Chapter 32 Comradery In The Face Of Battle
Courtney’s POV
The tension inside the car was suffocating. No one said much after Elena dropped that bombshell, but silence didn’t mean calm—it meant we were all thinking the same thing. This wasn’t just business anymore. This was history. Dangerous, buried, explosive history. I shifted slightly in the backseat, my arm protesting immediately. A dull ache throbbed beneath the skin where those men had grabbed me, and I clenched my jaw against it. Not now. Pain could wait. Answers couldn’t.
Across from me, Elena sat wrapped in Damian’s coat, her fingers gripping the fabric like it was the only thing anchoring her. The bruise along her neck had darkened slightly, more visible now under the low light of the car. My stomach twisted.
“We need to clean that,” I said quietly, nodding toward her neck.
She blinked like she hadn’t even realized it was there.
“Oh… it’s fine.”
“It’s not fine,” Peter said from the front seat, his tone sharp but controlled.
I glanced up, catching the way his shoulders had stiffened. The way his hands were clenched just slightly in his lap. The way he kept glancing back at her like he was trying to make sure she was still there. Interesting. I knew the McKay men had changed their outlook on the Ramsey sisters since they declared a truce after Peter Ramsey was locked up. Elena gave him a small, reassuring smile.
“I’ve had worse from skating. You remember that fall at the Alaska meet. Portia thought I was dead.”
“That’s not comforting,” Peter muttered.
Damian’s voice cut in, calm but firm.
“We’ll take care of it when we get somewhere secure. I'll call in our private physician.”
I leaned back slightly, studying his reflection in the rearview mirror. His jaw was tight. Eyes focused. But something was simmering beneath the surface. Anger. Not loud. Not explosive. But controlled. Contained. Which, knowing Damian, was far more dangerous.
“You’re thinking,” I said.
“I’m always thinking.”
“Don’t deflect.”
His eyes flicked to mine in the mirror. A brief pause. Then—
“I’m thinking Felicia escalated faster than expected.”
I nodded.
“She showed up herself.”
“Exactly, which leaves us to wonder, why now? Why show up when her men could have easily done the job?”
“And she wasn’t bluffing,” I added.
“I know.”
I leaned forward slightly.
“She wanted us.”
“Specifically you,” he corrected.
“And Elena,” I added.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened.
“Yes.”
The car fell quiet again. But my mind kept racing. Felicia Ardent didn’t do anything without purpose. She didn’t make bold moves without calculation. So showing up like that, personally, out in the open. That meant one thing. She was desperate. Or—
She was running out of time. My gaze shifted to Elena.
“Elena,” I said gently.
She looked at me.
“That document you found… is that everything?”
She hesitated. Then shook her head.
“No.”
My stomach dropped slightly.
“What do you mean no?”
“There were more files,” she said quietly. “But I didn’t take them.”
“Why not?”
“Because I didn’t understand them,” she admitted. “This one… this one had names I recognized.”
“Like Ardent Global,” Damian added.
She nodded.
“And our father.”
I exchanged a look with Damian through the mirror.
“Where are the rest?” he asked.
“At the lake cabin,” she said. “Hidden with the rest of his documents.”
Peter turned slightly in his seat.
“Then we need to go there.”
“No,” Damian said immediately.
Peter frowned.
“Why not?”
“Because if she found one file,” Damian said, his voice steady, “there’s a high chance Felicia knows where the rest are.”
Elena’s face paled. “You think she’ll go there?”
“I think she already has people watching it.”
Silence. Heavy. Uncomfortable.
“So what do we do? Bella and Portia won't be back for another week, so I won't need to worry about them showing up unexpectedly, ” Elena asked softly.
I straightened slightly.
“We don’t go there blind.”
Peter nodded. “Agreed.”
“We gather what we need first,” I continued. “Information. Backup. Protection.”
I caught Peter's glance. "Call Emily."
He nodded and pulled out his phone.
Damian glanced at me again. “We need a plan.”
“Always a plan.”
A faint flicker of approval crossed his expression. Good. Because if there was one thing I wasn’t going to do, it was walk into Felicia Ardent’s game unprepared. I shifted again, wincing slightly this time. Damian caught it immediately.
“You’re hurt.”
“I’m fine.”
“That’s not what it looks like.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s a bruise, Damian. I promise I’ll survive.”
“That’s not the point.”
“It never is with you.”
“No,” he agreed. “It’s not.”
There was something in his tone. Something deeper. But before I could push, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, glancing at the screen. A message from Sarah.
Are you okay? There are reports of something happening near your route.
Of course, there were. I typed back quickly.
I’m fine. Lock down the office. No one gets in without clearance.
Already done.
Good. At least something was under control. I looked up again.
“Sarah’s locking things down at the office.”
Damian nodded. “Good.”
Peter shifted again. “So where are we going?”
Damian didn’t hesitate. “My place.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Your place?”
“It’s secure.”
“I know it is.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
I smirked slightly.
“Nothing. Just making sure you’re not planning to lock me in a room for my own safety.”
He didn’t even blink.
“Don’t tempt me.”
I huffed out a laugh.
“Overprotective much?”
“Realistic.”
“Annoying.”
“Effective.”
"You two are giving me a headache," Peter groaned as Elena giggled beside me.
I shook my head, but I couldn’t stop the small smile that tugged at my lips. Even now. Even in the middle of all this chaos. He was still… Him. Solid. Unshakable. And if I were being honest? That was the only reason I wasn’t completely unraveling right now. Because, as much as I hated to admit it, Felicia Ardent had gotten closer than I was comfortable with. Too close.
My gaze drifted back to Elena. I reached out and clasped her hands into mine.
"I didn't thank you yet for what you did. I got to say, I was impressed."
She looked calmer now, but I could still see the tension in her posture. The way her fingers fidgeted slightly with the edge of the coat.
“You okay?” I asked her softly.
She nodded.
“I think so.”
“Courtney said you handled yourself back there,” Peter said, turning slightly to watch us.
A small smile appeared on Elena's face.
“Years of skating teach balance.”
“And apparently combat,” he joked.
She let out a quiet laugh.
“I guess so.”
Peter turned slightly again. “Courtney said that kick was impressive.”
Elena blinked.
“Thanks?”
“Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
She smiled faintly.
“Noted.”
I watched the exchange quietly. Something was there. Subtle. Acceptance? Comraderie?
And for a moment, just a moment, it almost felt normal. Almost. Until the reality of everything crashed back in. Felicia. The files. The connection. The danger. I leaned back against the seat, staring out the window as the city lights passed by. This wasn’t just a fight anymore. It wasn’t just about protecting Damian. Or McKay Enterprises. This was about uncovering something buried. Something powerful enough to make Felicia Ardent move in the open. Something dangerous enough to get us all targeted. And now—
We were right in the middle of it. I glanced at Damian again. His focus never wavered. Hands steady on the wheel. Eyes sharp. Ready. Whatever came next—
We were walking into it together.
And somehow…
That made it a little less terrifying.
But only a little.
Because deep down—
I knew.
This was just the beginning.