Chapter 50
Alicia
By the time we got back to the penthouse, I could barely keep my eyes open. The drive was quiet, too quiet. The kind of silence that made your mind scream.
Damon hadn’t said a word since we left the hospital. His jaw was tight, one hand gripping the steering wheel like it was the only thing keeping him from falling apart.
When we stepped inside, the first thing I did was kick off my shoes and sink onto the couch. My body felt heavy, like all the adrenaline had drained out, leaving only the ache behind. He stood near the window, still in his blood-stained jersey, staring at the city lights below.
I broke the silence first. “You saw him, didn’t you?”
Damon turned slightly, his eyes dark and tired. “Yeah.”
“Evan.” My throat tightened just saying his name. “Where is he now?”
He hesitated before answering. “Gone.”
“Gone where?”
“I don’t know.”
I frowned, sitting up straighter. “What do you mean you don’t know? Damon, he’s my brother...”
“I know,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “But he didn’t exactly stick around for a family dinner. He said he had things to take care of.”
I stared at him, trying to read the truth between his words. “What kind of things?”
He turned away, his voice lower. “The kind that get people killed.”
“Don’t do that,” I said sharply. “Don’t talk in riddles. Tell me what’s going on.”
He sighed, leaning against the counter. “Evan’s involved in something bad, Alicia. Shady deals, dangerous people. He didn’t say much, but I could tell...he’s been running from someone.”
“That doesn’t sound like him.”
“It does,” he said quietly. “If you’ve seen what I’ve seen.”
I shook my head, trying to process. “No, he’s not like that. He’s...he’s just Evan. He always wanted to protect me.”
“And he’s still trying,” Damon said. “That’s why he’s staying away. To keep you safe.”
I looked down at my hands. “So that’s it? He just disappears and I’m supposed to pretend it’s okay?”
“I didn’t say it’s okay,” he said softly. “I just think you should give him space.”
I felt my chest tighten, anger mixing with fear. “Space? Damon, he was in the same building when it exploded. He could’ve died.”
“I know,” he said again, his voice rough. “And maybe that’s what scared him into running. He warned me before he left.”
I looked up sharply. “Warned you? About what?”
Damon hesitated, then walked closer. “About Nathan.”
That name felt like a punch to the gut. “What about him?”
Damon’s eyes met mine, steady but grim. “Evan said Nathan might come after me. He said whatever this thing is, it’s not just about him...it’s tied to something bigger. Something that’s been building for a while.”
My stomach dropped. “Damon…”
He gave a tired half-smile. “Guess I should’ve expected that, huh? Trouble seems to like me.”
“This isn’t funny.”
“I know it’s not.”
“So what are you going to do?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “We have a match tomorrow night. National League game. Full stadium. Cameras everywhere. If Nathan wants to make a move, that’s when he’ll do it.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. “You think he’d really try something… during a game?”
“He’s unpredictable. And he knows where to hit me hardest.”
I stood up, crossing the room to him. “Then cancel it. Don’t play.”
He laughed under his breath, but there was no amusement in it. “You know I can’t. The team’s counting on me. It’s the biggest match of the season.”
“So what? None of that matters if you’re dead, Damon.”
He looked down at me, his expression softening. “Hey, don’t say that.”
“Then tell me you’ll be careful.”
“I’ll try.”
“No, don’t ‘try.’ Promise me.”
He hesitated, then nodded. “Okay. I promise.”
But I could hear the doubt in his voice.
I sank back onto the couch, burying my face in my hands. “This is insane. First the note, then the grave, now this? It’s like every time we try to breathe, something else explodes.”
He came over and sat beside me, close enough that I could feel the warmth of his arm against mine. “I wish I could make it stop,” he said quietly. “But whatever this is...it started long before us.”
I looked up, meeting his eyes. “You really think Evan’s mixed up in all of it?”
He nodded slowly. “Yeah. But I don’t think he’s the bad guy here. I think he’s trying to clean up a mess he didn’t make.”
“Then we should help him.”
He looked at me, surprised. “Alicia...”
“I’m serious,” I said, my voice firm. “He’s my brother. I can’t just sit here while he’s out there fighting something alone.”
“You’d be walking straight into danger.”
“Maybe. But I’ve spent half my life letting people decide what’s too dangerous for me. Not anymore.”
Damon sighed, leaning back. “You’re stubborn.”
“You’re one to talk.”
He smiled faintly, shaking his head. “You know, you’re the only person who ever tells me that.”
“That’s because I’m the only one who’s not scared of you.”
He chuckled softly. “Maybe I should change that.”
“Don’t even try.”
For a moment, the heaviness lifted. Just a flicker of what we used to have before everything fell apart.
Then his phone buzzed. He checked the screen, his face hardening.
“Who is it?” I asked.
He didn’t answer right away, just typed something quickly and locked it again. “It’s the coach. Just… team stuff.”
I raised a brow. “Team stuff that makes your face go pale?”
“Nothing important.”
“Damon.”
He sighed. “It’s about tomorrow’s match. There’s been talk about extra security, but they don’t want to postpone it.”
“Then don’t play,” I said again. “I’m not asking...I’m begging.”
He reached for my hand, his grip warm but firm. “Alicia, if I back out now, everyone will know something’s wrong. And if Nathan’s watching, that’s exactly what he wants.”
“So you’re just going to walk into danger because it’s easier?”
“No,” he said, looking right at me. “Because I need to end this. For you. For Evan. For all of us.”
The room went quiet again. I wanted to argue, but the look in his eyes stopped me. He wasn’t just being stubborn; he was scared too...he just didn’t know how to show it.
Finally, I whispered, “Then I’m going with you.”
He froze. “What?”
“I’m going. To the match. I’ll stay in the stands if I have to, but I’m not sitting here wondering if you’re still breathing.”
He stared at me, then let out a slow breath. “You really don’t take no for an answer, do you?”
“Never have.”
He rubbed his temple, muttering something under his breath before finally nodding. “Fine. But you stay close. No wandering, no backstage, no press rooms. You stay where I can see you.”
“Deal.”
He gave me a long look. “You know, you drive me crazy.”
“I know.”
He leaned closer, pressing his forehead against mine. For a second, everything else fell away...the smoke, the fear, the mess between us.
Then he whispered, “If anything happens tomorrow… just know I meant it when I said I love you.”
My throat closed up. “Don’t talk like that.”
“I mean it.”
I looked up at him, eyes stinging. “Then you better make sure you come back so I can say it back.”
He smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach his eyes and deep down, I knew...he was already preparing for the worst.