Chapter 41: Love Stained with Blood

Chapter 41: Love Stained with Blood
Damian was silent.
A heavy stillness settled over Vanya's room that night. They hadn't spoken since their last exchange. Vanya realized Damian was thinking something over and making his decision in quiet deliberation. He paced back and forth in Vanya's room, lighting a cigarette, extinguishing it before it was halfway done, then staring out the dark window with an empty gaze.
Meanwhile, Vanya stood a few steps behind him, watching. Waiting. Hoping Damian would soon reveal their plan and involve her. But all she had received so far was a silence that was too long.
Finally, Damian spoke, without turning around, "We move tomorrow."
Vanya held her breath. "To Pablo's headquarters?"
There was no answer. Damian simply put down his cigarette and slipped his hands into his trouser pockets.
"You're not coming," he said flatly.
The words pierced like a knife.
"What?" Vanya approached him. "But you just said we would do this together. You said we'd start the plan..."
"Yes." Damian looked at her. "My plan is to end all of this. But you are not coming."
Vanya clenched her fist. "Damian, you can't do this alone. Those three women..."
"I will save them." His voice was sharp. "But you... You have to leave here. Put as much distance between yourself and Pablo as possible."
Vanya frowned. "You want to get rid of me?"
"Protect you."
"By making me useless?" Vanya retorted, her emotions rising uncontrollably. "By keeping me away from the truth, I found myself? From the danger I am also a part of?"
Damian didn't answer. He just turned his face away, his hands tightly clenched in his pockets. His attitude was cold. Firm. But Vanya sensed a hidden fear beneath it. A fear she had never seen before.
"Pablo is targeting you," Damian finally said. "You think he just wants to use me? No. He wants to destroy me, and the fastest way is through you. He has already seen you, and he knows exactly why you are here."
"I'm strong," Vanya insisted. "I can endure."
"Not strong enough." Damian held his breath, his voice lowering. "I won't let you end up like..."
He stopped. His jaw tightened. Vanya knew he had almost said a name. Someone he might have cared for once. Someone who might be missing, or dead, or taken by Pablo.
Damian then spoke firmly, as if breaking a chain that bound him,
"I've prepared a vehicle. Early tomorrow, you will be sent to a safe house. I have trusted people there. They will look after you."
Vanya was stunned. The words felt like a betrayal, even though she knew it wasn't. But still...
"So that's your plan?" Her voice cracked. "Erasing me from your life so you can face Pablo alone?"
Damian closed his eyes for a moment. "I don't have the right to drag you into this war."
"Damian..." Vanya stepped closer, her breath catching. "I can still die from knowing something I couldn't save. That is more painful than dying fighting."
Damian seemed to waver for a moment. But only for a moment.
Then he stepped back. "The decision is made."
The sentence struck Vanya's chest like a heavy hammer.

The night deepened. Damian disappeared into the basement, preparing weapons, maps, and equipment that Vanya didn't even want to imagine. He didn't reappear for hours.
Vanya was still in her room. She sat on the edge of the bed, her knees pulled to her chest. The dim light made her shadow dance on the wall, as if emphasizing that she was now alone.
Damian wasn't underestimating her. Damian didn't want to get rid of her. And she was sure Damian actually... loved her.
She saw it in Damian's eyes. The fear, the tenderness he tried to hide, the decision made because of past trauma, not because he didn't trust her.
But that love... was a love filled with walls and blood.
A love bound by secrets, revenge, and threats. A love that gave no room to breathe.
Tears slowly streamed down without her realizing it. She wet her hands, gripping the blanket.
"Why do you always choose to be alone..." she whispered faintly. "Why don't you trust me..."
She knew the answer. Damian had lost someone before. And he wasn't ready to lose again.
Precisely because of that, she wouldn't let Damian face Pablo alone.
Vanya wiped away her tears and got up. There was one thing she had to do.
She had to contact the police. They might not believe her. Especially after she had been missing for days without news, and her connection to Damian. But she had enough evidence to open an investigation into Pablo.
But the problem was, her phone had been confiscated since the first day she was kidnapped. And Damian guarded this house with a level of security that made it impossible for her to leave undetected.
But that didn't mean there wasn't a loophole.
Vanya frowned. If she couldn't convince Damian, maybe she could approach Elijah... Yes, the man would surely want to help her if he knew Vanya wanted to save Damian.
The door creaked softly.
Vanya flinched, quickly sitting back on the edge of the bed when she saw Damian standing at the door.
He looked more tired than before, but his gaze was sharp. "What are you doing?"
Vanya swallowed, trying to appear calm. "Nothing. Just... can't sleep."
Damian surveyed the room, as if reading the air, reading her small movements, reading her heart.
But he didn't enter. He just let out a long sigh.
"Tomorrow morning you leave," he said faintly. "And that's not a choice."
Then he closed the door.
Vanya looked down, hugging herself.
"I will save them, Damian. And I will save you, too." She whispered.
Instead of going to sleep, Vanya walked slowly toward the door. She listened to Damian's footsteps fading away, then opened the door slowly.
Elijah should be around here... But where... she thought.
Slowly, she left the room, sneaking toward the secret room. Hoping to find Elijah there, or anyone who could help her.
But the room was locked. And the night was too late for anyone to be seen there.
Vanya walked again, this time through the corridor leading to Damian's office at the end. Her steps were slow, full of caution, her eyes watchful of the surroundings. That's when she saw Agnes. Walking toward the back, carrying a tray of food.
Vanya followed her, walking quickly. When they were only a few meters apart, she called the maid in a whisper.
"Agnes!"
One call was enough to make the maid turn around. Agnes tensed, aware that she shouldn't be meeting Vanya this late. But she couldn't bear to see Vanya's pleading face.
"Help me, Agnes... Please..."
"H-help with what, Miss? It's already night, you should be inside your room and sleeping."
"Just this once... I beg you..."
Agnes swallowed. She looked around to ensure no one saw them. Then, she pulled Vanya behind the wall.
"What is it?" she whispered.
Vanya took a deep breath. "Where can I meet Elijah? Where is his room? I need his help tonight."