Elena's POV
I burst into my penthouse and slam the door behind me, my whole body shaking.
James saved me. He actually saved me.
But Damien—God, the look on Damien's face when he walked away. Like I'd killed something inside him.
I slide down the door to the floor, wrapping my arms around my knees. Three years of protecting Marcus, and it all fell apart in one parking garage. Victoria won. She destroyed me in Damien's eyes, turned his own brother against him, and I can't even defend myself without—
The connecting door flies open.
I scramble to my feet as Damien storms through, his face dark with fury.
Where were you? His voice is deadly quiet.
I, My mind races. I went for a walk. To clear my head.
A walk. He moves closer. In the parking garage? At night? Alone?
My heart stops. How did you
Security footage. He holds up his phone, showing a grainy image of me entering the garage elevator. You left the building twenty minutes after moving in. Care to explain why?
I can't tell him about Marcus's call. Can't tell him about the meeting without revealing everything.
I needed air, I lie.
In a parking garage? His eyes flash. Try again.
It's the truth!
No, it's not. He's in front of me now, close enough that I can see the muscle jumping in his jaw. You're terrified. You've been shaking since you walked in. Something happened down there.
Nothing happened.
Elena— His hands grip my shoulders, not rough but firm. I heard you. On the phone. You said 'I'm in trouble' and then the line went dead. I came running and you were— He stops, his face twisting. You were with Marcus.
Oh God. He saw me. Victoria's plan worked.
It's not what you think, I whisper.
Then what is it? Because what I saw was you in my brother's arms, Victoria claiming you two have been conspiring, and evidence that looks very real.
The evidence is fake! Victoria manufactured all of it!
Why would she do that?
Because she wants you! The words burst out. She's been in love with you for years. She sees me as a threat, so she's trying to—
Victoria's been loyal to me for three years. She helped me build Vertex from nothing. She's earned my trust. His hands drop from my shoulders. You, on the other hand, destroyed my first company and disappeared.
The accusation hangs between us.
I know how it looks, I say desperately. But if you'd just listen
I'm tired of listening to lies. He turns away, running his hands through his hair. I'm tired of wanting to believe you when every piece of evidence says I shouldn't.
What evidence? Victoria's fake emails? Richard Castellanos's testimony? The man who bought stolen code from your real thief?
Damien spins around. Then who's the real thief, Elena? Tell me. Right now. Who stole from me three years ago?
This is it. The moment I could end everything. Tell him it was Marcus. Show him I'm innocent.
But Marcus's face flashes in my mind—broken, desperate, terrified of losing his brother.
And Damien's face when he talks about his family—the pain of losing his mother, the weight of being the only one Marcus has left.
If I tell him now, I destroy them both.
I can't, I whisper.
Something breaks in Damien's expression. Can't or won't?
Does it matter?
Yes! His fist slams into the wall beside my head, making me jump. It matters because I've spent three years hating myself for still loving you! Three years building walls around my heart, telling myself you were a criminal, a liar, someone who used me—and I still dream about you every night!
My breath catches. Damien
Do you have any idea what that's like? His voice is raw now, all the ice melting into pain. Wanting someone who destroyed you? Looking at you and seeing the woman I loved and the person who ruined my life in the same breath?
Tears spill down my cheeks. I never wanted to hurt you.
Then tell me the truth. His hand comes up, fingers gentle on my face despite his anger, wiping away a tear with his thumb. Please, Elena. Just tell me what really happened. Let me help you.
I want to. God, I want to tell him everything.
But before I can speak, his phone rings.
He pulls it out, his jaw clenching when he sees the screen. It's James.
He answers. What?
I watch his face change as he listens—shock, then fury, then something complicated.
Are you sure? he says. The recording is clear? ... Yes. Send it to me. Now.
He hangs up.
What happened? I ask.
James recorded everything in the parking garage. Damien's eyes meet mine. Victoria threatening you. Marcus admitting he's scared of being caught. Richard Castellanos trying to blackmail you.
Relief floods through me. Then you know I didn't
I know Victoria set you up tonight. But that doesn't explain the past three years. He moves closer. It doesn't explain why you took the fall for the original theft. Why you protected whoever really stole that code. Why you're still protecting them now.
Damien
No more lies. His hand cups my face, tilting my chin up so I'm forced to meet his eyes. You're under my protection now, Elena. Whether you want it or not. Victoria's fired. Richard Castellanos will be arrested for attempted blackmail. And you're staying in this penthouse where I can keep you safe.
You can't just
I can. I will. His thumb brushes across my lower lip, the touch sending electricity through me. You're scared of something. Someone. And until I figure out who, you're not leaving my sight.
That's not your decision.
