Chapter 68 Chapter 68
Damien’s POV
Sophia moved toward me suddenly, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug that caught me completely off guard.
I froze for a moment, surprised by the unexpected display of affection. Sophia never did this anymore, not since she was a little girl. The only times she’d hugged me in recent years were right before she was about to do something rebellious or dangerous.
My suspicion immediately kicked in.
“Sophia,” I called out as she started to pull away and head toward her room. “Wait.”
She stopped, turning back to face me with that innocent expression she’d perfected over the years. “Yes, Dad?”
“What are you up to?” I asked directly, studying her face for any tells.
“Nothing,” she said, her voice sweet and light. “Why would you think I’m up to something?”
“Because you just hugged me,” I said flatly. “And you only do that when you’re planning something.”
“That’s not true,” she protested, but I could see the slight tension in her shoulders.
“Sophia,” I said, my voice hardening. “I’m not in the mood for games. If you’re planning something stupid or dangerous, tell me now.”
“I’m not planning anything,” she insisted, her expression shifting to something more defensive. “I just wanted to hug my father. Is that a crime now?”
I stared at her for a long moment, trying to read the truth in her eyes. But she’d gotten good at hiding things from me, and I couldn’t tell if she was lying or if I was just being paranoid.
“You need to be a good girl,” I said firmly. “No sneaking out, no unauthorized trips, no releasing prisoners or leaking information. Do you understand me?”
“I’ve been being a good girl,” Sophia said, and something about the way she emphasized those words made my unease grow. “I promise, Dad. You don’t have to worry about me.”
She turned and headed to her room before I could question her further, leaving me standing there with a bad feeling settling in my gut.
I’d barely had a moment to process the interaction when my phone rang. Kai’s name flashed on the screen.
“Report,” I said, answering immediately.
“Boss, we still haven’t figured out what ‘the heart’ refers to,” Kai said, frustration evident in his voice. “But we’ve gotten intelligence that suggests an attack is being planned somewhere important. Soon. Possibly within the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours.”
My blood ran cold. “Where?”
“That’s the problem,” Kai admitted. “We don’t know yet. The source couldn’t give us specifics, just that it’s somewhere significant to our organization.”
“Keep digging,” I ordered. “And Kai? You and Lorenzo need to be careful. If the Morellis are planning something big, they’ll be watching for our people sniffing around.”
“Understood, boss,” Kai said. “We’ll check in tomorrow morning with any updates.”
I hung up and immediately tried calling Vincent. His phone rang several times before going to voicemail. I tried again with the same result.
Unreachable.
That wasn’t like Vincent. He always answered when I called, no matter the time or circumstances. The fact that his phone was going straight to voicemail made my already heightened anxiety spike even higher.
Something was wrong. I could feel it in my bones.
But without more information, there was nothing I could do except wait and stay vigilant.
I headed toward my bedroom, exhaustion finally catching up with me. It had been a long, stressful day, and I needed rest before tomorrow brought whatever new crisis was lurking around the corner.
I opened the door to my room and stopped dead in my tracks.
Hailey was on the bed, her head thrown back, her hand moving between her legs, soft gasps escaping her lips. Her eyes were closed, lost in her own pleasure, completely unaware that I’d entered.
Heat shot through me instantly, desire overwhelming everything else.
She must have sensed my presence because her eyes snapped open, and she immediately scrambled to cover herself with the sheets, her face flushing bright red.
“Damien!” she gasped. “I didn’t hear you come in. I’m sorry, today had been such a long day and I needed to… I mean, I was just…”
I smirked, moving toward the bed with deliberate slowness. “Don’t apologize,” I said, my voice dropping lower. “But also don’t stop on my account.”
“I can’t just…” she started, but I’d already reached the bed.
I pulled the sheet away from her body, exposing her flushed skin and the evidence of her arousal. She tried to cover herself again, but I caught her wrists gently.
“Let me help you,” I murmured, releasing one of her hands to trail my fingers down her body.
