Chapter 34 Chapter 34
Damien’s POV
I could feel the tension in Hailey’s body with every step we took through the gathering, the way she held herself rigid despite my hand on her back, the shallow breaths she took when someone new approached.
She was uncomfortable, terrified even, surrounded by people whose hands were stained with blood and whose smiles hid knives.
But all I could think about was how she’d looked an hour ago, bare and beautiful in my bed, the way she’d gasped my name, the way she’d clung to me like I was the only solid thing in her crumbling world.
I wanted her again. Already. The desire was a constant hum beneath my skin, distracting and dangerous.
“Boss.”
The voice cut through my thoughts, sharp and familiar.
I turned to see Lorenzo approaching, his lean frame moving through the crowd with predatory grace. He was one of my most valuable assets, a man who handled the jobs no one else could stomach, who asked no questions and left no traces.
He also had the social skills of a rabid dog.
“Lorenzo,” I acknowledged with a nod.
His eyes flicked to Hailey, assessing her with the cold calculation of someone evaluating a potential threat. He’d never met her before, never been briefed on who she was or why she mattered.
“Nice little fling you’ve got here,” he said, his tone casual but dismissive. “Pretty thing. Lucky to be brought to an exclusive gathering like this, aren’t you, sweetheart?”
I felt Hailey stiffen beside me, and anger flared hot in my chest.
“Lorenzo,” I said, my voice dropping to something dangerous. “Stop talking. Now.”
He blinked, surprised by the sharpness of my tone. Lorenzo was used to operating independently, used to being valued for his ruthlessness rather than his manners. But he knew better than to push me.
“She’s not a fling,” I continued, my hand moving possessively to Hailey’s waist. “She’s living with me. Permanently. And you will treat her with respect.”
Lorenzo’s expression didn’t change, he was too well-trained for that, but I saw the surprise flicker in his eyes. In all the years he’d worked for me, I’d never brought a woman to one of these gatherings, never claimed anyone as more than a temporary distraction.
“My apologies,” he said smoothly, his tone shifting immediately to something more deferential. He turned to Hailey, his posture softening. “I didn’t realize. Please forgive my rudeness, Miss…?”
“Hailey,” she said quietly, but I could hear the offense in her voice, the hurt that his casual dismissal had caused.
“Miss Hailey,” Lorenzo said with a slight bow of his head. “It won’t happen again.”
But the damage was done. Hailey’s face had closed off, her eyes distant, and I knew she was adding this to the growing list of reasons why she didn’t belong here.
“Boss, If I could speak with you alone for a moment,” Lorenzo said, gesturing toward a quieter corner of the room. “There’s a matter that requires your attention.”
“Not now,” I said curtly.
“It’s about the Morelli situation,” he pressed, lowering his voice. “It’s urgent.”
I glanced at Hailey, torn between the need to address business and the desire to stay by her side, to shield her from the vultures circling in expensive suits.
“I’ll be fine,” she said quietly, though we both knew it was a lie. “Go. I’ll just… stay here.”
“A second,” I told Lorenzo, then leaned down to murmur in Hailey’s ear. “Don’t move from this spot. I’ll be right back.”
She nodded, and I reluctantly followed Lorenzo toward the periphery of the room, though I kept one eye on her the entire time.
Lorenzo started speaking in rapid, low tones about shipments and territories, about the Morellis making moves in the east district, but my attention was divided.
That’s when I saw Vincent, a mid-level associate with more ambition than sense, had approached Hailey. He was standing too close, his smile too wide, his eyes roaming over her in a way that made my blood boil.
“Excuse me,” I said, cutting Lorenzo off mid-sentence.
I crossed the room in long strides, my jaw clenched so tight it ached.
As I got closer, I could hear Vincent’s voice, smooth and condescending.
“…must be very special to catch Mr. Damien’s eye, even if just for tonight,” he was saying. “Tell me, sweetheart, how long do you think this will last? A week? A month? He gets bored easily, you know.”
Hailey’s face was pale, her good hand clenched at her side. She looked like she wanted to disappear, to sink into the floor and never come back up.
“Vincent,” I said, my voice cutting through his words like a blade.
He turned, his smile faltering when he saw my expression.
“Oh, I was just introducing myself to your lovely companion….”
“You were humiliating her,” I interrupted, stepping between him and Hailey. “In my home. At my gathering.”
“I was merely making conversation,” Vincent said, but there was nervousness in his eyes now.
The room had gone quiet. Conversations had stopped, all eyes turning toward us.
Perfect.
“Everyone,” I said, raising my voice so it carried across the space. “I want to make an announcement.”
The silence deepened. Even the clink of champagne glasses stopped.
I turned slightly, extending my hand to Hailey. She looked confused, terrified, but she placed her hand in mine.
“This is Hailey,” I said, my voice strong and clear. “She’s not a fling. She’s not temporary. She is my partner, and she will be treated as such by everyone in this organization.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Shocked faces, calculating eyes, whispered conversations barely contained.
“Anyone who disrespects her,” I continued, my gaze sweeping across the room before landing pointedly on Vincent, “will answer to me personally. And you all know what that means.”