Yes, it is. He leans closer, his breath warm against my face. Because whoever you're protecting isn't worth your sacrifice. They're not worth your freedom, your happiness, your— He stops, his jaw clenching. They're not worth you.
The air between us crackles with tension. His hand is still on my face, his thumb still brushing my lip. We're so close I can see the gold flecks in his dark eyes.
I won't let anyone hurt you, he whispers. Not Victoria. Not Richard. Not even yourself.
My heart is pounding so hard I can barely breathe. Why do you care? You think I betrayed you.
I don't know what to think anymore. His forehead rests against mine. All I know is that when I heard you say you were in trouble, I ran. I didn't think. I just ran. Because the thought of you being hurt— His voice breaks. I can't. I can't handle that.
Damien
His lips brush mine. Not quite a kiss, but close enough to make my breath catch.
Stay, he whispers against my mouth. Stop running. Stop protecting whoever doesn't deserve it. Just stay and let me
A crash from his penthouse makes us both jump apart.
Damien's immediately in front of me, protective, his body a shield.
Stay here, he orders, moving toward the connecting door.
Damien, wait
He's already through the door into his penthouse.
I hear shouting. Damien's voice, angry. Then another voice—male, desperate.
My blood runs cold.
I know that voice.
I rush through the connecting door and stop dead.
Marcus is in Damien's living room, wild-eyed and bleeding from a cut on his forehead. His clothes are torn. He looks like he's been in a fight.
Brother, please! Marcus is saying. You have to listen! Victoria—she's insane! She tried to—
He sees me and goes pale.
Elena. His voice is hollow. She found out. About the recording. About James.
What are you talking about? Damien demands.
Victoria knows James recorded everything. Marcus sways on his feet. She called me twenty minutes ago. Said if I didn't help her fix this, she'd destroy both of us. I said no. I said I was done lying. And she— He touches his bleeding forehead. She sent someone after me.
Who? I ask.
I don't know. Big guy, professional. He cornered me in my apartment, said Victoria wanted me to understand the consequences of betrayal. Marcus's hands are shaking. I barely got away. I came here because I didn't know where else to go.
Damien's expression is unreadable. Why should I believe you?
Because I'm telling the truth! Marcus's voice cracks. For the first time in three years, I'm telling the truth. Victoria's been manipulating both of us. She's been
His phone rings.
We all stare at it.
Marcus pulls it out with shaking hands. The screen shows: VICTORIA.
Answer it, Damien says. Put it on speaker.
Marcus does.
Victoria's voice fills the room, cold and controlled: Hello, Marcus. I hear you ran away from our mutual friend. That was stupid.
Victoria, this is over, Marcus says. I'm not helping you anymore.
Oh, but you are. She laughs. Because right now, I'm standing outside Elena's old apartment. And I'm not alone.
My stomach drops. What?
Hello, Elena. Victoria's voice turns sweet. I thought you might want to know—your friend Maya is here. She's been quite chatty about where you've been staying.
If you touch her— I start.
I won't touch her. As long as you both do exactly what I say. Victoria's voice hardens. Marcus, you're going to go to the police tomorrow morning. You're going to confess to stealing the code three years ago. You're going to say Elena had nothing to do with it.
I, I can
And Elena, you're going to leave Vertex. Leave the city. Disappear like you did before. Because if either of you refuses, if Damien tries to stop me, if James's recording goes public— She pauses. Maya has a terrible accident. Do we understand each other?
Silence.
Damien looks at me, and I see the question in his eyes: Who is Maya to you?
She's my best friend, I whisper. The only person who's been there for me since— My voice breaks.
You have until tomorrow morning to decide, Victoria says. Marcus confesses and takes full blame. Elena disappears. Or Maya dies. Simple choice, really.
The line goes dead.
Marcus drops the phone, his face white.
Damien is staring at me with dawning realization.
You're protecting Marcus, he says quietly. That's who you've been protecting all along. My brother stole the code, and you took the fall.
I can't deny it anymore. Can't lie with Maya's life hanging in the balance.
Yes, I whisper.
The word hangs in the air like a bomb.
Damien looks at Marcus. Is it true?
Marcus's face crumples. Tears stream down his cheeks.
I'm sorry, he sobs. I'm so sorry, brother. I never meant—Mom was dying, and I was using again, and the debts were crushing me. I just needed— He can't finish.
Damien stands perfectly still, his face a mask.
Then he turns and walks toward his bedroom without a word.
Damien! Marcus calls after him. Please! Say something!
The bedroom door closes.
Marcus collapses onto the couch, sobbing.
And I stand frozen, watching the man I love disappear behind a closed door, knowing I've just destroyed his world.
Again.