No Way Out

Alina sat curled up on the edge of her couch, staring at her phone screen. The dim glow of the city lights outside cast long shadows across her apartment, but she barely noticed. Her mind was still replaying the words from the stranger in the black car. "You caught the wrong man's attention. Attention can be deadly." Her fingers clenched into the fabric of her sweater. She should be scared. She should be packing her bags and running as far away from Damon Cross as possible. But instead… She wanted answers. And there was only one person who could give them to her. Her phone buzzed, making her jump. Her heart pounded as she picked it up. "Unknown Number." She hesitated. Then, slowly, she swiped to answer. 'Alina," a low voice said. Her breath caught. 'Damon?" There was a pause. 'You shouldn't be alone right now." A shiver ran down her spine. 'How do you know I'm alone?" Silence. Then—'Open your door." Alina's stomach twisted. She shot up from the couch, moving toward the door before she could second-guess herself. Through the peephole, all she saw was darkness. Her pulse thrummed in her ears. Slowly, she unlatched the lock and pulled the door open. Damon stood there, dressed in all black, his dark gaze piercing into hers. His jaw was tight, his shoulders tense. He wasn't just here to talk. Something had happened. And whatever it was—it was bad. Alina stepped aside, allowing him in. The moment he crossed the threshold, she felt it. "The shift in energy." His presence consumed everything, making the apartment feel smaller, the air heavier. She closed the door behind him. 'What's going on?" Damon ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. 'I need to know exactly what the man in the car said to you." Alina swallowed hard. 'He told me I was playing a dangerous game. That I caught the wrong man's attention." Damon's jaw tightened. 'Did he say a name?" She shook her head. 'No. But he wasn't just some random guy, was he?" Damon's silence was all the confirmation she needed. 'Who was he?" she pressed. Damon looked at her for a long moment before answering. 'Victor's man." Alina's stomach dropped. 'Victor Vasiliev?" Damon nodded. 'He's been watching you, Alina. And now, he's making sure you know it." Fear curled in her chest, but she forced herself to stay calm. 'Why? What does he want with me?" Damon's eyes darkened. 'Me." The word hung between them like a blade. Alina's breath hitched. 'He's using me to get to you." Damon took a slow step closer, his voice low. 'And that's exactly why you need to stay away from him." Alina clenched her fists. 'I don't even know him. He's the one who came to me." Damon exhaled sharply. 'Because he thinks you're a weakness." The words cut deeper than they should have. Is that all she was to him? Alina lifted her chin. 'And am I?" Damon hesitated. Then, slowly, he reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers were warm against her skin. His touch was careful. "Deliberate." 'You're the only thing in my life I can't control," he admitted quietly. 'That makes you dangerous." Alina's heart pounded. 'Then what are you going to do about it?" Damon's gaze burned into hers. 'Keep you alive." Damon insisted on staying the night. Not because she wanted him to. But because he didn't trust that Victor wouldn't make another move. Alina lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. She could hear Damon moving in the living room, his presence a constant reminder that her life was no longer her own. She should have been furious. But instead, all she felt was… "safe." She had spent so long telling herself she didn't need him. That she didn't need anyone. But tonight, as the shadows of the city stretched across her walls, she realized something terrifying. She didn't want Damon to leave. And worse—"she wasn't sure she ever wanted to walk away from him at all." The next morning, Damon was already dressed and by the window when she woke up. His phone was in his hand, his expression unreadable. Alina sat up. 'What is it?" Damon didn't look at her. 'Victor made his move." Her stomach knotted. 'What do you mean?" Damon finally turned to her, his expression grim. 'He sent a message." Alina's blood ran cold. 'What kind of message?" Damon took a slow step toward her, his jaw tight. 'Someone broke into your apartment last night." Her breath hitched. 'But… we were here." Damon's eyes darkened. 'Exactly." A chill ran through her. "They hadn't been alone." 'Nothing was taken," Damon continued. 'Nothing was touched. But they left something behind." Alina's voice wavered. 'What?" Damon reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver locket. Her stomach dropped. She recognized it instantly. It was "her mother's." She snatched it from his hand, her fingers trembling. 'This was in my room. In a box. How did they—" Damon cut her off. 'They're showing you they can get to you. Anytime. Anywhere." Alina's breath came faster, her pulse racing. 'Alina." Damon's voice was steady, grounding. 'I need you to listen to me. From this moment forward, you don't go anywhere without me." She looked up at him, her fingers still gripping the locket. He wasn't asking. He was "telling" her. Her life had just changed. And there was no way out.