We didn't say a word on the ride home.
The city lights zipped by outside the window, but I hardly noticed. Lucien's words kept echoing in my mind: *"Ask him what happened the night your father died."
I stole a glance at Damian next to me. His jaw was tight, eyes locked straight ahead, hiding whatever he felt behind an unreadable facade.
He always looked like this after violence. cold, calculating. But this felt different. This was worse.
As soon as we stepped into the penthouse, Damian loosened his tie and poured himself a drink without a word. I stood across the room, arms crossed tightly over my chest, watching him.
"I want the truth," I said softly.
He didn't even look my way. "You have it already."
"No," I shot back. "I have Lucien's version. Now I want yours."
He turned to face me, glass in hand, his expression as hard as stone. "What do you think happened?"
I think you were there when my father died.
A long, heavy silence followed. "Yes."
That one word hit me like a punch.
You said you protected me. "I did."
By letting him die? By standing there while he was executed?*
He set the glass down slowly. "He wasn't executed."
I stepped closer, my heart racing. Then what…?
"He took a bullet meant for you."
Silence stretched between us. What?
"Lucien found out your father was planning to disappear. He wanted to take you, leave the country, and start fresh. But Lucien doesn't take kindly to being cheated. He sent men to kill him that night."
I stared at him, shocked. You were there?
"I was trying to reach your father first, to warn him. But I was too late."
It felt like I could hardly breathe.
"When I got there, there was blood and smoke everywhere. Your father had already been shot in the chest. But one of Lucien's men was still alive. He aimed his gun at me…and your father pushed me out of the way."
The room spun around me.
He died saving you?
"He died making sure I could save you. He knew Lucien wouldn't stop. That I was the only one powerful enough to keep you safe."
I shook my head in disbelief. Why didn't you tell me?
"Because I needed you to hate me. If you trusted me too easily, you wouldn't be ready to face men like Lucien."
And now? Now that I know?
"Now you don't get to walk away."
He crossed the room in quick strides and grabbed my wrist not painfully, but firmly. My heart raced.
"You want vengeance?" he said. "Then stop wasting time questioning me. I've bled for your justice. I've buried men for you. And I'll burn this whole city down if it means keeping you safe from Lucien."
You don't own me.
"No, but I will."
That was it. All the anger, grief, and confusion bubbled over. I slapped him again, this time harder.
He caught my hand mid-swing.
The tension in the room was thick.
You don't get to do this. You don't get to ruin everything and call it protection.
"And you don't get to pretend you're not still here because part of you wants this. Wants me."
I tried to pull away, but he shoved me against the wall with his body, his hand around my wrist, his breath brushing my lips.
Let go.
"Say it like you mean it," he dared me.
But I couldn't. Not with him so close, not when my heart was betraying me with every beat. His scent, smoke, and leather enveloped me.
I hate you.
"Good, hate me, want me, just don't lie to me."
His lips crashed onto mine hard, demanding, possessive.
I should've pushed him away. I should've screamed.
But I kissed him back, feeling like it would kill me if I didn't.
Because in that moment, hatred and longing felt like the same thing. The fire between us was dark, violent, and it had already burned our past beyond redemption.
I broke the kiss first, gasping for air. This doesn't change anything.
"Doesn't it?" he whispered, eyes wild. "Because you don't kiss someone like that unless you want to be ruined."
I shoved him away, my face burning with anger. *You're impossible.
"I'm inevitable, and trust me, the sooner you accept that, the better off you'll be."
I glanced toward the hallway. "I need a moment to think."
"Then think quickly, because Lucien's going to come after you next. And I'm not about to let him win."