CHAPTER FOUR

DAMIAN

When Elena agreed to come with me, even just for tonight, a wave of relief washed over me. I knew it wasn’t easy for her. Hell, it wasn’t easy for me, either. But this—this was different. My father was gone, and that meant everything I’d ever known was about to change in ways I couldn’t even predict. I needed her with me. I needed her now more than ever. Even if she didn’t fully understand what was happening, at least I wouldn’t have to face it alone.

We didn’t say much as we left the restaurant. Elena was quiet, her hand in mine, her fingers lightly brushing against my skin. I could feel the weight of her uncertainty, and I knew it mirrored mine. But I wasn’t going to let it show. Not now.

I gripped the steering wheel harder than necessary as I sped through the streets, my mind racing. Every turn felt like I was driving further into a nightmare I couldn’t escape. The adrenaline of the drive pushed the confusion away for a while, but the reality kept creeping back in. My father was dead. And now, I was next in line.

Elena shifted in the seat beside me, her presence a calming force even when I didn’t feel calm at all. I couldn’t quite bring myself to look at her, though. I didn’t know how to explain everything that was swirling in my chest. I didn’t know how to make her understand.

"Damian," Elena said, her voice a soft, almost hesitant whisper. I could tell she wanted to say something, but she was careful, like she wasn’t sure if she was allowed to ask the questions swirling in her own mind.

I forced myself to look at her for a second, even if I knew it wouldn’t make anything better. "Yeah?"

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.

I shook my head quickly, my jaw clenching as the words caught in my throat. "Not right now. I just… I need to figure out what happened first."

Her silence was understanding. She didn’t press me, and for that, I was grateful. I needed to be focused. I needed answers, and I needed them fast.

As we pulled up to the driveway of the Moretti estate, my mind was already on high alert. The house loomed in front of us, dark and imposing, the kind of place that always felt both like home and like a prison. I could already feel the weight of the family legacy pressing down on me, suffocating me. The life I had tried so hard to avoid for so long was now going to be mine to navigate.

The front door opened as soon as I parked, and Luca, my father’s right-hand man, stepped outside. He was a tall, intimidating figure, a man I had grown up with, a man I respected—but right now, all I could see was the grief in his eyes. Grief, but also something else. Something… resigned.

He stepped forward as I exited the car, his eyes briefly flicking to Elena before settling back on me. I could tell he wanted to say something, but instead, he just nodded once. "Damian," he said, his voice low, tight.

I didn’t waste any time. "What happened? How did this happen, Luca?" My voice was sharper than I intended, but I couldn’t stop it. My father’s death had just been announced, and I needed to know everything, right now.

Luca didn’t respond immediately. His gaze flickered to the ground as he took a deep breath, like he was trying to figure out how to say it without shattering me even more. But he didn’t hold back. "We had an exchange set up with a rival faction," he said. "It was supposed to be simple—nothing complicated, just a transaction."

I could already feel my blood pressure rising. "And?"

Luca met my eyes. "Something went wrong. They ambushed us—gunfire started almost immediately. Your father tried to make a deal, but it went south fast. I… I tried to get him out of there, but it was too late. We lost too many men." He paused, as if trying to find the right words. "We lost him, Damian."

The weight of those words hit me like a ton of bricks. The suddenness, the brutality of it all—it was too much to comprehend. My mind couldn’t fully wrap around it. My father was dead, and I wasn’t ready to step up. I wasn’t ready for any of this.

"What about the other side? Did we get anyone?" I forced the question out, my throat dry.

Luca shook his head slowly. "No. They disappeared into the night. We don’t even know who set us up." He ran a hand through his short-cropped hair, clearly frustrated. "We’re still investigating, but we don’t have answers yet."

I clenched my fists at my sides, my mind racing. This was more than just a loss—it was a message. Someone had targeted my father, and now I had to take his place. I had to lead the family, pick up the pieces, and figure out who betrayed us, who wanted to see my father dead.

And the worst part was, I had no idea who could be trusted anymore. The game was changing, and the people I thought I could rely on might not be on my side.

"Damian," Luca said, his voice quiet but firm. "I know this is a lot. But we need you. We need you to take control now. You’re the only one who can do this."

I nodded, but it felt hollow. I wasn’t ready. Not now, not like this. I had always known this day might come, but I thought I’d have more time—more time to figure things out, to decide if I really wanted to take this life on. Now, I had no choice.

Elena had followed me up the stairs and stood just behind me, watching the exchange quietly. I could feel her concern, even though she wasn’t saying anything. She had always been there for me, even when I pushed her away. But now—now, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to drag her into this world. I had to keep her safe. I couldn’t let her become part of this darkness.

I turned back to Luca. "We need to find out who did this. And fast. I don’t care who we have to go through." My voice had taken on a new edge—more determined, more dangerous. This was no longer just about my father’s death. This was about taking control, about ensuring that the Moretti family remained untouchable.

Luca nodded, his expression grim. "We’re already working on it. I’ll get the men together, we’ll go over everything. But for now, Damian, we need to move quickly. There’s no time to waste."

I looked at Elena then, and for a brief moment, I saw the hesitation in her eyes. She wanted to say something, to ask questions, to understand what was happening. But I could tell she knew, deep down, that there were no answers right now. There was only what was coming next.

I stepped forward, placing my hand on her shoulder, offering a brief but meaningful squeeze. "I’ll be fine," I said, my voice softer now. "I just need you to be with me. I need you to trust me."

Her gaze softened, and though I saw the uncertainty in her eyes, she didn’t pull away. She nodded, her lips barely parting as she whispered, "I trust you, Damian."

And just like that, I knew—no matter what happened next, no matter how deep this world pulled me in, she would be there. For better or worse, I had to make sure she stayed safe. But first, I had a family to take care of—and a war to win.