When I reached between her legs, she was already wet, ready. I slipped two fingers inside her, and she gasped, her back arching off the bed.
“Damien,” she moaned, her hips moving against my hand.
I curled my fingers deep inside her pussy, stroking that sensitive spot that made her thighs quiver. Her juices coated my skin, slick and hot, as I pumped in and out with steady rhythm, my thumb pressing against her clit in firm circles.
Hailey's breaths came in ragged bursts, her free hand clutching the sheets while the other gripped my arm, nails digging in just enough to spur me on.
“You're so fucking wet,” I growled, watching her face contort with pleasure, her lips parted in silent pleas. I added a third finger, stretching her wider, thrusting harder to match the way her hips bucked up to meet me.
The wet sounds of my fingers plunging into her filled the room, mingling with her whimpers that grew louder, more desperate.
Her walls clenched around my digits, pulsing as I drove them deeper, faster, feeling her body tense on the edge. “Come for me, Hailey,” I commanded, my voice rough with need.
She shattered then, crying out my name as her pussy spasmed, flooding my hand with her release. I didn't stop, drawing out every tremor until she was limp and panting hard.
But I wasn't done. My cock throbbed painfully in my pants, demanding more.
I withdrew my fingers, bringing them to her lips. “Taste yourself,” I said, and she sucked them clean without hesitation, her tongue swirling around me with a hunger that mirrored my own.
I stripped quickly, shedding my shirt and shoving down my pants, my hard cock springing free, thick and veined, pre-cum beading at the tip.
Hailey's eyes darkened with want as she stared at it, her legs parting instinctively. I climbed onto the bed, positioning myself between her thighs, gripping her hips to yank her toward me.
Without warning, I slammed into her, burying my cock to the hilt in one brutal thrust.
She screamed, a mix of shock and ecstasy, her pussy gripping me like a vice, still sensitive from her orgasm.
“Fuck, Damien!” she gasped, her hands flying to my shoulders, scratching down my back.
I fucked her hard, relentless, my hips snapping forward with punishing force, each plunge driving deeper into her soaked heat.
The bed creaked under us, her tits bouncing with every impact as I pinned her down, one hand wrapping around her throat in a firm choke that made her eyes roll back in bliss. “Take it,” I grunted, squeezing just enough to heighten her pleasure, feeling her pulse race under my palm.
She wrapped her legs around my waist, pulling me in harder, meeting my thrusts with her own frantic rolls.
Sweat slicked our bodies, the slap of skin on skin echoing as I pounded into her, chasing that raw edge where pain and pleasure blurred.
Her pussy fluttered around my cock, another climax building fast, and I angled my hips to grind against her clit with every stroke.
“Come again,” I demanded, tightening my grip on her throat, my other hand digging into her ass to hold her steady.
She exploded around me. I thrust deep one last time, roaring as I came, flooding her pussy with hot spurts of cum that overflowed and dripped down her thighs.
We collapsed together, my weight pressing her into the mattress, both of us heaving for air. I released her throat, kissing the faint marks I'd left.
For several minutes, we just lay there tangled together, trying to catch our breath. The room smelled of sex and sweat, and my body felt heavy with satisfaction.
“Are you going to leave with your mother?” I asked finally, breaking the silence.
I felt Hailey tense slightly against me.
“I know that’s why Barbara has stayed for weeks,” I continued. “She’s trying to convince you to leave with her.”
Hailey was quiet for a moment before responding. “I won’t leave,” she said softly. “I’ve already told her that. I want to stay with you, to let our baby know their father.”
Relief flooded through me, but I kept my expression neutral. “And what did she say to that?”
“She’s not happy about it,” Hailey admitted. “But she’s accepted that it’s my choice. Though…” She paused, and I felt her body tense again. “I can’t guarantee that there will be peace if Isabella keeps taking shots at her.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, though I had a sinking feeling I knew exactly what she meant.
