Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
Back in the penthouse, Damien didn’t argue when Caesar growled at him.
He simply took one step back.
Briar noticed.
Men like Corbin never stepped back.
That disturbed her more than if Damien had shouted.
“Please tell your men to move away from the door,” she said.
Damien nodded.
Victor moved immediately.
Briar looked down at Caesar.
“He needs small amounts. Don’t let him gorge himself.”
“You’ll supervise.”
“I said I’m leaving.”
“I heard you.”
“That wasn’t permission to ignore me.”
A man across the room coughed to hide a laugh.
Damien glanced at him.
The man stopped breathing.
Briar stood and grabbed her bag.
Caesar whined.
She stopped.
“See?” Damien said.
“Don’t use him to manipulate me.”
Damien’s eyes narrowed.
“I don’t manipulate.”
Victor looked at the ceiling.
Briar almost laughed.
“Sure.”
She knelt again.
That was when she saw the photograph.
It sat on a side table beside Caesar’s bed.
Damien stood in the picture, younger, smiling in a way Briar could hardly connect to the man in front of her.
Beside him was a woman with dark hair.
Between them sat a younger Caesar.
Briar pointed.
“Her?”
Damien’s expression went blank.
Nobody spoke.
Briar looked at Victor.
“The person Caesar lost?”
Victor glanced at Damien.
That was answer enough.
“Who was she?”
“My wife,” Damien said.
Briar lowered her hand.
“I’m sorry.”
“She died six years ago.”
Briar looked at Caesar.
“Then why did he stop eating now?”
Damien’s jaw tightened.
“Her sister died last month.”
Briar understood.
“Same perfume?”
Damien stared at her.
“What?”
“Same family. Similar voice. Smell. Maybe she visited often.”
“She did.”
“And when she disappeared, Caesar lost the last person who reminded him of your wife.”
Silence.
Briar rubbed Caesar’s neck.
“He’s grieving both deaths now.”
Damien looked away.
For the first time, he did not look dangerous.
He looked tired.
Then Briar noticed something else in the photograph.
A mark behind the woman.
On the wall.
A symbol.
Three small black crowns.
Briar’s blood turned cold.
She had seen it before.
On Corbin’s shoulder.
She stood too fast.
Caesar startled.
Damien saw her face.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“That wasn’t nothing.”
“I need to go.”
Briar grabbed her bag.
Damien moved into her path.
She flinched.
He stopped instantly.
Noticed it.
His expression hardened, but not at her.
“Who hurt you?”
“Move.”
“Briar.”
“Move.”
Caesar rose unsteadily behind her.
Damien stepped aside.
She walked toward the elevator.
Then her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
She opened the message.
A photograph filled the screen.
Briar entering Damien’s SUV twelve hours earlier.
Under it were six words.
I TOLD YOU I’D FIND YOU.
Her hands went numb.
Damien saw the screen.
“Who is Corbin?”
Briar looked up sharply.
She hadn’t said his name.
Damien held out his hand.
“Give me the phone.”
“No.”
Another message appeared.
YOU BELONG TO ME.
Damien read it.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
“Victor.”
“Yes, boss?”
“Lock the building.”
Briar backed away.
“No.”
Damien’s gaze never left her phone.
“This is different.”
May you like
“How?”
“Because whoever sent that message is downstairs.”
