Chapter 35 Chapter 35
Damien’s POV
The announcement hung in the air like smoke after a gunshot, heavy and impossible to ignore.
The murmurs that had started as whispers quickly grew into an uproar of chatters, voices overlapping as people processed what I’d just declared. I could see the shock on faces throughout the room, the speculation, the disbelief.
Damien Alejandro choosing a mere college girl as his partner was unheard of. Unprecedented.
In this world, partnerships were strategic alliances, carefully calculated unions between powerful families that strengthened territories and solidified power. They weren’t formed with young women who had no connections, no influence, no understanding of how this world worked.
But I didn’t care what they thought.
“Hm,” Vincent said carefully, his voice low enough that only those nearest could hear. “Forgive me for asking, but is this arrangement temporary or permanent? Because if it’s temporary, perhaps it would be wiser not to make such a public declaration…..”
“Permanent,” I snapped, cutting him off with a glare that made him take a step back. “Is that clear enough for you, Vincent?”
His eyes widened slightly, and he quickly bowed his head. “My apologies, boss. I meant no disrespect. I only wanted to ensure I understood the situation correctly.”
“Now you do,” I said coldly. “Is there anything else you’d like to question?”
“No, boss,” he said quickly. “Nothing at all.”
I turned away from him, scanning the room for Hailey, and my chest tightened when I didn’t see her where I’d left her.
Then I caught a glimpse of her retreating form, moving quickly toward the hallway that led to the private quarters. Her shoulders were hunched, her good arm wrapped around herself protectively.
She was running.
I wanted to follow her, to pull her back and tell her it would be alright, but I couldn’t leave now. Not after making such a public declaration. Leaving would show weakness, would make people think I was uncertain about my decision.
So I stayed, even though every instinct told me to go after her.
I grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing server and downed it in one swallow, the bubbles doing nothing to ease the tension coiling in my gut.
“Quite the announcement,” a familiar voice said from behind me.
I turned to see Angelo De Luca approaching, a slight smile on his aristocratic face. He was the first son of the Ripped Mamba family, an organization that had been close allies with mine for generations. His father and my father had built their empires together, and that alliance had held strong even after both men had passed.
“Angelo,” I acknowledged with a nod. “I wasn’t sure you’d make it tonight.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” he said, his dark eyes studying me with the keen intelligence that made him one of the most dangerous men in the room despite his easy smile. “Though I have to say, your choice of partner has everyone talking.”
“Let them talk,” I said, signaling for another champagne.
“Are you sure about this decision?” Angelo asked quietly, moving closer so our conversation wouldn’t be overheard. “A college girl with no family connections, no understanding of our world… Damien, you know how this looks.”
“I know exactly how it looks,” I said, my jaw tightening. “And I don’t care.”
Angelo raised an eyebrow. “That’s not like you. You’ve always been strategic, calculated. This seems… impulsive.”
“It’s necessary,” I said, not wanting to explain the pregnancy, not wanting to reveal that particular vulnerability to anyone, even an ally.
He studied me for a moment longer, then nodded slowly. “Alright. I trust your judgment. But there’s something else you should consider.”
“What’s that?”
“Does your mother know about this?” he asked, and I couldn’t help the grimace that crossed my face.
“Not yet,” I admitted.
Angelo actually laughed, the sound genuine and amused. “Oh, this is going to be interesting. You know she’s going to show up here unannounced, like she always does when she hears about something she wasn’t consulted on.”
“I’m aware,” I said dryly.
My mother was a force of nature in her own right. She’d retired from active involvement in the organization after my father’s death, but she still kept her finger on the pulse of everything that happened. And she had very strong opinions about how things should be run.
The idea of her showing up to interrogate Hailey made my stomach twist with apprehension.
“Well, good luck with that,” Angelo said, clapping me on the shoulder. “I’m going to get another drink and enjoy watching everyone try to figure out what your angle is.”
He walked away, and I was left standing alone in the middle of my own gathering, surrounded by people but feeling isolated.
That’s when Lorenzo appeared again, his expression more serious than before.
“Boss,” he said urgently. “We need to talk. Now.”
The tone of his voice made my attention snap fully to him. “What is it?”
“Not here,” he said, glancing around at the nearby guests. “Somewhere private.”
I followed him to a corner of the room, away from the main crowd, near the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city.
“What’s going on?” I demanded.
Lorenzo’s jaw was tight, his usually impassive face showing rare concern. “I’ve heard something. A verified rumor from one of our sources inside the Morelli organization.”
My entire body went on alert. “Talk.”
“They’re planning a strike,” he said quietly. “Not on your territories or your shipments. On you. Personally.”
The words hit like ice water. “When?”
“Soon. Within the week, maybe sooner. The source says they’re tired of the decade-long rivalry, tired of losing ground to us. They want to end it permanently by taking you out.”