Scapegoat

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CHAPTER 17

~Damon’s POV~

I should have known. The moment they insisted Arianna bring the briefcase, suspicion crept in, warning me that this was a set-up. I wanted Jet to bring the briefcase because I trusted his abilities, but they had already requested Arianna. 

Mars was on edge, his instincts sharp, but we’d been outmanoeuvred, and I knew the moment I flipped the lid of the briefcase.

The artefact inside was a cheap plastic fake. My stomach twisted with irritation as I spun the briefcase around, barely biting back a growl. Just as I was about to speak, Arianna’s voice cut through, but her warning was too late.

The man across from me had two guns trained at my head, his gaze cold. 

But my problem wasn’t him—it was sending Arianna straight into the hyenas’s den that bothered Mars and I. 

Just as I’d feared, one of them had a gun pressed against her temple, his other hand wrapped tightly around her neck, ready to end her in two quick moves.

A calm settled over me as I glanced back to my own men, each aiming their weapons, ready to take down these dimwits who thought they could corner us. 

I could see Arianna’s fear, her eyes wide as she glanced between me and the man holding her, trying to control her breathing. 

I met her gaze and smirked, letting my laughter roll through the tension. I could see the confusion in Arianna’s eyes.

It was blissful but she’d soon learn to play along.

“Go ahead,” I said coolly, waving a dismissive hand. “Shoot her if you want. All I care about is my money or the real artefacts you promised.” 

My calm, detached words echoed in the empty warehouse, and Arianna’s shock flashed, her face a mix of horror and betrayal.

"You... you don’t care if they kill me?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

I raised an eyebrow. “That’s up to them, isn’t it?” My tone remained indifferent, but inside, Mars was snarling, barely restrained.

Arianna’s lips pressed into a hard line, anger flickering in her eyes. “Why didn’t you just let me die when I fell?” she muttered, her voice thick with frustration. “I never wanted to be here. You could’ve just—just saved yourself the trouble.”

She turned her head to the side and glared at the man holding her, speaking with sharp, furious sarcasm. “Actually, go ahead and kill him. Do us all a favour, would you?”

No one answered and she continued. “Imagine I am not even here because as you can see, he doesn't have any use for me and all. I refuse to be his scapegoat. Just rethink this and…”

“Shut up, bitch,” her captor growled, clamping his hand around her jaw, squeezing hard enough to make her wince. 

I felt Mars push forward, a flash of red prickling at the edge of my vision. But I stayed still, masking it, waiting.

Arianna’s defiance was exactly what I needed. Her captor’s attention was firmly fixed on her now, and in the second he looked away from me, I moved, fast as lightning. 

In a blur, I was behind him, one hand on his neck and the other on his gun hand. A swift snap ended him, his body dropping to the floor before anyone registered what happened.

All around us, their men froze, shock plain on their faces, and Arianna’s eyes widened, her breath catching.

It took a few beats before they remembered themselves and pointed their guns in my direction. 

Big fools.

“Shut your eyes,” I ordered her sharply, my gaze still locked on our enemies.

In the silence, Jet moved first, taking down the guard who’d turned his back, aiming squarely at me. The shot was clean, and the man dropped, a neat hole in his head. 

Arianna flinched, her hands clenching, but she held still, her eyes glued to the unfolding scene.

Confusion flickered in their eyes, some aiming at Jet and the others turned, their shock quickly dissolving into panic as they aimed at me, adrenaline spiking through the room. 

I stepped back, staying close to Arianna. “Close your eyes, now.”

She hesitated for a split second, but when a gun fired, her eyes squeezed shut just as I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her close as I dodged the shot. The bullet whizzed by, slamming into one of our enemies and taking him down.

“Three down,” I counted loud enough for her to hear.

In one fluid motion, I drew my own gun, moving with speed only possible through years of training—and as a werewolf. 

My shots were precise, each one taking down the enemy before they even had a chance to react, until the last body dropped and silence fell over the room.

Arianna kept her eyes shut, trembling as I pulled her back to my side. Jet moved to join us, a dark satisfaction in his gaze as he surveyed the carnage.

Without saying anything, I moved away from the scene, pulling Arianna with me. It wasn’t until we reached outside the building that I stopped. 

“Open your eyes. The terror’s over,” I instructed but she shook her head. 

I understood her fear. For one who had not dealt with something like that and was at gunpoint, it was understandable but this was the cold reality of life—my life and hers soon.

“Fine then. Continue to keep them close for eternity.” Without bothering with her, I turned to Jet. “Burn the building,” I ordered coldly.

Arianna’s eyes finally cracked open almost immediately, taking in the warehouse. “Your… your money?” she asked, her voice faint. She looked around as if trying to make sure.

I knew she noticed my men hadn’t taken out the briefcases but that wasn’t a problem.

I smirked, a dark satisfaction lacing my tone. “They were never players, to begin with,” I retorted, my gaze sweeping over the wreckage. “Now, move out.”

With a last glance at the scene, I led her into my car and we drove off, letting the scared rabbit relax finally.