Chapter 3

I would press my calloused palms against her scars, following her hushed commands, gently tracing the ridges of healed tissue.

Whenever I pulled back, she would seize my wrist, her eyes dark and heavy.

"Not enough."

My ears burning, I would pull her into my chest from behind, peppering kisses along the scars. Those kisses always drifted elsewhere.

Until both of us were breathless, completely drained, falling asleep entangled in each other's arms.

"Why do you look so heartbroken? What, feeling sorry for me?" Mia waved a hand in front of my face.

I didn't answer, just stared blankly at her.

Her cheeks flared red. "Wait, you actually feel bad for me? Hey, I'm fine! A few scratches are nothing to me."

I snapped out of it, burying the ache deep inside.

"Cat got your tongue? Don't tell me you have a crush on me?"

A mischievous smirk spread across her lips. "I was thinking... it's probably too late for me to learn combat. How about you just be my boyfriend and protect me forever?"

I froze, then chuckled softly, rapping my knuckles against her forehead.

"Dream on, kid."

I stepped out of the back room, leaving Mia dramatically whining in protest behind me.

A faint smile crept onto my face. I realized this was the first genuine smile I had worn since walking away from Elena.

The very next second, the smile died on my lips. The bottle of disinfectant slipped through my fingers, shattering against the floor.

A familiar figure stood in the shadows.

Elena was leaning against the edge of the bar, a slim cigarette held delicately between her long fingers.

Under the pulsing neon lights, the shadows danced across her striking, flawless face, making her completely unreadable.

Her gaze locked onto mine, glacial as ever.

My immediate instinct was to turn and bolt for the back exit.

"Why are you running, Damian?" Mia called after me.

Elena's eyes flicked to the voice behind me, a flash of dark displeasure crossing her features.

Predictably, the alley was already swarming with Elena's enforcers.

The lead guard bowed his head respectfully. "Boss, Miss Vance flew all the way out here personally to bring you home. Please don't make this hard on the brothers."

"Did something happen back home?"

Unless a catastrophic crisis had hit the Vance family, Elena's pride would never allow her to come hunting for me in person.

"The Don passed away. Miss Vance needs you."

My heart sank into a bitter hollow.

Damian, you idiot. You actually thought she came for you? She came because she needs a weapon.

And I just happened to be the sharpest blade she owned.

"Understood. I'll leave with you tomorrow."

"I just need a few hours to say goodbye to my friends."

The moment I turned around, Elena was already standing right in front of me.

The dark circles beneath her eyes were heavy. She looked exhausted.

Julian was back. Shouldn't she be walking on sunshine?

Then a darker thought hit me: perhaps they were so wildly happy in private that she simply hadn't slept.

My expression hardened, my fists balling at my sides.

"Friends?" Elena's voice was dangerously low, betraying nothing. "What kind of friends require an extra night before you're willing to come with me?"