Elegbede_Habeeb

The first time they met, it felt like fate. The second time, it felt like a warning.

She was running from a past that refused to die. He was chasing a future that seemed just out of reach. When their worlds collided, it was more than just love—it was an obsession, a wildfire that threatened to burn them both alive.

But love isn’t always salvation. Sometimes, it’s destruction in disguise.

Bound by Fire: Ashes of Desire

Damian didn't push, and Elena didn't offer.

But the weight of what they were about to do settled heavy between them.

Finally, as the city lights faded into the distance, Damian spoke. "So… your mother."

Elena kept her eyes on the road, her grip on the wheel tight. "What about her?"

He exhaled. "Just trying to figure out what kind of woman raises someone like you."

A ghost of a smirk tugged at Elena's lips. "The kind who survives."

Damian didn't ask more. Maybe he sensed that this wasn't just a casual reunion. Maybe he knew that this visit would cost Elena more than she was willing to admit.

The road turned rougher as they neared the outskirts of town, winding through a secluded stretch of land that held nothing but trees and silence.

Not a mansion. Not a shack. Something in between. Cold, sharp edges. Tall gates. Security cameras.

Damian let out a low whistle. "She expecting company?"

Elena put the car in park. "She's always prepared."

She stepped out first, the cool night air biting at her skin. Damian followed, his eyes scanning the property with trained precision.

As they reached the gate, a voice crackled through the intercom.

Elena's lips twitched. "That's not what you said last time."

Damian shot her a look. "That easy?"

"She was always going to let me in," Elena murmured. "She just wanted me to know I don't control the terms."

They walked up the stone pathway, the front door opening before they could even knock.

Time had barely touched her. Dark hair, sleek and pulled back. Piercing green eyes that could cut through steel. A woman who had commanded men, destroyed enemies, and played games with the best of them.

She crossed her arms, tilting her head as she studied Elena. "You look terrible."

Elena smirked. "Good to see you too, Mother."

Sophia's eyes flicked to Damian. "And who's this?"

"Damian," he answered smoothly. "Pleasure."

She stepped back, gesturing them inside. "Come in before you get yourselves killed on my doorstep."

They entered, the warmth of the house betraying its cold exterior.

Elena didn't waste time. "Luca's back."

For the first time, something flickered across her face—something almost imperceptible. But Elena caught it.

Sophia turned away, pouring herself a glass of wine. "Then you should have run farther."

Elena's chest tightened. "You knew he wasn't dead."

Sophia sipped her wine, her expression unreadable. "A man like Luca doesn't die easily."

Damian leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Then maybe you can tell us why he's playing mind games with Elena instead of just killing her."

Sophia's gaze landed on him, sharp as a blade. "Because he doesn't want to kill her."

Then, Elena spoke. "What does he want?"

Sophia's lips curled into something too bitter to be a smile.

Sophia took another sip of wine, eyes glinting. "Luca doesn't destroy what he loves. He keeps it."

Damian muttered a curse under his breath. "This just got a hell of a lot worse."

Elena swallowed the anger, the fear, the memories clawing at her chest.

And that was something she'd rather die than let happen.

Family Ties