Chapter 56 CROSSFIRE.
\~~~DAMIEN.
I sat on the terrace, the sun warming my back as I hunched over my laptop.
Work emails piled up, but my mind kept drifting to Serena. Our honeymoon had been everything I wasn't really expecting. A week in, and it felt like we were already building something unbreakable. But then my phone buzzed on the small table beside me. A notification from an unknown number came in. I tapped it open, expecting spam or maybe a work alert.
The image hit me like a punch to the gut. There she was, Serena, stepping out of that little boutique down the street, her shopping bag swinging lightly in her hand. She looked happy, and oblivious.
But the message below it froze my blood, “Even if you hide at the end of the world, I'd find you.”
My heart slammed against my ribs, racing so fast that I thought it might burst.
My hands shook as I stared at the screen again, hoping and praying that I was misunderstanding what I was seeing.
But I wasn’t.
I stood up so fast the chair scraped loudly against the floor, with the laptop forgotten instantly.
“Serena!” I hollered, striding into the living room. My voice echoed off the high ceilings, but it was Alison who poked her head out from the kitchen, her apron dusted with flour.
“What is it?”
“Where is she?” I asked, already panicking.
“She went out not quite long,” Alison replied calmly. “She said she would be back soon.”
My stomach twisted. “How long?”
“Maybe ten minutes. She didn't want to bother you while you were working.”
I didn't waste another second, I turned and bolted out of the villa, the warm air hitting my face as I broke into a run.
My phone was already in my hand, dialing her number. It rang once, twice and then went straight to voicemail. “Come on, Ena, pick up,” I muttered under my breath, my legs pumping harder.
That message wasn't a joke.
And then I saw her.
Serena was walking quickly, her shoulders tense, her head turning slightly like she was checking behind her. The second my eyes locked onto her, fear turned into rage.
I grabbed her wrist and pulled her to me.
“Where the fuck do you think you are?!” I yelled, my chest heaving.
The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I had messed up.
Her eyes filled instantly. Tears spilled over, and she looked at me like I had just betrayed her.
Her gaze met mine, full of anger and uncertainty, and I knew I'd messed up. Badly.
This wasn't how I wanted to protect her. “E... Ena,” E reached out, my hand hovering near her arm, desperate to touch her, and to fix it.
“It... it is my fault for being stalked and chased with what seemed like a gun?” Her voice cracked, breaking on the last word, that it hit me like a knife.
I scratched between my brows, frustration and guilt twisting inside me. “I am sorry, I'm sorry, okay? I was just... worked up. I'm so…”
“I was scared too!” she cried out, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her shoulders shook, and she wiped at her face with the back of her hand, looking so small and broken.
I stood there, frozen, not knowing how to console her. My hands clenched at my sides, itching to pull her close, but I didn't want to make it worse.
All I'd wanted was to keep her safe, but my fear had turned me into someone harsh, and someone she didn't recognize. That message on my phone wasn't empty words.
I knew the person behind it meant every syllable. They'd proven it before, pushing boundaries I never thought possible.
They'd go to any length to prove their point, and to drag me back into whatever nightmare they carried.
And now Ena was caught in the crossfire. The thought made my chest tighten. How could I explain that without scaring her more and without revealing too much?
“Baby, I am…”
“Excuse me!” she snapped, her eyes flashing with fresh hurt. She turned on her heel and stormed back toward the villa, her slippers kicking up dust on the path.
I breathed out heavily, watching her go. My legs felt heavy, and rooted to the spot. She was right to be mad as I had yelled at the wrong person.
Turning slowly, I scanned the street again, my eyes darting to every doorway, and every parked car. No sign of anyone suspicious. The quiet neighborhood mocked me, like nothing had happened. But I knew better.
My gaze landed on the utility pole across the way and there was a small CCTV camera blinking innocently. There were a couple of them along this stretch. I nodded to myself. I'd get the footage, go through every frame and whoever this was wouldn't slip away that easily.
A rustle snapped me out of it and I turned to see Serena walking back toward me, her face still streaked with tears. Hope flickered in my chest. Maybe she'd cooled off, and given me a chance to explain.
“Have you forgiven me? Ena, I am…” I stopped mid-stride as she brushed past me without a word, still crying softly.
“Where are you going again?” I asked, hurrying after her, my longer legs catching up easily.
“I lost my phone! I am yet to pay for it finish!’' she cried, her voice muffled by sobs as she headed back down the path toward the store.
“I can just get you another one,” I said, running alongside her now, trying to match her pace without crowding her.
“I don't want! And by the way, this honeymoon is over! I wanna go home!' she yelled, her words slicing through the air, tears flying as she kept moving.
Oh, God, how was I going to console this woman?
She had been so happy about being here that she said she didn’t want to go back, but now, she wants to.
I followed Ena as she stormed back toward the boutique, her shoulders were tense and her steps were quick. The street was quiet, but my mind raced with worry. I couldn't let her go like this, not after everything. “Ena, baby, please,” I said, my voice softer now, pleading. “Let’s just calm down first.”
She didn't answer, just kept walking, her arms crossed tight over her chest like a shield.
“I was only scared something bad happened to you,” I continued, hurrying to keep up. “I didn’t mean to yell at you. I am sorry.” The words felt heavy, but true. My outburst had come from pure fear, the kind that gripped your gut and wouldn't let go.
Finally, she stopped. She turned to look at me, her eyes red and shiny from crying. She sniffed, her lips pouting in that way that always tugged at my heart.
“Will you buy me a new phone if I can’t find that one again?”
A soft smile crept onto my lips despite everything. Relief washed over me as she was finally talking, and opening up a little. I rushed up to her, nodding eagerly. “Of course.”
“The latest model?” she asked, her voice small but with a hint of her usual playfulness peeking through.
“The most expensive model, in fact,” I said, nodding my head firmly. I watched as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand and sniffed harder, trying to steady herself.
“I was so scared!” she burst out suddenly, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. Her body shook with the sobs, and I breathed out.
I nodded my, closing the space between us in an instant. My arms wrapped around her tight, pulling her into my chest.
“I know, I’m sorry, okay?”