Flashback – Twelve Years AgoThe Blackwood estate was always filled with noise. But not the noise of joy. Not the noise of laughter. It was the noise of power. Of discipline. Of fear.Inside the grand study, two young boys stood before a massive oak desk.Damion, barely thirteen, stood rigidly, fists clenched at his sides. Adrian, two years older, stood beside him, his face blank.Their father, William Blackwood, paced behind the desk, his sharp gaze shifting between them.He finally stopped, exhaling in disappointment. “You two are weak.”Neither boy flinched.William slowly approached, his fingers brushing over a silver knife resting on the desk. “You will never inherit this empire if you continue acting like children.”Damion’s throat tightened. “We’re not children.”William smirked. “Then prove it.”He grabbed Adrian’s arm roughly and shoved him forward. Adrian stumbled but quickly straightened. William turned to Damion. “Take the knife.”Damion hesitated. William’s gaze darkened.
The tension in Adrian’s mansion thickened like a storm waiting to break. Carmela sat stiffly in the luxurious chair, her pulse hammering in her ears. Adrian had just finished his cryptic warning, his smirk lingering as if he had all the time in the world.But before she could form a response—Bang.The heavy double doors swung open with a force that sent a sharp gust through the room.Carmela’s breath hitched.Damion.He stood in the doorway like a shadow from hell, his stormy gray eyes burning with fury. His sharp suit clung to his broad frame, his usually composed expression shattered with barely restrained rage.His gaze cut through the room like a knife, immediately landing on Carmela.A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Stand up.”Carmela stiffened at the quiet command in his voice.Adrian let out a slow, amused chuckle, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “That was fast.”Damion ignored him, his focus solely on Carmela. “I said stand up.”Carmela swallowed, torn between obeying and ho
The car moved steadily through the dimly lit streets, the glow of streetlights casting long shadows across the dashboard. The tension inside the vehicle was suffocating, thick enough to drown in.Carmela sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she stared out the window, watching the city blur past her. The night air outside was crisp, yet she felt stifled—like she was trapped in a space much too small, much too heavy with unspoken words.Damion hadn’t spoken a word since they left Adrian’s estate.Not a glance, not a breath of acknowledgment.He drove with one hand gripping the wheel, his knuckles white from the force of his grip. His jaw was clenched so tightly that Carmela was afraid it might snap if he kept grinding his teeth like that.And yet, despite his rigid silence, she could feel the storm inside him, brewing dangerously beneath the surface.She wanted to say something, anything, but she didn’t know where to start.Her heart was still po
The air inside the car was heavy—thick with tension, frustration, and something unspoken.Damion sat rigid in the driver’s seat, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. His jaw was locked, his eyes dark and stormy as he stared straight ahead, barely blinking.Carmela could see it—the barely restrained rage coursing through him, the way his chest rose and fell unevenly, the way his fingers flexed as if he were one wrong word away from losing it completely.She swallowed, shifting slightly in her seat. “Damion.”No response.Her pulse quickened. She wasn’t afraid of him, but she was afraid of what was going on inside his head. Adrian had struck a nerve, more than she had ever seen before.She reached out, placing her hand gently over his on the wheel. “Damion, talk to me.”He didn’t move.Didn’t even glance at her.The silence stretched, suffocating, pressing against her chest.Carmela exhaled softly. She had seen him like this before—when he was shutting down,
The car was filled with the scent of heated skin, the soft hum of breathing mingling with the rhythmic patter of rain against the windows. The world outside was blurred, distant, as if it didn’t exist—only the warmth between them, only the sensation of bodies pressed close, of whispered breaths and tangled limbs.Carmela’s pulse thrummed wildly beneath her skin, every nerve in her body awake, alive, aching. Her chest rose and fell in rapid succession as Damion’s lips trailed along the sensitive curve of her neck, slow and deliberate, as though savoring the way she trembled beneath him.His hands were everywhere—gliding along her waist, teasing over her bare skin, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. She arched into his touch, her body responding instinctively, desperately.“Damion…” Her voice was barely above a whisper, breathless, wanting.His lips hovered over hers, his gray eyes dark and intense, filled with something raw, something possessive. His fingers traced down the line of
The car was silent, save for the sound of their breathing, still heavy, still uneven. The windows were fogged, the cool night air outside a stark contrast to the heat that lingered between them.Carmela lay beneath him, her body still pressed against the leather seat, her fingers tracing mindless patterns along Damion’s back. Her skin tingled with the remnants of his touch, her heartbeat gradually steadying, though the aftershocks of what had just happened still pulsed through her veins.She felt different.Not just physically, but entirely.Like something had shifted between them, something deep, something irreversible.Damion hadn’t moved much, his forehead resting lightly against hers, his breaths coming out slow and controlled. His body was still warm against hers, his weight grounding her in a way that made her feel safe, wanted.His fingers brushed against her side, a barely-there touch, as if he was still trying to commit her to memory. His eyes, stormy and unreadable, watched
