Chapter six
My heart banged against my ribs.
No.
No, this couldn't happen.
I took a step slowly back, my fingers digging deeper into the strap of my bag as the figure stepped out of the shadows.
Tall. Lean. The same arrogant smirk I hadn't seen in years.
But I knew that face.
I could never forget it.
Liam Carter.
My stepbrother.
And the reason I'd been running the last few years.
He tilted his head, something dangerous glinting in his dark eyes beneath the streetlights.
"Didn't expect to see you here, little sister."
My throat went dry. "Don't call me that."
His smirk widened. "Still so feisty." I was beginning to think you'd abandoned me.
I gulped and felt my heart race. "What do you want?"
Liam moved forward, slowly, gray hands stuffed languidly into the pockets of his leather jacket.
"You disappeared, Elena." His tone was buoyant, almost teasing. "No calls." No letters. Not even a goodbye."
I clenched my jaw. "You know why."
His smirk flickered, faltered for half a second and then returned. "That was a long time ago, baby."
"Not long enough."
I wanted to run.
But I knew better than to be afraid.
Liam thrived on it. He always had.
I squared my shoulders. "I don't have anything to say to you."
He chuckled. "That's cute. But I'm not here to chat."
A cold chill shot through me. "Then why are you here?"
Liam's smirk faded.
His gaze turned sharp. Unforgiving.
"You owe me, Elena."
My stomach twisted.
I knew this was coming. I knew he wouldn't have come to find me just to share memories.
But to hear it out loud turned my blood to ice.
"I don't owe you anything." My voice sounded steadier than I expected.
Liam chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, come on. "Don't tell me that you really believe that."
I did believe it.
Because the only thing I'd ever owed Liam Carter was goodbye.
And custom purchased that years ago for him.
I turned sharply on my heel. I wasn't doing this.
I was not going to let him pull me back into that world.
But before I could move another step, his fingers closed around my wrist.
I froze.
His grip was tight. Too tight.
I sucked in a sharp breath. "Let go of me."
His smirk was gone now. Something meaner glittered in his dark eyes.
Except that, of course, it sent a deep spike of fear through me.
"You actually think you can just walk away?" he murmured.
I could feel panic clawing tight at my chest, but I made myself stay calm.
I was not the same weak girl I'd been so many years ago.
I wouldn't be afraid of him.
I wouldn't let him win.
I shoved my arm out and stepped back with my eyes glued to his. "Stay away from me, Liam."
He didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Just watched me.
Like he was waiting.
Then, finally—he smiled again.
But this time it wasn't amused.
It was knowing.
Like he had already won.
"I'll see you soon, little sister."
My breath hitched.
And before I could answer, he turned and melted away into the darkness.
I am trembling under the streetlamps.
I hardly recalled returning home.
My fingers fumbled with my keys, my pulse racing as I pushed open the door, slammed it shut behind me.
I pressed against it, drawing deep, ragged breaths.
Liam had found me.
After all this time… he found me.
I closed my eyes, and pressed my forehead into the wood.
What was I supposed to do with that now?
I couldn't go to the police.
Liam was careful. He wouldn't have left behind any clues.
And even if he had…
The police had let me down before.
They wouldn't help me now.
My stomach twisted.
I was on my own.
I had always been on my own.
I sucked in a breath, sitting up straight. No.
This wasn't going to break me.
Liam could hide in the shadows all he wanted, but I was no longer the frightened girl he once left behind.
I would not allow him to ruin my life ever again.
I squared my shoulders.
I will go to work tomorrow. I would keep my head down and do my job and pretend that nothing had happened.
And most of all…
I would keep my distance from Damien Blackwood.
Because if he ever learned the truth about Liam…
I wasn't sure whom I should be more afraid of.
Sleep didn't come that night.
I lay awake staring at the ceiling, my mind racing.
Liam had found me.
After all these years, after everything I had done to erase my past, he walked out of the shadows like he never left.
And the worst part?
He wasn't done with me.
I could hear it in his voice, in the way he had looked at me. Liam wasn't the kind of person to let things slide, and if he'd gone to the trouble of finding me, it meant he desired something.
And that terrified me.
I rolled onto my side and wrapped the blanket more tightly around myself.
I needed to stay calm.
I needed a plan.
But at the moment, I could only survive.
And that meant pretending nothing had changed.
Even if everything had.
The following morning, I arrived at Blackwood Enterprises right on the dot.
Not early. Not late.
On time.
If Damien Blackwood was going to put me to the test, I had best make sure he had no reason to doubt me.
The receptionist eyed me once before gesturing toward the elevators. "He's waiting for you."
I swallowed.
Of course, he was.
I inhaled and stepped into the elevator, clicked the button for the top floor.
The doors shut tight, imprisoning my body.
I smoothed my hands over my skirt, trying to be normal.
To pretend Liam hadn't emerged from the shadows last night.
To act like I wasn't still trembling on the inside.
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped back into Damien's world.
He was sitting at his desk reading through a file, his penetrating blue eyes already trained on me before I had opened my mouth.
I forced a smile. "Good morning."
Damien's fingers stilled.
I'd hardly noticed the movement, but something changed in his expression.
Something cold. Calculating.
"You didn't sleep."
Their words sent a shiver down my spine.
I blinked. "What?"
His eyes never wavered. "You look exhausted. Did something happen?"
I swallowed hard, and shook my head. "I'm fine."
Lying.
I was lying, and we both knew I was lying.
But Damien didn't press.
Not yet.
Instead, he reclined in his chair, his same-local-look-at-me look assessing me.
"Sit."
I hesitated before obeying.
Damien steepled his fingers in front of him and studied me with the patience of a man who already knew exactly how this conversation was going to play out.
"I've got another assignment for you today."
I straightened. "Okay."
He pushed a folder across the desk.
I picked it up, opened it and crossed through the contents.
A business event. A high-profile gala.
I frowned. "What is this?"
"You're coming with me tonight," Damien said easily.
My stomach flipped. "What?"
"It's part of your job," he said, wholly untroubled. I need my assistant's present. There will be investors, potential deals —"
"
"I don't know anything about business," I cut in.
Damien smirked. "You're learning."
I let out a sharp breath, and shook my head. "I—Damien, I can't go."
The smirk faded.
His blue eyes darkened.
"Excuse me?"
My heart raced, and I rolled fists. "I just — tonight's not a good night."
His jaw ticked. "Why?"
Because Liam Carter was back.
Because I didn't want to be anywhere publicly in case he decided to return.
Because Damien was already too close to realizing something was amiss.
I scrambled for an excuse. "I have nothing to wear."
Damien didn't blink. "That's not an issue. I arranged to have a dress sent to your apartment."
I froze.
My blood turned ice-cold.
"What?"
He inclined his head just a bit, and studied me as if he were waiting for something.
"I had a stylist choose something appropriate," he said smoothly. "It's set to come this afternoon."
My pulse skittered.
Had he sent someone to my apartment?
It made my stomach turn just thinking about it. Not because I didn't appreciate the gesture but because suddenly I felt exposed.
Like he was breaking through the walls I'd put up around myself.
I swallowed hard. "You didn't have to do that."
"I did," Damien said simply. "Because you're coming."
No room for contention there, either.
No chance of escape.
Damien Blackwood had decided.
And now, I am left with no choice but to obey.