They found Sophia, before the words could even tumble from Amelia’s mouth, Damien moved, quick and Controlled, Like dead still.
He grabbed his phone up immediately, Amelia frozen next to the couch, her hand still shaking around her silent phone.
“Sophia?” Amelia whispered desperately into the dead line.
‘Sophia!’
Nothing, Silence.
Her chest convulsed violently, she called again immediately, no reply and again, no response yet.
With every unanswered ring, the fear hit her harder.
Damien snapped into his own phone nearby.
“I want the address of Sophia Bennett, now.
His voice was another thing entirely.
Cold.
Authoritative.
Threatening.
Amelia looked at him helplessly.
“They were outside her apartment…”
Her breath started to hitch again.
“I heard someone knocking on her door.”
Damien glanced up at her.
“Any names?”
Amelia shook her head quickly.
“No, but” Then she stopped speaking, all at once, For she remembered something.
More color drained slowly from her face.
“What?
Amelia swallowed hard.
“My father knew Sophia liked me. That was like cold water, anytime he wanted information about me…” Her voice dropped a little.
“He was always looking at the people around me.”
Damien’s jaw clenched a fraction.
“He used her to spy on you.”
Amelia closed her eyes in pain.
“No.
Her grip on the phone tightened.
“Sophia would never betray me.” “I know.” “But my father” She swallowed again.
“He followed her for my sake, I guess.
The guilt arrived immediately.
Heavy and crushing.
Sophia got dragged into this because she stood beside Amelia tonight.
Because she helped her.
Because she cared.
Amelia quickly grabbed her coat.
“I’m going there.
Damien stared at her as though she were crazy.
“No.” “She might be hurt!
“And if your father’s people are there waiting for you?” Damien took a sudden step forward.
You walk right into a snare.
Amelia’s eyes burned.
“She’s my best friend.” “And you’re just what they want.
His words struck her panic in the face, but the fear had gone too deep now, Amelia shook her head.
“I can’t just sit here!
“You wouldn’t.” Another phone snatched from the table and he punched in a number straight away.
“Luca.”
Silence.
“I want a team at Sophia Bennett’s place, now.
His eyes stayed on Amelia as he spoke.
“No police.”
Amelia walked nervously into the room.
Each second was an eternity.
Too dangerous.
“What if they already got her?” she whispered.
Damien hung up coolly.
“We’ll know soon enough.
Amelia looked at him in horror.
‘How can you be so cool?
His face looked more grim.
Somebody’s got to think straight.
Her answer instantly infuriated her.
“She was crying, Damien!
I know it.
Why aren’t you reacting then?
A shadow passed fleetingly across his face.
“I am reacting.”
She stopped pacing at the coldness in his voice.
Damien walked toward her, slowly.
“You think panicking will help her?
Amelia’s mouth opened and shut it up again, because there’s a serenity in his eyes that belies there.
There was anger, Rage and calm, the kind that was so deeply hidden that it was more dangerous.
Damien rubbed his jaw again before speaking.
“If Richard Laurent touched your friend tonight.
His voice was dangerously low.
“He messed up.
A shudder ran down Amelia’s spine.
The room went quiet again.
Rain pounded against the windows outside, the fire crackling gently nearby.
But the warmth didn’t reach her now, Sophia’s terrified voice kept ringing in her ears.
I’m afraid, Amelia.
Then quiet.
Amelia dropped back on the couch heavily, now her body was frail.
It was too much for one night, Her dad, the contract, Attacks from the media, and now, Sophia.
She pressed trembling fingers to her forehead.
“It’s my fault.” Damien answered immediately.
“No.”
Amelia laughed bitterly.
“She was involved because of me.
The correction was instant and Solid, Amelia looked up at him, saying nothing.
The firelight played softly on Damien’s face, Quiet on the outside, Violence below.
Then all of a sudden His phone vibrated, the room immediately tensed up again.
Damien answered at once.
“Yes.
Shush.
Amelia looked desperately at his face.
Please, Let Sophia be all right, then Damien’s face grew dark.
No surprises here, angry.
“What condition?” he asked softly.
Amelia’s stomach dropped right away, Condition?
She paused, holding her breath.
Damien listened in silence.
Then finally “I understand.
Slowly he hung up.
Amelia stood up at once, Damien didn’t answer right away.
That scared her more.
“Damien, his eyes went up to her.
They found Sophia’s apartment empty.
Amelia went absolutely rigid.
“No…”
“The front door was kicked in.
Her legs felt a bit weak.
“And Sophia?” she whispered.
Damien’s jaw clenched, “She’s dead.The room whirled around Amelia.
Everything inside her chest collapsed at once.
“No.” Her voice cracked painfully.
“No, no, no”
She grabbed her phone again desperately and called Sophia another time.
Straight to voicemail, again, and Again still Nothing.
Tears finally burned sharply behind her eyes.
“She’s alone,” Amelia whispered shakily.
“She’s probably terrified.”
Damien watched her carefully.
“She may still be safe.” “They took her,” “We don’t know that yet.”
Amelia looked at him angrily now.
“Her apartment was broken into!”
“Yes.” “And she disappeared!” “Yes.” “Then stop talking like this isn’t kidnapping!” Her voice cracked loudly in the room.
Even she was surprised at the pain in it, there was silence immediately afterwards.
Deep silence, Amelia turned away quickly.
Ashamed of the tears now streaming down her face.
