The mansion went completely dark.
Elena’s breath caught in her throat.
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
Then Damien’s voice cut through the darkness.
“Everyone stay where you are.”
A gun was cocked.
Elena could hear footsteps moving rapidly through the hallway.
“Damien?” she whispered.
“I’m here.”
His hand found hers.
“Don’t let go.”
Before Elena could answer, a loud crash came from downstairs.
Luca shouted.
“Someone’s inside!”
Damien immediately pulled Elena behind him.
“Stay behind me.”
Several gunshots echoed through the mansion.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Elena screamed as Damien pushed her against the wall.
Men rushed through the hallway.
“Protect the boss!”
“Check the east wing!”
“Don’t let them escape!”
Everything happened so quickly that Elena couldn’t understand what was happening.
Then she heard a woman’s voice.
Soft.
Calm.
Almost amused.
“Elena…”
Her blood froze.
She knew that voice.
It was the woman from the photograph.
“Who are you?” Elena shouted.
A figure appeared at the end of the hallway.
The emergency lights flickered on.
Elena finally saw her.
Isabella.
She was beautiful, dressed in black, with a cold smile on her face.
Damien raised his gun. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
“Isabella.”
She smiled.
“Hello, Damien.”
Luca stepped forward.
“Drop the weapon!”
Isabella laughed.
“You still think you’re in control?”
Suddenly, smoke filled the hallway.
Elena coughed.
“Damien!”
He reached for her.
But someone grabbed Elena from behind.
She screamed.
“Damien!”
His eyes widened.
“Elena!”
He fired toward the ceiling.
“LET HER GO!”
The smoke became thicker.
Elena struggled against the person holding her.
Then something was pressed against her mouth.
Her vision began to blur.
The last thing she saw was Damien running toward her.
“ELENA!”
Then everything went black.
When Elena opened her eyes, she was sitting in a cold room.
Her wrists were tied.
Her head was pounding.
She looked around.
Stone walls.
One small window.
A single chair.
And Isabella standing in front of her.
Elena’s heart raced.
“Where am I?”
Isabella smiled.
“Somewhere Damien will never find you.”
Elena glared at her.
“Why are you doing this?”
Isabella walked closer.
“Because Damien took everything from me.”
“He didn’t take anything from you.”
“Then tell me.”
Isabella stared at her.
For the first time, the smile disappeared.
“Your husband destroyed my family.”
Elena swallowed.
“And now?”
Isabella leaned closer.
“Now I’m going to destroy his.”
She turned toward the door.
Elena suddenly remembered Damien’s words.
You’re my wife.
She lifted her chin.
“You won’t win.”
Isabella stopped.
“What did you say?”
Elena stared directly into her eyes.
“Damien will find me.”
Isabella smiled again.
“I hope he does.”
She opened the door.
“Because that’s exactly what I want.”
The door slammed shut.
Elena was alone.
But somewhere far away, Damien stood in the middle of the mansion, staring at the photograph Isabella had left behind.
His hands trembled with rage.
“Find her.”
Luca looked at him.
“We will.”
Damien’s eyes became ice-cold.
“No.”
He picked up his gun.
“I will.”
He walked toward the door.
“Isabella made one mistake.”
Luca followed.
“What mistake?”
Damien stopped.
“She took my wife.”
His voice dropped.
“And now she’s given me a reason to destroy everything standing between me and Elena.”