Chapter 17 Chapter 17
Damien’s POV
Within minutes, Kai returned with two guards dragging the man between them. His face was even more brutalized than before, swollen and bloodied, one eye completely shut. He could barely stand, his legs buckling as they shoved him to his knees in front of me.
“Please,” he gasped, his voice a broken rasp. Blood dribbled from his split lips. “Please, I didn’t know, I swear, they told me it was real…”
“You lied to me,” I said quietly, setting my glass down on the table with deliberate care.
“No, no, I thought it was real,” he pleaded, his one good eye wide with terror. “They fed me the information, I didn’t know it was a setup, I swear on my life….”
“Your life,” I repeated, pulling my gun from its holster. The weight of it in my hand was familiar, almost comforting. “Is worth nothing.”
His face crumpled, tears mixing with the blood on his cheeks. “Please, I have a family, I have kids….”
I raised the gun.
“Wait, please….”
The gunshot echoed through the room, sharp and final.
The man’s body slumped forward, hitting the floor with a dull thud. A pool of blood began to spread slowly across the pristine white marble, dark and accusing.
For a moment, there was only silence, heavy and absolute.
Then I turned to Kai. “Dispose off him. Make sure there’s nothing left to find.”
“Yes, boss,” Kai said, his voice steady as he signaled to the guards.
They moved quickly, efficiently, dragging the body away like it was nothing more than trash.
I walked to the bar and poured another drink, downing it in one burning gulp. The alcohol did nothing to ease the cold rage still coiled tight in my chest.
A television mounted on the wall caught my attention, the evening news playing on mute. I grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.
A reporter stood in front of a police station, her expression serious as she spoke into the camera.
“Authorities have confirmed that Detective has been assigned to investigate the recent disappearance of several known criminals, believed to be part of the gang known as the Fanged Bandits. Sources say Detective is confident, answers will be forthcoming in the coming days.”
My jaw tightened, a muscle ticking near my temple.
The last thing I needed was a detective sniffing around, especially one who might start asking questions about the night those criminals tried to attack Hailey.
Questions that would inevitably lead back to me.
I couldn’t have that. Not with Hailey involved. Not when she was already terrified enough.
“Kai,” I called out.
He appeared almost immediately, as if he’d been waiting just outside. “Boss?”
“Find Marco. Tell him I need him here. Now.”
Kai nodded and disappeared.
Minutes later, Marco walked in, a man with sharp eyes and a reputation for getting information no one else could.
“You wanted to see me, boss?” he asked, standing at attention.
“There’s a detective investigating the disappearance of the Fanged Bandits,” I said, turning to face him. “I want to know everything about her. Where she lives, who she talks to, what cases she’s worked, how close she is to finding anything. Everything.”
Marco’s expression didn’t change, but I saw the understanding flicker in his eyes. “How soon do you need it?”
“Yesterday,” I said flatly.
He nodded. “I’ll have it by morning.”
“Good. And Marco,” I added, my voice dropping. “Be discreet. I don’t want anyone knowing we’re looking into her.”
“Understood, boss.”
He left without another word, and I turned back to the television, my mind already spinning through contingency plans.
The sound of heels clicking against the floor pulled me from my thoughts.
I turned to see Sophia walking in, her phone held up in front of her face, a wide smile plastered on as she spoke animatedly to the camera.
“So yeah, guys, I’m literally so excited to be back tomorrow,” she gushed, her voice high and fake. “It’s been such a boring few days, but your girl is coming back stronger than ever…”
I crossed the room in three strides and snatched the phone out of her hand, ending the livestream with a single tap.
“Hey!” she shrieked, whirling on me. “What the hell, Dad?”
“What have I told you about livestreaming everything?” I said, my voice sharp with irritation.
She rolled her eyes. “Relax, it’s just Instagram. My followers love me.”
“I don’t care what your followers love,” I snapped. “Stop acting reckless.”
Her expression shifted, anger flashing in her eyes. “I’m not being reckless. I’m just living my life.”
“Living your life,” I repeated, my tone dripping with disdain. “Is that what you call getting suspended for drugging and humiliating another student?”
She crossed her arms defensively. “That’s over now.”
“Is it?” I asked, my eyes narrowing.
A smug smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “Actually, yeah. I start school again tomorrow.”
I went still, the words hitting me like ice water. “What?”
“I said, I’m going back to school tomorrow,” she repeated, her smile widening. “I talked to the board. They agreed to reduce my suspension.”
My jaw clenched, anger flaring hot and sharp. “You went behind my back.”
“I didn’t go behind your back,” she said, her tone dripping with false innocence. “I just handled it myself. You’re always so busy anyway.”
“Sophia,” I said, my voice dangerously low. “I specifically told you to accept the consequences of your actions.”
“And I did,” she shot back. “For like, a week. But six months? That’s ridiculous. So I fixed it.”
“You bribed them,” I said flatly.
She shrugged, completely unbothered. “I prefer the term ‘negotiated.’ And it worked, so what’s the problem?”
The problem was that she’d learned nothing. The problem was that she thought she could manipulate her way out of every situation without facing any real consequences.
The problem was that she was becoming more like me every day.
And I hated it.
“Go to your room,” I said, my voice cold.
“Excuse me?”
“Go. To. Your. Room,” I repeated, each word sharp and deliberate.
She stared at me for a moment, defiance flickering in her eyes, but something in my expression must have told her not to push.
With an exaggerated huff, she turned and stormed toward the stairs, her heels clicking angrily against the floor.