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But deep down, I know where the blame truly lies—with me. It’s my responsibility to protect those I love, and I failed Mikayla. The image of her lifeless eyes haunts me, a constant reminder of my inability to save her.
“Everyone, listen up!” I shout, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. “We need to find Annalise and bring her back safely. No one sleeps until she’s found!”
The guards nod in agreement, their expressions determined. They understand the gravity of the situation, and I can see the fire burning within them, fueling their need to make things right.
“Damian,” Cassius calls from the corner of the room, his voice strained. “I’m here with you, brother. We will find her.”
“Thanks, Cass,” I reply, clapping him on the shoulder. “Now let’s get to work.”
As the guards disperse, I take a moment to compose myself. I can’t afford to be distracted by my grief for Mikayla, not when Annalise is still out there, potentially in danger. The guilt and regret gnaw at me, but I push them aside, focusing on the mission at hand.
I won’t lose Annalise like I lost Mikayla. I refuse to let history repeat itself.
My heart races as I stand in the center of the control room, surrounded by guards. “Find her,” I growl, my voice tight with urgency. “No stone unturned. She’s out there, and she needs us.”
“Understood, Damian,” one of the guards responds, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he pulls up security footage from around our compound.
“Wait!” another guard exclaims, pointing at a screen showing the entrance to the cemetery. “There she is! Annalise just entered the cemetery.”
I rush over, studying the grainy footage. It’s her, all right—her wavy brown hair and petite frame unmistakable even on the low-quality video. Relief floods through me, but it’s short-lived as I notice something else—a black car idling nearby.
“Who’s that?” I demand, my jaw clenched and my blue eyes narrowing in suspicion. The car seems out of place, and I can’t shake the feeling that it poses a threat to Annalise.
“We’re not sure, boss,” the guard replies. “It pulled up shortly after Annalise entered the cemetery, but we don’t have a clear view of the driver.”
“Keep an eye on it,” I order, my mind racing with possibilities. Is this someone sent to harm her? Or perhaps a rival gang trying to gain leverage over me by taking her hostage? Either way, I won’t let them get away with it. Not while I still draw breath.
“Damian, what if she’s in danger?” Cassius asks, his voice tight with worry. My brother knows as well as I do that every moment counts when it comes to Annalise’s safety.
“Then we’ll protect her,” I vow, my voice filled with determination. “We’ll tear this city apart if we have to. Nothing comes before Annalise’s safety.”
“Let’s move!” I command, and my guards spring into action. As we race through the compound toward the cemetery, the heavy weight of responsibility bears down on me. Mikayla’s lifeless eyes haunt me, a painful reminder of the price of failure.
I won’t lose Annalise like I lost Mikayla. I refuse to let history repeat itself.
The tension in the room is palpable, fueled by the unknown danger lurking in the shadows. I glance over at Cassius, who leans heavily against the wall, his usually confident demeanor crumbling under the weight of his concern for Annalise. His knuckles turn white as he clenches his fists, and I can see the muscles in his jaw clenching as he struggles to keep his emotions in check.
“Hey,” I say softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll find her, Cassius. I promise.”
He looks up at me, his blue eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and fear. “I know you’ll do everything you can, Damian. It’s just…I can’t help but think about what happened with Mikayla.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and my heart aches for both him and myself. The pain of losing Mikayla still lingers, a festering wound that never seems to heal. But this time, things will be different. They have to be.
“Listen to me, brother,” I say, gripping his shoulder firmly. “I won’t let anything happen to Annalise. She means more to me than anything else in this world, and I will move heaven and earth to keep her safe.”
Cassius nods, trying to regain his composure. “You’re right. We can’t let our past dictate our future. We need to focus on finding Annalise and making sure she’s unharmed.”
“Exactly,” I agree, determination burning within me. “And we won’t stop until we’ve found her, no matter what it takes or who stands in our way.”
“Thank you, Damian,” Cassius murmurs, swallowing hard as he straightens up, attempting to regain control of his emotions. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Likewise,” I reply, clapping him on the back before turning my attention to the task at hand. My mind races with thoughts of Annalise, her safety, and how I refuse to let history repeat itself.
I won’t lose her like I lost Mikayla. I can’t.
“Find out where that black car went!” I command, my voice echoing off the walls as I address my guards. Their eyes widen at the urgency in my tone, and they scramble to their stations.
“Damian, what about Cassius’s rehearsal dinner?” one of my men asks hesitatantly, glancing nervously between Cassius and me.
