Chapter 10 A Step Too Close

• The ride back to her apartment was unnervingly silent. Damian sat beside Amara, his gaze fixed out the window, his jaw set in a grim line. The tension in the car was suffocating, and though she wanted to ask questions, she couldn’t bring herself to break the silence.
• When they arrived, Damian escorted her inside, his presence looming like a stormcloud. Once the door closed behind them, he turned to her, his eyes colder than she’d ever seen them.
• “Tell me everything Calloway asked,” he said, his voice dangerously calm.
• Amara hesitated for a fraction of a second—enough for Damian to notice. His expression darkened, and he took a step toward her, his towering frame casting a shadow that seemed to swallow the small space.
• “I didn’t hide anything,” she said quickly, her voice trembling despite her attempt to stay calm. “He asked why I was at the warehouse. I told him it was for a meeting about logistics. He asked if I noticed anything unusual, and I said no.”
• Damian studied her, his piercing gaze making her feel like he could see through her every word. “And?”
• “He asked how long I’ve been working for you,” she added. “I told him the truth—just a few weeks.”
• His eyes narrowed. “Did he seem convinced?”
• Amara nodded. “I think so. He didn’t press me too hard.”
• Damian exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing a fraction. “Good. But Calloway isn’t the type to let go so easily. He’ll keep digging, and if he finds anything, it won’t just be you he comes after.”
• Her stomach twisted at his words. “I didn’t ask to be involved in this,” she said, her voice rising slightly. “I’m just trying to do my job and survive. You’re the one who dragged me into your mess.”
• His expression hardened, but instead of snapping back, he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. “You think you’re innocent in all of this? The moment you stepped into my office, you became part of my world. There’s no going back now, Amara. The sooner you accept that, the better.”
• She swallowed hard, her heart racing. “What do you want from me, Damian? Why did you hire me?”
• For a moment, he said nothing. Then, to her surprise, a faint smile curved his lips—not warm, but not entirely cold either. “Because you’re different. You’re smarter than most, and you don’t back down easily. I need people like that in my corner.”
• Before she could respond, her phone buzzed. She glanced at it, her breath hitching when she saw an unknown number. Without thinking, she answered. “Hello?”
• “Miss Hayes,” the voice on the other end said, low and gravelly. “You don’t know me, but I know you. And I know what you’ve been up to with Volkov.”
• Her blood ran cold. “Who is this?”
• “Let’s just say I’m someone who doesn’t want to see you get hurt,” the voice replied. “But if you keep playing his game, you’ll end up like everyone else who’s trusted him—broken and discarded.”
• Amara’s grip on the phone tightened as she glanced at Damian, who was watching her with a frown. “What do you want?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
• “Walk away while you still can,” the voice said. “Or you’ll regret it.”
• The line went dead.
• Amara lowered the phone slowly, her hands trembling. Damian stepped closer, his gaze sharp. “Who was that?”
• She hesitated, then shook her head. “I don’t know. They didn’t say their name.”
• His jaw tightened. “What did they want?”
• “They… They told me to walk away from you,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
• Damian’s expression darkened, and a dangerous energy seemed to radiate from him. “Did they threaten you?”
• “Not directly,” she said. “But it felt like a warning.”
• He let out a low growl, running a hand through his hair. “Whoever it was, they’re trying to scare you. Don’t let them. You’re under my protection, Amara. No one touches you without my permission.”
• The possessiveness in his tone sent a shiver down her spine. “This isn’t just about me, is it?” she asked quietly. “Whoever that was, they’re after you. I’m just collateral damage.”
• Damian’s gaze softened, just for a moment. “You’re not collateral damage,” he said. “You’re… important. To this operation.”
• She caught the hesitation in his words, but before she could press him, he turned away. “I’ll find out who made that call. In the meantime, don’t answer any numbers you don’t recognize. And don’t go anywhere alone.”
• The command in his voice left no room for argument, but Amara couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being pulled deeper into a web she didn’t fully understand.
• ---
• That night, as she lay in bed, Amara replayed the call in her mind. The voice had been unfamiliar, but the warning felt personal. Someone was watching her, and they knew more than they were letting on.
• And then there was Damian. His reaction to the call had been protective, almost possessive, but it hadn’t answered the questions swirling in her mind.
• Why had he really hired her?
• What was he hiding?
• And most importantly—what price would she pay for staying by his side?
• As sleep finally claimed her, one thought lingered in her mind: she was no longer just a pawn in Damian’s game. She was a target.