“I’m sorry”
Damien was silent for a moment.Then slowly “You don’t need to apologize for being afraid.”
And the softness of his voice hurt even more.
Amelia wiped her face quickly.
“I hate crying in front of people.”
That’s what you said.
Her breathing was weak.
A kind of laugh.
Close.
Damien walked to the bar by the fireplace and poured her a glass of water.
He handed it to her, their fingers brushing lightly, Warm and Steady.
Amelia hated how comforting that felt at the moment.
She sipped, slowly, trying to steady herself.
“What now?”
Damien’s expression turned cold again.
“We wait.” “I can’t wait.” “You don’t have any choice.”
It was the truth and it frustrated her.
Amelia set the glass down a trifle harder than was necessary.
“My father crossed a line.
Damien’s eyes narrowed a little.
“Yeah.
Amelia sat staring at the fire in silence.
“He used to punish me by taking things away.
Now her voice was a long way off.
Soft.
“When I was younger, if I bummed him out…” She swallowed.
“He’d turn me off for days on end.
Damien said nothing.
Listening.
“Don’t talk during dinner.
None recognition.
Nothing.
Her fingers twisted together.
He knew that for me, silence was worse than shouting.
There was pain on her face.
“Now he’s doing it again.
Damien looked at her, hard.
“He’s isolating you.
Amelia nodded slowly.
“He’s depriving me of my company.
My name is .
“My friend.
The final word almost broke her anew.
Then, all at once
Her phone vibrated, Amelia picked it up straight away.
Number: Unknown, her pulse was exploding.
Damien saw it right away.
Amelia answered, her voice quivering…Hello?
There was a soft crackle of static on the line, then “Amelia.” Her body stiffened.
Richard Laurent.
Amelia rose slowly from the couch.
“Where’s Sophia?”
“That is enough damage for one night.
Amelia’s eyes burned with rage.
“Where is she?!”
Richard sighed softly on the phone.
“You were always such an emotional girl.
Now Amelia’s hand shook violently.
“Don’t you touch her” “She’s okay.” The answer came too easily.
Too lightly.
Amelia closed her eyes for a moment in relief.
Then opened them again at once in anger.
“You kidnapped her.
“I stood up for her.” Amelia laughed bitterly through her tears.
“You broke into her apartment!
“For betraying your family.” Next to her Damien’s face darkened.
Amelia’s breath became ragged again.
“She did nothing wrong, she cheered your recklessness.
The coldness in Richard’s voice twisted her stomach.
“Bring her back,” Amelia whispered.
“You first.”
A heavy silence fell in the room, Slowly Amelia came to see what this really was.
A trade, her father had taken Sophia to Amelia’s house.
Rage spun through her.
“She’s innocent.
“So are you,” Richard said easily.
But look where your choices have led you.”
Amelia gripped the phone harder.
“If you hurt her”
Richard broke in quietly.
“You don’t understand yet.
His voice dropped.
Dangerously calm.
“End the second you walk away from Damien Vale and walk out of here.
Amelia looked at Damien without thinking.
He stood by the fire-place, motionless.
Watching her.
Watching it all happen.
Richard continued gently.
“I can forgive your little public tantrum.
The words stabbed her at once.
Throw a fit as if her pain was of no account.
Tonight was just puerile rebellion.
“You embarrassed me in front of everybody, Father.” “And you embarrassed this family. You betrayed me!” Quiet.
Then Richard said again: “You belong with your family.”
Amelia’s eyes filled at once.
“No,” she whispered painfully.
“I was part of this family when I was working myself sick for Laurent Group.”
Now her breathing shook more violently.
“I was part of this family when I spent years begging for your approval.
Damien’s expression altered a little at the words.
There was something dark in his eye.
Amelia went on, her voice breaking, but tonight you told me that I only count when I obey you.
Richard’s voice grew colder.
“You’re getting all emotional again.” A tear ran down Amelia’s face.
“And you’ve never once spoken emotionally in your life.
Nothing.
A dead silence.
Then finally, “Be back home by tomorrow afternoon.”
Richard’s voice was deadly quiet once more.
“And your friend comes back safe.”
Amelia’s stomach twisted viciously.
‘And if I don’t?
Another silence.
This time longer.
Then” “Then Sophia suffers the consequences meant for you.
The line went dead.
Amelia slowly put the phone back.
Now her hand shook uncontrollably.
The room was quiet again, except for the storm outside.
Then suddenly, Amelia flung the phone across the room, It slammed against the wall.
The sound rang sharply through the mansion.
“He’s crazy!” Her breasts heaved erratically.
Now tears streamed openly down her face.He actually took her away,” Damien walked slowly towards her.
Amelia turned away at once.
Humiliated at the crying, by the frailty.
But then all at once, Damien gently caught her wrist in his hand, not controlled and Not aggressive.
Enough to make her never run away again.
Amelia froze.
“You don’t have to hide from me,” he said softly.
The gentleness was almost too much for her.
Her lip quivered.
“I brought this into her life.
“Nope.
His thumb brushed lightly over her trembling wrist.
“Your father did.”
Amelia finally looked up at him not bad, Close and too close.
the firelight flickered between them softly.
And for one perilous second the fear, the fury and the solitude.
That was a ll lost under the way Damien was looking at her now.
Like he caught every broken piece she was trying to hide.
Then gently “What are we going to do?” Damien’s eyes slowly darkened.
His answer was silence, cold and scary.
“We’re going to get your friend back.