one responsible for his sister's death, and I could sense the trigger of his gun itching to unleash his fury upon me. If I did not make him believe me I would die. 

“See, I did not kill anyone. I swear I didn’t. You’ve got the wrong person. I’m not—” My voice faltered, fear curling around my throat. 

“Lie one more time and I’ll pull the trigger,” he growled, his breath hot against my face, mingling with my own rising panic. This wasn’t a game. He meant every word. I could see it in the raw intensity of his gaze, and my heart sank. He had already condemned me in his mind. 

“What do you want from me?” My voice trembled, laden with emotion I couldn’t suppress under the weight of his anger, the razor-thin distance between us charged with desperation. 

His eyes hardened further, as if I had betrayed him a second time. In the flickering shadows, he leaned in, his breath a sinister whisper against my cheek. “What I want,” he hissed, each word laced with venom, “is for you to suffer. The way you made her suffer. Every lie, every promise, every life you destroyed. I’m here to make sure you answer for it all. And when I’m done with you, Damon, you’ll beg for the mercy and the death you don’t deserve. You are not allowed to die until I wish it.” 

His words wrapped around me, a deadly promise of vengeance that sent a jolt through my body. I couldn’t allow this man to destroy me. No, I wouldn’t go down without a fight. 

Instinct kicked in, and before I even fully grasped what I was doing, I lunged forward, managing to wrest the gun from his grasp. It felt surreal, like I was watching a scene unfold from a distance—this man who had cornered me, this avenger I had underestimated. 

With a burst of adrenaline, I pulled away, my heart pounding as I aimed the weapon at him. “Let me go,” I demanded, my voice steadier than I felt. 

Even I couldn’t believe I had pulled off that bold stunt, especially against a man who seemed to revel in the game we were playing. But here I stood, gun in hand, ready to rewrite our fates in a dance of life and death.

As I pointed the gun at him, a dark yet sexy smile spread across the man’s lips, an expression that felt dangerously out of place given the situation. He looked more excited than scared. My surprise deepened when he started walking closer. 

“Don’t come any closer to me! I will kill you!” I yelled, desperation rising in my voice, but he didn’t stop. He kept advancing until the barrel of the gun pressed against his chest, and I stood there, stunned, unable to pull the trigger.

“It will be your first and last chance,” he said, his voice low and grave. His eyes bore into mine, making my heartbeat race. “Pull the trigger,” he murmured.

My throat went dry. This might really be my last chance, but I had never even slapped someone in my entire life. My acting skills were my weapon, not this gun. Despite having it in my hand, the look in his eyes told me he wasn’t someone who would easily succumb to death.

Suddenly, he snatched the gun back, catching me completely off guard. As I tried to reclaim it, he seized my hand, twisting it behind my back and pressing me against a nearby tree. His chest pressed against my back, where I felt his eight pack abs and hot skin touching mine. “Wanna play some more?” he taunted.

His hot breath grazed my ear, slow and sensual, igniting a strange mix of fear and something else I couldn’t identify. I could feel the contours of his body against mine, and his…. Lower body… that made my hair stand on end with a strange feeling rising in my body, “LET ME GO! I AM NOT DAMON!!” I struggled desperately, trying to break free from his iron grip.

But then he seized my throat, yanking me backward until my back pressed against his hard chest. I could feel his hot breath against my ear. “Yes, from now on, you are not Damon but my slave.”

A chill ran down my spine. A slave? How could my situation get any worse? I gritted my teeth, glaring at him with all the hatred I could muster. “You will regret this.”

He chuckled softly in my ear, a sound that sent a shiver down my spine. “Sounds fun.”