“Your mother has been horrible to mine,” Hailey said, her voice hardening slightly. “She makes snide comments, treats her like she’s beneath everyone, deliberately tries to humiliate her. My mom has been incredibly patient, but everyone has their limits.”
“I’ll speak to Isabella,” I promised Hailey again, meaning it this time. “First thing in the morning. I’ll make it clear that the hostility toward you and your mother needs to stop.”
Hailey nodded against my chest, her breathing finally evening out as exhaustion claimed her. Within minutes, she was asleep, her body warm and soft against mine.
But I lay awake for a long time, staring at the ceiling, that uneasy feeling still gnawing at my gut.
———
The next morning, I woke to my phone buzzing on the nightstand. The screen showed a message from Elder Carter, one of my most trusted advisors.
Need to see you urgently. Come to my estate as soon as possible. Important information about the Morelli situation.
I groaned quietly, careful not to wake Hailey, and checked the time. Six thirty in the morning. Whatever Carter needed to discuss, it must be serious for him to reach out this early.
I got dressed quickly, pulling on dark slacks and a shirt. As I was buttoning my cuffs, Sophia appeared in the doorway, looking surprisingly awake for this hour.
“Going somewhere?” she asked.
“Elder Carter needs to see me,” I said. “Something about the Morellis.”
“Here,” Sophia said, moving to my closet and pulling out one of my favorite coats, a dark gray one that I’d worn to important meetings. “Wear this one. It looks more authoritative.”
I raised an eyebrow at her thoughtfulness but took the coat. “Thank you.”
She smiled, and again that nagging feeling that something was off tugged at me. But I pushed it aside.
Hailey stirred as I was about to leave, her eyes opening slowly. “You’re going out?” she asked, her voice thick with sleep.
“Elder Carter needs to see me,” I explained, moving to kiss her forehead. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Be careful,” she said, reaching up to touch my face. “Please.”
“Always,” I promised, even though we both knew that was a lie in this world.
I could feel her watching me as I left the room, that same reluctance I’d seen in her eyes before, like she was afraid something bad would happen if I walked out that door.
When I reached the main entrance, I spotted Marco standing near the front doors, his expression tired and frustrated.
“Marco,” I called out, and he turned to face me. “A moment.”
He approached, his posture professional despite the obvious exhaustion on his face.
“Does Sophia have anything going on behind the scenes?” I asked directly. “Any schemes or plans I should know about?”
Marco hesitated for just a fraction of a second, and I saw him weighing his loyalty to Sophia against his duty to me.
“She’s trying to take down a woman who wronged her in the past,” Marco finally said, his voice careful. “Someone who humiliated her at school or something. She doesn’t want you to know because she wants to handle it herself.”
I studied his face, looking for any signs of deception. But Marco had always been terrible at lying, and right now he just looked tired and annoyed.
As long as it wasn’t about Hailey, I could let Sophia work through her petty revenge fantasies.
“Make sure she doesn’t go overboard,” I ordered. “I don’t need her starting problems while we’re dealing with the Morellis.”
Marco’s jaw tightened, and I saw frustration flash in his eyes, but he nodded. “Yes, boss.”
I left him standing there and headed to the car where my driver was waiting. As I settled into the back seat, I pulled out my phone and checked for any updates from Kai or Lorenzo.
Nothing yet.
The car pulled out of the compound, and I watched through the tinted windows as the gates closed behind us. The morning sun was just starting to break over the horizon, casting long shadows across the street.
We’d been driving for about five minutes when my phone rang. Kai’s name flashed on the screen.
I answered immediately. “Report.”
“Boss,” Kai’s voice came through, and he sounded breathless, urgent, like he’d been running. “We figured it out. The heart is…”
Static exploded through the speaker, loud and harsh, making me pull the phone away from my ear. When I brought it back, the call had disconnected completely.
“Kai?” I said, immediately trying to call him back.
The phone rang once, then went straight to voicemail.