The bathroom was dimly lit, steam rising from the marble tub as warm water filled the air with a soft mist. The scent of fresh cedarwood and something faintly citrus—Damion’s signature scent—lingered in the space, wrapping around Carmela like an invisible touch.Her heart pounded so hard she could feel it in her throat.She hadn’t even recovered from what had happened in the car. Every inch of her body was still humming, sore in ways that made her hyper-aware of him, of them.And now, he wanted her to bathe with him?She swallowed, standing in the doorway, fingers clutching the edge of her robe. She wasn’t sure if she was nervous, shy, or simply terrified that she wouldn’t be able to walk for the next few days if she let this happen.Damion stood at the sink, his shirt already discarded, his back to her. His muscles tensed as he turned on the faucet, testing the water temperature.Without looking at her, he spoke.“Come here.”Carmela’s fingers curled tighter around the fabric of her
The room was quiet except for the soft rustling of fabric. The steam from the bath still lingered in the air, wrapping around them like a hazy cocoon.Carmela sat at the edge of the bed, wrapped in a plush towel, her damp hair falling over her shoulders. Her body still tingled from the warmth of the bath, from Damion’s touch, from everything that had happened in the past few hours.And now, as she sat there, watching him move through the room with quiet efficiency, she felt something shift inside her.Damion stood by the closet, his back to her, pulling out clothes with practiced ease. He was still shirtless, his muscles flexing slightly as he reached for a neatly folded silk nightgown.Carmela bit her lip. It felt… strange.Not the intimacy. Not even the fact that he was dressing her.But the care in his actions.The quiet way he moved. The way he didn’t rush, didn’t treat her like an obligation, but rather something to be handled gently.It made her chest ache.Finally, he turned, w
Damion barely made it back to his car before his phone vibrated in his pocket.Leonard.He answered immediately. “Tell me you have something.”“Still digging,” Leonard’s voice came through, calm and professional. “But the account is heavily encrypted. Whoever set it up knew what they were doing.”Damion clenched his jaw. “How long?”“Give me a few hours.”“Make it quick.”He ended the call, tossing his phone onto the passenger seat.His mind was already calculating the next step.Elena had been stealing from him.And if she had the nerve to do it so openly, it meant she either thought she was untouchable… or she had someone powerful backing her.Lucas.His fingers tightened around the steering wheel.He didn’t believe for a second that Lucas had just coincidentally shown up at Elena’s house. There was something between them, something he hadn’t figured out yet. Something that had linked them together that he was yet to discover. He just needed a little amount of time to do so. But he
Elena adjusted the silk robe around her as she made her way down the stairs, still groggy from barely sleeping the night before. The moment she reached the bottom, a knock sounded at the door.Her heart skipped.She hadn’t been expecting anyone.Swallowing the nerves threatening to creep in, she smoothed a hand over her hair before unlocking the door.And there he was.Damion Blackwood.Dressed in a crisp black coat, hands shoved into his pockets, his cold gray eyes locked onto her with that unreadable expression she had always hated.“Damion,” she greeted, quickly masking her unease with a smile. “What a surprise.”His gaze flickered over her appearance before meeting her eyes again. “Heard the news. Thought I’d check in.”Elena blinked. “News?”Damion studied her reaction for a moment. “Didn’t you hear? A man went missing last night.”Elena’s blood ran cold.Damion tilted his head. “Turns out, he was last seen here.”Her breath caught. She wasn’t going to show any sign of weakness.
The silence in Elena’s house was suffocating.She sat on the edge of her bed, her hands clasped so tightly in her lap that her knuckles turned white. The events of the night replayed in her head like a broken record—the sickening thud of his body hitting the glass table, the pool of blood spreading across her floor, Lucas’s firm grip on her wrist as he told her to calm the hell down.Her stomach twisted.It was done.The body was buried.And yet, the feeling of dread hadn’t left her.She reached for the wine glass on her bedside table, her fingers trembling as she brought it to her lips. The alcohol burned her throat, but it did little to soothe the panic clawing at her insides.A sudden vibration jolted her, making her nearly drop the glass.Her phone.She grabbed it quickly, her heart racing when she saw the name on the screen.Lucas.Her thumb hovered over the answer button for a second before she finally swiped. “Hello?”“You still panicking?”His voice was calm, smooth—as if they
Lucas’s car screeched to a halt outside Elena’s house. Rushing quickly. His fingers tightened around the steering wheel as he exhaled sharply, trying to steady his thoughts.Elena had sounded frantic on the phone—terrified in a way he had never heard before. And that alone unsettled him.He had known Elena for years. She was cunning, manipulative, and never the type to lose her composure.For her to be this panicked… something had gone terribly wrong. Really wrong. Shoving open the door, he strode toward the entrance, barely knocking before pushing inside.The house was eerily silent.Then—“Lucas.”Her voice was barely a whisper.His gaze snapped to the living room, where she stood frozen, her face pale.And at her feet—Blood.His breath hitched for half a second before his eyes trailed to the man lying motionless on the shattered remains of the coffee table.He moved before his thoughts could catch up, kneeling beside the body and pressing two fingers to the man’s neck.Nothing.
