Aria felt like the ground had disappeared beneath her feet.
"They're going after my family?" she repeated, her voice barely steady.
Damian didn't look away.
"Yes."
Her heart started racing again—faster this time, more panicked.
"No… no, they wouldn't—" she shook her head quickly. "This is about me, not them."
"You're underestimating how far they're willing to go," he said.
Her hands trembled slightly.
"I have to call them."
She turned quickly, already reaching for her phone—
But Damian's hand caught her wrist.
Firm.
Stopping her.
"Not yet."
Her eyes snapped to his.
"What do you mean not yet?" she snapped. "They could be in danger!"
"And calling them without thinking could make it worse," he replied calmly.
Her chest rose and fell quickly.
"How could it possibly get worse than this?"
His gaze hardened slightly.
"You contacting them suddenly—panicked—confirms everything."
Her breath hitched.
Confirms what?
"That they can use them to get to you," he added.
Silence.
The realization hit her slowly.
Painfully.
Her fingers curled slightly.
"So what… I just do nothing?" she asked, her voice breaking just a little.
"No," he said.
"You do exactly what I tell you."
Her jaw tightened.
"This isn't the time for control, Damian."
"This is exactly the time for it."
His tone left no room for argument.
And that only made her more frustrated.
"They're my family," she said, her voice shaking now. "I can't just stand here and trust you to handle everything!"
A pause.
Then—
"You already are."
Her breath caught.
Because he was right.
Again.
And she hated it.
"What are you going to do?" she asked, forcing herself to stay calm.
Damian released her wrist this time.
But his gaze stayed locked on hers.
"I'm going to make sure no one touches them."
"How?"
"That's not something you need to worry about."
Her frustration flared again.
"Stop saying that! I do need to worry about it. It's my family!"
"And worrying won't protect them," he said sharply.
Silence.
Heavy.
Clashing.
Then—
"I will," he continued, his voice lower now. "That's the difference."
Her chest tightened.
Because there it was again.
That certainty.
That control.
That dangerous promise.
Aria turned away, running a hand through her hair.
"This is too much," she muttered.
"It's only the beginning," Damian replied.
Her heart sank.
That didn't help.
At all.
"I should go to them," she said suddenly.
The words hung in the air for half a second—
Before Damian's voice cut through.
"No."
She turned back instantly.
"You don't get to decide that."
"I already did."
Her pulse spiked.
"You can't just keep me here like I'm—"
"Like you're safe?" he interrupted.
Her words caught in her throat.
Because that wasn't what she was going to say.
But it was what he meant.
"They need me," she said, softer now.
"And you going there puts them in more danger," he replied.
"How do you know that?"
"Because they want you."
Her chest tightened.
"And right now," he added, stepping closer again, "this is the only place they can't reach you."
Her breathing slowed slightly.
Not because she was calm.
But because she was thinking.
Really thinking.
And she didn't like the answer she was coming to.
"What if they get hurt because of me?" she asked quietly.
Something flickered in his eyes.
Something rare.
"I won't let that happen."
Her gaze lifted to meet his.
"You can't control everything."
"No," he said.
"But I can control enough."
Her heart skipped.
Because a part of her—
A small, dangerous part—
Believed him.
A knock interrupted them.
Damian didn't take his eyes off her.
"Come in."
The door opened, and a man stepped inside.
"Sir, the team is ready."
Damian nodded once.
"Good."
Aria's stomach tightened.
"What team?" she asked.
His gaze shifted to her again.
"The one handling your problem."
Her pulse quickened.
"You mean—"
"Yes."
Something about the way he said it made her uneasy.
"What exactly are they going to do?" she asked carefully.
A pause.
Then—
"Whatever is necessary."
Her breath caught.
That didn't sound like protection.
That sounded like something else.
Something darker.
"Damian…" she said slowly. "What does that mean?"
He stepped closer again.
Close enough that she had to tilt her head slightly to meet his gaze.
"It means," he said quietly,
"this ends tonight."
A chill ran down her spine.
"Ends how?"
His expression didn't change.
But his voice dropped slightly.
"They won't come after you again."
Her heart pounded.
"That's not what I asked."
"I know."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
"You're going to hurt them," she said finally.
Not a question.
A realization.
His gaze held hers.
Unapologetic.
"They crossed a line."
Her chest tightened.
"So you get to decide what happens to them?"
"Yes."
The answer came too easily.
Too cold.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "No, that's not okay."
"They threatened your family."
"That doesn't mean you destroy theirs!"
The tension snapped between them.
"You think this is a game?" he asked sharply.
"I think you're going too far!"
"And I think you don't understand the situation," he fired back.
Her heart pounded.
"Then make me understand!"
Silence.
Then—
"They would have forced you into a marriage you didn't want," he said. "Used you like a transaction."
Her chest tightened.
"And now?" she challenged. "What is this?"
That hit.
She saw it.
Just for a second.
But it was there.
"This is different," he said.
"How?" she asked.
"Because you chose this."
Her breath caught.
"Did I?"
The question lingered.
Unanswered.
They stood there, staring at each other.
The tension between them no longer just physical.
Now it was something deeper.
Something more dangerous.
"I won't let you become like them," she said quietly.
His gaze darkened.
"I already am."
Her heart skipped.
"But you don't have to be."
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Then—
"That's not your decision to make," he said.
Aria stepped closer.
Closing the distance again.
Not afraid this time.
Just… determined.
"Maybe not," she said softly.
"But it's my decision whether I stay."
His jaw tightened.
"Careful."
"Or what?" she challenged.
"You walk away?"
She held his gaze.
"I might.Try." The word was quite but dangerous. Her heart raced. Cause she didn't know if she meant it. Or if she was just testing him.
And somehow.
That felt just as risky.