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ASTRID'S POV:

"A girl, you say? Well, then bring her in, damn it." The raspy voice hit me like a punch to the gut. I'd know it anywhere.

Damon.

"Yes, sir." The man at my side grabbed my arm, dragging me through the imposing double doors like I was some kind of prize. "Here she is, boss. Our little eavesdropper," he said with a smug smirk, identical to my father's. It was a sight that made my skin crawl.

I jerked my arm free, glaring at him. "You bald-headed bastard! Don't you dare touch me!" I adjusted my disheveled hair, ignoring the urge to choke the life out of him right then and there.

But I couldn't give away my secret.

Not yet.

Not here.

"HOW DARE YOU—" His hand shot up as if to strike, but the mere sound of Damon's voice froze him in place.

"Well, well, well. I should've known. The only woman who could put me through this much damn trouble," Damon sighed, his voice rich with amusement. He turned to the bald man. "Laufy, that's enough. Trust me, she's just got a little... spark to her." He chuckled, but Laufy wasn't having any of it, and neither was I.

"Jackass," I muttered, my spine straight as a rod, trying to appear taller than I really was. "What are you implying, Damon? Come on, don't be such a pussy," I shot back, locking eyes with him. The room went silent, everyone hanging on the moment like it was about to explode.

But it didn't.

Instead, Damon leaned back in his chair like he was king of the world, and everyone—including me—was beneath him. As much as I hated the thought, something about him, about that posture, stirred something in me.

His emerald gaze locked on mine, and everything about him made sense in a way that both terrified and thrilled me. The way he could ruin me, break me—dominate me—god, it turned me on more than I cared to admit.

"Is that really what you should be saying to the person who just saved your ass?" His voice was unnervingly calm, and yet, it sent a shiver through me.

"Save me?" I scoffed, the realization of what he was saying almost escaping me.

Maybe it was just me, but it felt like the whole room exhaled collectively, like they'd been holding their breath.

"I'm not some damsel in distress!" My voice was sharper than I intended, but I couldn't stand this. What the hell was everyone so afraid of?

Suddenly, the realization hit me, and my breath caught in my throat. "D-Damon!" I blinked, eyes widening. How the hell did it take me this long to notice? "W-What the hell are you doing...!" My gaze snapped to the man in front of me, and I couldn't look away. "W-why the hell is there a gun pointed at that man's head?"

Damon was standing over him, holding the man by the collar. "Oh, this loser?" He nodded to the bloodstained floor where the man's teeth were scattered. "Say hi to Grover, our newest victim."

"Victim?" I stammered, horrified. I hadn't had much real life combat experience since my father would never take me on missions. "Why are you doing this to him, Damon?"

"Why?" Damon scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "It's simple. He betrayed us. Betrayed me," he said coldly. "Now he's paying the price."

Grover's eyes welled with tears as he kneeled, his hand outstretched toward me. "Ms... p-please... you have to help me! They're crazy! They're going to kill me! I-I didn't have a choice... please! You have to believe me!"