Flashback – One Year AgoThe city skyline stretched endlessly in front of him, neon lights blinking against the dark canvas of the night. Lucas leaned against the balcony railing of the upscale lounge, his sharp eyes scanning the bustling crowd below.He had just returned to the city after years abroad, building his own fortune in silence, away from the suffocating expectations that came with his last name.He had no plans of getting tangled in old affairs.But then—“Elena.”She turned at the sound of her name, her red lips curling into a knowing smile the moment she saw him.“Well, well,” she purred, stepping closer. “Look who decided to crawl back.”Lucas chuckled, swirling the whiskey in his glass before taking a slow sip. “Miss me?”Elena tilted her head, her dark eyes glittering with mischief. “Should I have?”He smirked. “Depends.”She hummed, stepping beside him, resting her arms against the railing. “It’s been years, Lucas. I assumed you disappeared for good.”Lucas exhaled,
The estate was quiet when Carmela stepped inside, the grand foyer dimly lit by the soft glow of the chandelier above. The silence was a stark contrast to the storm inside her mind.She had spent the entire car ride thinking about Damion—about the way his voice had sounded over the phone, about the way he had left the restaurant so abruptly.Even now, she wasn’t sure if she had made a mistake by returning back home and obeying Damion’s wishes when asked her to come home.But then her eyes landed on him.Damion stood by the bar in the living area, pouring himself a drink, his broad shoulders tense. He had already changed out of his suit jacket, his white shirt slightly unbuttoned at the collar, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms.The sight of him stole her breath for a moment.He turned when he heard her footsteps, his gaze locking onto hers instantly.“You’re back,” he said, setting the glass down.“You are too,” she countered, her voice softer than she intended.He watched her clos
The tension still clung to Damion like a second skin as he stepped out of Adrian’s penthouse. The night air was crisp, but it did nothing to cool the simmering rage beneath his calm exterior.Adrian was playing a game—one he wasn’t fully revealing yet. And that unsettled Damion more than anything.Sliding into the backseat of his black Mercedes, he exhaled sharply before glancing at his driver. “Home,” he ordered.The car smoothly pulled away from the curb, the city lights casting fleeting reflections across the tinted windows. Damion loosened his tie slightly, his fingers brushing over his temple as he tried to piece together his brother’s true intentions.Adrian hadn’t denied anything. But he also hadn’t given him a straight answer.That meant he was waiting for something.And Damion had a feeling whatever it was—he wouldn’t like it.Meanwhile at a long distance in the night air, Carmela sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the untouched plate of food Lily had brought her earlier.
The soft clink of silverware against porcelain filled the intimate space of the restaurant. Candlelight flickered between them, casting a warm glow over their meal. For the first time in what felt like forever, Carmela felt a strange sense of normalcy—like they were just any other couple enjoying dinner together.But that illusion shattered when Damion’s phone buzzed against the table.His entire demeanor shifted.Carmela watched as he reached for the device, his expression unreadable as he glanced at the caller ID. Without a word, he answered, bringing the phone to his ear.“Speak.”The voice on the other end was muffled, but Carmela could hear the urgency in the tone. Damion’s jaw clenched slightly.“When?” he asked, his voice quieter now, but colder.A pause.“And he just left?”Carmela frowned, setting down her fork. The look on Damion’s face made it urgent. What was happening this time around?Another long silence stretched between them before Damion let out a slow breath, his fi
End of FlashBackThe echoes of the past refused to fade.After the door had clicked shut behind Adrian, the old woman—Blackwood matriarch and queen of a crumbling empire—remained frozen in her bed. Her thin fingers trembled as they clutched the silk sheets, her heart pounding so violently she thought it might tear through her chest.He was alive.And worse—he wanted the key.The very thing that had ignited this blood feud between her grandsons.For years, she had convinced herself that what she did was necessary. That she had saved the Blackwood name from Adrian’s recklessness. But tonight, as the shadow of her past stepped back into her world, she realized the truth.She had created a monster.And now, it was coming for her.Her hands shook as she reached for the burner phone hidden beneath her bedside table. With effort, she steadied herself, breathing through the cold panic clawing at her throat.The line rang once—twice—before a voice answered. Deep and professional. “Madam?”“He