Chapter 45 When She Makes Her Move
Damian's POV
One week. Seven days since the proposal. Seven days since Felicia Ardent stepped into something that wasn’t hers and made it clear she had no intention of staying out of our lives. I stood in the dim light of Marcus’s apartment, the city stretching endlessly beyond the glass. It was late—past midnight—but sleep hadn’t come easily lately. Not for me, not for any of us. Too many moving pieces. Too many unanswered questions.
My reflection stared back at me in the window—sharp, composed, controlled. Unchanged. But that wasn’t entirely true. Because now—
Now I wasn’t just calculating outcomes. I was calculating risks for people who mattered. And that changed the game.
Behind me, the quiet shuffle of movement broke through my thoughts.
“You’re doing that thing again.”
Courtney’s voice. Soft. Sleep-laced. I didn’t turn immediately.
“What thing?” I asked.
“The brooding in silence while staring into the void thing.”
A faint smirk touched my lips.
“I don’t brood.”
“You absolutely brood.”
I turned then.
Courtney stood at the edge of the living space, one of my shirts hanging loosely off her frame, her hair slightly messy from sleep. Her injured arm was healing, but she still moved carefully, deliberately. My gaze softened without permission.
“You should be sleeping,” I said.
She shrugged lightly, walking toward me.
“I woke up,” she replied. “You weren’t there.”
I watched her approach, noting the slight tension still in her shoulders, the way her eyes scanned me quickly—checking.
Always checking.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” I said.
“You didn’t,” she said simply. “Your absence did.”
That—
That landed.
Courtney stopped in front of me, close enough that I could reach out without thinking. But I didn’t. Not yet.
“Talk to me,” she said.
Not a demand. Not a plea. Just—
An expectation. I exhaled slowly, glancing back toward the window for half a second before returning my attention to her.
“We’re being watched,” I said.
Courtney didn’t react immediately. Which told me everything. She already knew.
“Yeah,” she said quietly. “I figured.”
Of course she had. Felicia didn’t disappear. She repositioned.
“And not just casually,” I continued. “Deliberately. Patterns. Consistency.”
Courtney crossed her arms lightly.
“On us specifically?”
“Yes.”
A beat.
“And Anna and Marcus?” she asked.
“More heavily.”
Her jaw tightened. Because they were the most exposed. Newly engaged. Predictable. Visible. I stepped closer now, closing the small distance between us.
“I’ve had eyes on the surveillance,” I added. “It’s clean. Professional. Not random contractors.”
Courtney’s brows furrowed. “Ardent Global?”
“Most likely.”
Which meant—
Resources. Reach. Control. Courtney exhaled slowly, her gaze dropping briefly before lifting again.
“So what are we doing about it?”
There it was. Not fear. Not panic. Action. I studied her for a moment. Then—
“We don’t react,” I said.
Her expression shifted slightly.
“We observe. We let them think they have the upper hand.”
Courtney tilted her head.
“And when they get comfortable?”
My eyes darkened slightly.
“We move.”
A small, dangerous smile tugged at her lips.
“Okay,” she murmured. “I like that plan.”
Of course she did. Because it matched the fire in her. The part of her that wanted to fight. I reached out then, my hand settling lightly at her waist, grounding both of us. Courtney didn’t hesitate.
She leaned into me. Comfortable. Natural.
“You’ve been carrying this all week,” she said softly.
Not a question. A fact.
“Yes.”
“And you weren’t going to tell me?”
“I just did.”
She gave me a look.
“You know what I mean.”
I did. But I didn’t answer that directly. Instead—
“There’s more,” I said.
Her expression shifted again. Serious now.
“What?”
My jaw tightened slightly.
“The internal breach,” I said. “We traced part of it.”
Courtney went still.
“And?”
“It leads to a shell division tied to Ardent Global,” I continued. “But the authorization signatures…”
I paused. Because even now, saying it out loud didn’t sit right.
“They’re government-adjacent.”
Courtney blinked.
“…What?”
“It’s not confirmed,” I added. “But the structure—whoever’s backing this has access to systems they shouldn’t.”
Her mind was already racing. I could see it.
“So this isn’t just corporate corruption,” she said slowly.
“No.”
“Or personal vendetta.”
“No.”
Courtney exhaled sharply.
“This is bigger.”
“Yes.”
Silence settled between us. Heavy. Real. Courtney leaned back slightly, running a hand through her hair.
“Okay,” she said after a moment. “So let me get this straight.”
I waited.
“Felicia Ardent is here, watching us, possibly backed by something government-level shady,” she continued, counting off lightly on her fingers, “and we’re just… what? Living our lives like everything’s fine?”
“For now,” I said.
She stared at me.
“You’re insane.”
“Effective,” I corrected.
She huffed a quiet laugh.
“God, I hate when you say that.”
“No, you don’t.”
“…Okay, sometimes I don’t.”
A small smile broke through despite everything. Then—
Her expression softened.
“But seriously,” she said quietly. “We need to be careful.”
My hand tightened slightly at her waist.
“I know.”
Her good hand came up, resting lightly against my chest.
“Not just for them,” she added. “For you too.”
There it was again. That shift. That focus on me. I held her gaze, something unreadable flickering beneath the surface.
“I can handle it,” I said.
“I know you can,” she replied immediately.
No hesitation. No doubt.
“But I'm just reminding you that it doesn’t mean you should have to do it alone. I know I sound like a broken record, but I always feel the need to remind you of that small tidbit.”
The words settled between us. Familiar now. But no less significant. I exhaled slowly.
“I haven't faced anything alone since a fiery spitfire young woman came into my life,” I said.
And for once—
I meant it. Courtney’s lips curved faintly.
“Good,” she murmured.
A moment passed. Quiet. Steady. Then—
A phone buzzed on the counter. Both of us turned. My expression shifted instantly as I crossed the room, picking it up. Unknown number. My grip tightened slightly. Courtney watched me closely.
“Answer it,” she said.
I didn’t hesitate. I accepted the call, lifting it to my ear.
“McKay.”
Silence. Then—
A voice. Smooth. Familiar. Too familiar.
“Good evening, Damian.”
My jaw locked instantly. Courtney saw it. Felt it.
“Felicia,” I said flatly.
A soft, almost amused exhale came through the line.
“I was wondering how long it would take you to connect the dots.”
I watched Courtney’s face and I could sense the moment her stomach dropped. I felt my gaze darken, my posture going completely still.
“What do you want?” I asked.
Felicia’s tone didn’t change.
“Just a conversation,” she said lightly.
My grip on the phone tightened.
“About what?”
A pause. Deliberate. Controlled. Then—
“About what happens next.”
The line went quiet. But the message didn’t. Courtney stepped closer, searching my face.
“What did she say?”
I lowered the phone slowly, my expression unreadable now.
But my eyes—
Sharp. Focused. Dangerous.
“She’s ready to move,” I said.
Courtney’s breath caught. And just like that—
The waiting was over.