The exit of the Imperial Aurora Hotel was silent as Damian and Ariana walked through it—
silent in a way that only fear can create.
The guards moved ahead of them, clearing the way.
Drivers stood stiffly.
Staff held their breath.
Everyone could sense it.
Damian Steele was angry.
Truly angry.
Not the cold irritation he usually showed…
but something darker.
Sharper.
Dangerous.
Ariana kept close to him, her small hand clasped tightly in his as they approached the waiting limousine.
Damian opened the door for her gently—
too gently for the terrifying expression he wore.
"Get in," he said softly.
Ariana did.
But before Damian followed, his head of security approached him, voice low.
"Sir… we reviewed more footage."
Damian's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me."
The guard swallowed hard.
"It looks like the perpetrator didn't act alone."
Ariana's heart lurched.
Damian's voice dropped to a deadly calm.
"How many?"
"At least three different individuals moved around Ariana throughout the night. Someone was watching her. Waiting."
Ariana's breath shook.
Damian didn't look shocked.
He looked… confirmed.
He knew this wasn't random.
He leaned closer to the guard.
"Find every one of them," Damian ordered.
"Do not touch them. Do not question them. Just bring them to me."
Ariana's eyes widened.
"Damian—"
He turned to her immediately, voice gentler.
"Inside," he murmured again.
She obeyed, but the worry in her chest grew like thorns.
When he slid into the seat beside her and shut the door, the outside world disappeared.
The moment the limo pulled away, Ariana whispered:
"Damian… you looked like you were about to hurt someone."
He turned his head slowly to her.
"I was," he admitted.
Ariana's breath caught.
"Damian… you can't just—"
He raised a hand, stopping her gently.
"Ariana, listen to me."
He took her hand—warm and steady—and held it in both of his.
"You are not a public toy. You are not a spectacle. And you are not a target."
His voice deepened.
"You are my wife."
Her heartbeat stuttered.
"Someone threatened you," Damian said,
"and that is the one thing I cannot tolerate."
Ariana looked down.
"I didn't mean to cause trouble—"
"You didn't," Damian said sharply.
"Someone created trouble. Someone crossed the line."
He leaned closer, his forehead nearly touching hers.
"And if the world wants a reminder of who I am… they will get one."
Ariana swallowed hard.
"I know you're powerful, Damian, but—"
"No," he cut in softly.
"Not powerful."
He held her eyes, unwavering.
"Feared."
Ariana blinked.
Damian rarely spoke the truth of his reputation.
People whispered about him.
Speculated.
Imagined.
But hearing him say it…
It made her realize something frightening.
He had been holding back for her sake.
And now that someone had targeted her—
he wasn't holding back anymore.
---
Ariana's Worry
She looked down at their joined hands.
"Damian… what will you do to them?"
He exhaled slowly.
"That depends on how much they know. And how much they attempted to do."
Ariana tightened her fingers around his.
"Please don't do anything dangerous."
Damian's gaze softened instantly—
like a flame dimming just for her.
"For you, I will be careful."
Ariana's heart trembled.
"But I will not forgive them," he finished quietly.
"And I will not overlook this."
She looked out the window.
The city lights blurred past them, beautiful and distant.
Ariana whispered,
"I never wanted to put you in this kind of situation."
Damian turned her face toward him gently.
"Ariana."
His voice was low, deep, certain.
"You didn't put me in danger."
A breath.
"You gave me something to protect."
She froze.
Her heart nearly stopped.
He wasn't smiling.
He wasn't teasing.
He wasn't being dramatic.
He meant every word.
Ariana's lips parted, but no sound came out.
Damian touched her cheek lightly.
"Do not fear me," he murmured.
"Just trust me."
And for the first time since the night began…
she did.
She leaned into his touch, just slightly—
and Damian closed his eyes for half a second, as if her trust steadied something deep inside him.
The car drove on, carrying them away from the glittering ballroom…
…and toward the storm that would come next.
Because Damian Steele wasn't just going to defend his wife.
He was going to hunt down whoever targeted her.
And the world was about to remember
why he was the most feared man in the nation.