Page 69 of The Billionaire’s Contract Bride

“Where is Damien going?”

A single, heavy gunshot cracked from the library, followed by Victor’s furious shout.

Lucien shoved a small tactical radio into her free hand. “East stairwell! Do not stop for anyone!”

Aria ran in the opposite direction—straight toward the library.

“Damn it, Aria!” Lucien barked behind her, but he was forced to turn and cover the rear.

She followed the trail of destruction through the estate. Smoke hung thick in the lower gallery. Alarms shrieked. Two people lay unconscious on the marble floor.

Inside the library, Damien had Victor pinned across the shattered glass of a mahogany desk. Blood coated Damien’s knuckles. Victor laughed through a mouthful of blood.

“Ask him!” Victor taunted, looking past Damien’s shoulder as Aria entered. “Ask your husband who ordered Elias Vale’s execution!”

Damien struck him across the jaw with terrifying force.

“Stop!” Aria screamed.

Damien froze.

Slowly, he turned toward her. The expression on his face did not belong to the man who stopped when she asked him to in the quiet living room at Blackthorne House. This was the creature his corporate rivals feared—cold, bloodied, and stripped of humanity.

Then his eyes landed on the purple bruised imprint of fingers on her jawline.

Something far more dangerous replaced the rage in his eyes. “Did he touch you?”

“I’m alive, Damien.”

“That was not my question.”

Victor laughed again, spitting blood onto the rug. “She defended herself beautifully, nephew.”

Damien picked up his weapon from the desk and raised it toward Victor’s temple.

Aria stepped directly in front of Damien, grabbing his hand that held the gun.

“Move,” Damien said softly.

“No.”

“Aria.”

“If you kill him right now, I will never learn the truth!”

“He will lie to you.”

“So will you!”

The accusation hit Damien like a physical blow. A flicker of genuine pain passed across his face, but it didn’t make her step aside.

In the distance, police sirens echoed across the grounds.

Victor adjusted his ruined collar, grinning wickedly. “She doesn’t trust you anymore, Damien.”

Damien’s gun remained level with Aria’s chest, blocking her from Victor. “She does not need to trust me for me to keep her alive.”

“That was always your mistake,” Aria said, looking straight into Damien’s eyes. “You think survival is enough.”