CHAPTER SIXTY SIX

CHAPTER SIXTY SIX
"So you're saying he doesn't remember being abducted?" Alicia's voice was careful, like she was trying to make sense of something that made no sense at all.

She'd rushed over the moment Alexandra called about James. Hearing that the little boy had no memory of where he'd been or who'd taken him—that was more than strange. It was wrong.

"Yes." Alexandra's shoulders sagged as she let out a long breath. "And I'm worried, Ali. Really worried."

They were sitting in Alexandra's bedroom, the door half-closed so they could hear if James called out from his room down the hall. The house felt quieter than usual, like it was holding its breath.

"The officer said they ran tests on him," Alexandra continued, her fingers twisting together in her lap. "Everything came back normal. His blood work, his brain scans—all of it. Which makes absolutely no sense when you consider that he doesn't remember two whole days and acts like nothing happened."

Alicia bit her lip, her mind already racing through possibilities. "What if Damon was right? What if someone really did inject him with something to make him forget?"

"There's a strong possibility of that." Alexandra's hands curled into fists on her thighs, her knuckles going white. "I'm not doubting it. I just—I need him to be okay. I need him to remember so I can make whoever took my baby pay for what they did."

The anger in her voice was sharp enough to cut.

Alicia reached over and placed her hand on top of Alexandra's clenched fist. "We will. I promise you, we'll figure this out and they'll pay. But for now—" She squeezed gently. "For now, we should just be grateful he's back home. Safe."

Alexandra's expression softened slightly. She nodded, her fists loosening. "You're right. I know you're right."

She turned to look at Alicia fully, trying to shift her mind away from the dark spiral it kept wanting to fall into. "How are things with you and Chris?"

Alicia groaned and flopped backward onto the bed dramatically, her arm thrown over her eyes. "He's fine, I guess. We talked yesterday before I left the hospital, but nothing since then. And honestly? I don't want to call him. I don't want to be the one always reaching out."

Alexandra shifted to lie down beside her, propping herself up on one elbow. "Did he say you were bothering him?"

"He didn't have to." Alicia dropped her arm and stared at the ceiling. "He barely reaches out to me, Alex. I'm always the one initiating. Always the one making plans. And I'm too tired to be a burden in any man's life right now, so I'm just going to let him be. If he wants this, he'll figure it out."

"Does he know you like him?" Alexandra's voice was gentle. "Like, actually know?"

Alicia sat up slightly, resting on her elbows. "We've kissed. Multiple times. Isn't that enough of a hint that I'm into him?"

"Maybe not." Alexandra gave her a knowing look. "Men aren't as perceptive as we are, Ali. Sometimes they need things spelled out. You should just tell him instead of expecting him to guess."

"Whatever." Alicia waved a hand dismissively, but there was frustration in her voice. "I'm not about to drag a man into understanding basic emotional cues. He'll figure it out when he's ready—if he ever stops following Damon around long enough to have a life of his own."

Alexandra laughed despite herself. "You're so stubborn."

"Says the woman who denied being Sasha Rivera for weeks." Alicia shot back with a grin.

"Touché." Alexandra grabbed a pillow and tossed it at her.

They both dissolved into quiet laughter, and for just a moment, the weight of everything that had happened lifted slightly. Alicia pulled the duvet up over both of them, and they lay there in comfortable silence, staring at the ceiling.

"Thank you for being here," Alexandra said softly.

"Always," Alicia replied. "That's what friends do."

༺༺♡♡༻༻

"So your boss hasn't been in the office for almost four days?"

Victoria stood at Lexa's desk, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against the surface. Her smile was pleasant enough, but Lexa had worked for Alexandra long enough to Victoria was trouble and didn't like her boss.

"That's correct." Lexa's tone was professional but cool. "But you're welcome to leave a message, and I'll make sure Ms. Sterling receives it when she returns."

Victoria's smile widened, but it didn't reach her eyes. "That won't be necessary. I'll just come back another time."

She turned on her heel and headed for the elevators, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor.

Meanwhile, Damon was waiting for the elevator on the ground floor. His private one was under repair, which meant he was stuck using the public elevator like everyone else. The doors slid open with a soft chime.

Victoria stepped out, and her entire face lit up the second she spotted him.

Damon's expression did the opposite. His jaw tightened, and his eyes went cold.

"What are you doing here, Victoria?" His voice was sharp enough to cut glass.

"I came to meet with someone." Victoria moved closer, undeterred by his obvious displeasure. "And to see you, of course."

Damon exhaled through his nose, his patience already thin. "Do you have an issue with reading the room? With staying away from me like I've asked you to?"

"No." Victoria's grin didn't falter. She stepped even closer, invading his personal space. "And you know I can't stay away from you, Damon."

He took a deliberate step back.

"Actually," Victoria continued, her voice dropping to something almost conspiratorial, "I came to talk to Alexandra about something important. Something I think might interest you too."

Damon frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Victoria leaned in until their faces were only inches apart. "You'll find out soon enough. But let's just say—she might not be who she claims to be."

Before Damon could respond, before he could demand she explain what the hell that meant, Victoria pulled back with a satisfied smile.

"I'll see you soon, Damon."

She walked past him toward the exit, leaving him standing there with more questions than answers. His hands clenched at his sides as he watched her go.

What the hell was she planning?

༺༺♡♡༻༻

Later that night, Chris's apartment was dark except for the faint glow of the streetlights filtering through the curtains.

"Stay the fuck away from me."

The words came out strangled, desperate. Chris thrashed in his bed, the sheets tangled around his legs.

"Don't come close." His voice cracked. "Don't do this. Please don't do this."

Sweat poured down his face, soaking his hair and his pillow. His hands clawed at the sheets like he was trying to escape something—someone.

"It hurts." The words were barely a whisper now, broken and raw. "It hurts so much."

Tears leaked from the corners of his closed eyes.

"I'll kill you, Jim." His voice rose to a shout, jagged with pain and rage. "I'll fucking make you pay for everything!"

He jerked awake with a gasp, his eyes flying open. For a moment, he couldn't remember where he was. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, his heart hammering so hard it hurt.

His hands were shaking.

He threw off the sheets and stumbled out of bed, his legs unsteady. He made his way to the kitchen, flipping on the light with fumbling fingers. The brightness made him wince, but he needed it. Needed something to ground him in reality.

He grabbed a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water from the tap. His hands shook so badly he almost dropped it. He brought it to his lips and drank deeply, the cold water doing nothing to calm the panic still thrumming through his veins.

The nightmares were back.

The same ones from eight years ago. The ones he'd thought he'd finally buried.

Chris set the glass down on the counter and braced his hands against the edge, his head dropping forward. His breathing was still ragged, uneven.

He ran one hand through his sweat-damp hair, tugging at it hard enough to hurt. The pain helped. A little.

He wasn't ready to go back to that part of his life. Wasn't ready to face those memories again.

But maybe he wouldn't have a choice.