Chapter 70
Aria POV
“We need to be together,” he said quietly. “All three of us, in one secure location p>
“No.” The refusal was automatic. “Damien, that’s”
“The only option.” He came around to face me. “Aria, Marcus is escalating. Today it was photographs. Tomorrow it could be an actual attempt p>
“So we’re supposed to just move in together? Play house while your psychotic brother stalks us?” I rolled my eyes, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh yes, let’s go back to your penthouse—you know, the one where we found eleven cameras and eight audio devices” i lowered my voice “The one where your brother watched us have sex? That sounds like a brilliant plan, Damien. Really top-notch security you’ve got there p>
“Not that penthouse.” His voice was calm, but something flickered in his eyes. “A different one p>
I blinked. “What p>
“I bought a new penthouse. Had it been built, actually.” He held my gaze. “I started construction few years ago, right after Marcus escaped from the institution. Before the kidnapping, before any of this. I knew he’d come for me eventually, and I wanted a fortress ready p>
“You I stared at him. “You built a whole penthouse p>
“From the ground up. Completely new security team—no one from the old house, no one Marcus could have compromised. Biometric access, bulletproof glass, panic rooms on every floor, signal jammers, daily electronic sweeps built into the system itself.” His jaw tightened. “The old house was my father’s. Marcus grew up there. He knows every corner, every weakness. This new place? He’s never set foot in it, never even seen the blueprints p>
I wanted to argue. I wanted to insist I could handle this on my own. But the thought of Noah—his small face pressed against the fence, watching a stranger photograph him—made my resolve crack.
“When were you planning to mention this?” My voice came out quieter than intended.
“Tonight.” He glanced at Noah, who was playing with Mr. Hoppy in the corner, oblivious to the danger swirling around him. “I was going to suggest it after he went to sleep. But then He gestured toward the detective, the school, the nightmare we were living. “Circumstances accelerated p>
“A new penthouse doesn’t erase what happened in the old one,” I said, my voice tight. “It doesn’t erase the violation. The fact that your brother watched us, watched me p>
“I know.” Damien’s voice was rough. “And if I could go back and tear out every camera with my bare hands before they recorded a single second, I would. But I can’t. All I can do is make sure it never happens again p>
“How can you promise that?” The words came out desperate. “How can you promise anything when Marcus always seems to be three steps ahead p>
“Because this time, I’m not underestimating him.” His eyes blazed with cold fury. “This time, I’m treating him like the threat he is. The new penthouse isn’t just security, Aria. It’s a fortress. And I will burn the world down before I let him touch you or Noah again.” He knelt in front of me. “Please. Let me protect you both, let me do this one thing right p>
Noah looked between us, confusion on his small face. “Are we going to live with Daddy p>
“Just for a little while, baby.” I smoothed his hair back. “Until the bad men go away p>
“Like another sleepover?” His eyes brightened. “Will Mr. Hoppy get his own room p>
Despite everything, I almost smiled. “Mr. Hoppy can have whatever he wants p>
“Can he have a friend rabbit p>
“Noah”
“Please, Mama? He’s lonely p>
I looked at Damien helplessly. He grinned. “I’ll buy him a whole warren of friend rabbits if it makes you both move in p>
“Don’t encourage him.” But I was fighting a smile.
We made arrangements with the dectective—she’d coordinate with Damien’s security team, keep us updated on the investigation. Then we collected Noah’s things from his classroom and headed out.
The parking lot had cleared of reporters, but I still felt exposed.
“My car” I started.
“Leave it.” Damien already had Noah in his arms. “We’ll send someone for it later. Right now, I want you both with me p>
I should argue. Should insist on my independence, my ability to take care of myself and my son. But I was tired. So tired of being strong, of fighting alone, of looking over my shoulder every second.
So I followed Damien to his car and let him help me into the passenger seat. Let him drive us away from the school while Noah chattered in the back about all the toys he’d get to play with at Daddy’s house.
“We need to talk about Marcus,” I said quietly, glancing back to make sure Noah wasn’t listening. He was absorbed in making Mr. Hoppy wave at passing cars.
“I know.” Damien’s jaw was tight. “Tonight, after Noah’s asleep p>
“Damien, what did you do to him? Why does he hate you this much p>
He was quiet for a long moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was rough with old pain.
Damien POV
“Marcus was always unstable,” I said quietly, my jaw tight. “Even as kids, there were signs—violent outbursts, obsessive fixations that consumed him. When he was fifteen, he fell in love with his tutor. A woman barely twenty. To him, it was real. Pure. Everything that mattered p>
“What happened?” Aria’s voice was gentle.
“He found her in bed with our father, can you imagine? The two people he trusted most. The betrayal destroyed him completely p>
Aria’s hand found mine on the gearshift. “Oh god p>
“Marcus confronted them—wild with grief and rage. Father didn’t apologize. Didn’t show a shred of remorse. Instead, he threatened Marcus, said he’d tell everyone that Marcus had been the one pursuing her inappropriately, that he’d destroy what was left of Marcus’s reputation p>
“That’s sick p>
“Marcus snapped.” I swallowed hard. “He poured gasoline through the east wing and lit a match. The fire spread fast, the tutor died in the flames. Marcus got a deep scar across his cheek—a permanent mark. And Father I paused. “Father had him dragged away that same night p>
“What do you mean dragged away p>
“Father told everyone Marcus died in the fire, held a funeral and everything. I was very young then—I believed him. I grieved for my brother p>