Chapter 27: Her DNA

Zayn sat in the cold, dimly lit basement, his emerald eyes sharp as he stared at the man bound to the chair in front of him. Sera’s father—or rather, the man who had pretended to be her father—looked far less intimidating now. His head hung low, sweat beading along his forehead, and his shirt was stained with both blood and grime. Despite his defiance earlier, the man was starting to crack. Zayn could smell fear—he’d seen it enough times before.

“Talk,” Zayn said evenly, his voice low and dangerous. “You’ve been dancing around the truth, and I’m out of patience. What the hell does ‘it’s in her blood’ mean?”

The man lifted his head weakly, his bloodshot eyes glinting faintly in the low light. “You wouldn’t understand…”

“Try me,” Zayn said, stepping forward, his boots echoing against the concrete floor.

After a long silence, the man exhaled sharply and looked Zayn in the eye. “Sera’s mother wasn’t just an IT specialist. She was a genetic coder. She was working on something revolutionary—a program that wasn’t just software. It was embedded in her DNA. A biological encryption key, tied directly to her bloodline. You can’t hack it, you can’t replicate it—it has to be unlocked biologically.”

Zayn froze. “Are you telling me that Sera… her DNA is the key?”

The man nodded slowly. “Yes. Her blood holds the final encryption signature. Without it, the code is useless. Her mother knew she was being hunted, so she hid it in the safest place she could—her daughter.”

Zayn’s stomach tightened as the weight of the revelation hit him. “And you wanted to sell her, didn’t you? You wanted to cash in on her blood.”

The man’s silence was answer enough.

Zayn turned away, running a hand through his hair, trying to process the bombshell he’d just been handed. Her DNA? Her blood? This wasn’t just about intelligence or knowledge—it was something far deeper, far more dangerous.

He pulled out his phone and dialed Damon.

“Damon. You need to hear this.”

The penthouse was cloaked in a warm glow from the setting sun filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Sera was propped up in bed, her emerald-green eyes distant as she stared out toward the skyline. Damon sat in the chair beside her, elbows resting on his knees, his sharp gaze locked onto her fragile frame.

When Zayn’s message came through, Damon had stepped briefly onto the balcony to take the call. The revelation had hit him like a freight train. Her DNA. Everything they had been circling around, every fragmented clue—it all suddenly made sense.

Damon stepped back into the room, his face carved from stone as he approached Sera. She glanced at him, her lips parting slightly when she saw the tension in his jaw.

“What is it?” she asked softly.

“Nothing you need to worry about right now,” he said, his voice softer than she expected. “How are you feeling?”

Sera sighed faintly, leaning back against the pillows. “Sore. Weak. And… a little gross.” Her cheeks flushed slightly as she looked away. “I need to change, but I… I can’t do it on my own.”

Her voice was so quiet, so embarrassed, that it made something crack inside Damon’s chest.

“It’s okay,” he said gently, stepping closer. “I’ll help you.”

Her eyes snapped up to meet his. “Damon, no. You don’t have to—”

“I want to,” he said firmly. “Sera, you’ve been through enough. Let me do this for you.”

She hesitated, her fingers gripping the edge of the blanket, before giving him a small nod.

Damon moved carefully, methodically. He fetched a fresh pair of clothes Liam had set aside for her—a soft oversized hoodie and a pair of loose sweatpants. His movements were quiet, his expression unreadable as he helped her sit up slightly, his arm braced behind her shoulders.

Sera winced as he lifted her gently, her fractured leg still encased in its cast.

“I’ve got you,” he said softly, his voice low and steady.

When he helped her slide the hoodie over her head, his fingers brushed against her bare shoulders. Sera closed her eyes briefly, her face heating with embarrassment, but Damon’s touch was nothing but gentle, reverent even. He worked quickly but carefully, ensuring she was comfortable and fully covered before adjusting her pillows again.

“Better?” he asked softly.

She nodded, her eyes glassy as she looked at him. “Thank you, Damon.”

He gave her a small nod, his thumb brushing briefly over her knuckles before he pulled away. “You don’t have to thank me, Sera.”

Later that evening, Sera decided she wanted to try and shower. Her bruised body ached, and despite the painkillers Liam had given her, every movement was a struggle.

But standing was impossible on her own.

Damon had been by her side since she woke up, and when she mentioned the shower, he didn’t hesitate.

The bathroom was filled with steam, the warm water running in the glass-enclosed space. Sera sat on a small stool inside, her head resting against the cool glass as the water rained gently down her back.

Damon stood just outside, holding a towel and watching her through the fogged glass door. He didn’t intrude, didn’t stare—but he was there. Solid. Steady.

When she was done, her movements slow and careful, Damon stepped in with the towel, wrapping it carefully around her shoulders and helping her stand. Her good leg trembled under her weight, and she leaned into him heavily, her forehead resting briefly against his chest.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “You shouldn’t have to—”

“Stop,” Damon said firmly, his hand coming up to cup her cheek. “You don’t have to apologize for anything, Sera. I’m here because I want to be.”

Her emerald eyes flickered up to his, searching his face, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stop. The space between them buzzed with something fragile and electric—a connection that went deeper than words.

“Thank you,” she whispered again.

Damon’s thumb brushed across her cheek, his storm-gray eyes softer than she had ever seen them. “You’re safe, Sera. And I’m not going anywhere.”

He helped her back to bed, tucking her in carefully before sitting back in his chair. But neither of them spoke. The silence between them wasn’t awkward—it was comfortable. A fragile peace held together by whispered promises and lingering glances.

As the night settled over the penthouse, Damon remained by her side, his hand resting lightly over hers, his mind racing with everything Zayn had uncovered.

Whatever came next, Damon knew one thing: He would protect Sera with everything he had.