The Breaking Point

A Silence That Spoke Volumes

But standing here, in Damian Kingsley's office, with the weight of something undeniable pressing between them—

This was an entirely different war.

He had leaned in, too close, too intense.

And yet, he hadn't kissed her.

No, Damian Kingsley was a man who thrived on control. He wanted her to break first.

Too bad for him—Ariana Carter never broke first.

She took a deliberate step back, straightening her blazer. "If that was an attempt to intimidate me, you'll have to try harder."

Damian smirked, a slow, knowing curve of his lips. "Who said I was trying to intimidate you?"

Ariana arched a brow. "Then what exactly was that?"

He leaned against his desk, rolling his sleeves up—a casual, effortless show of power.

"You tell me," he murmured.

Ariana refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. Instead, she turned toward the door. "If that's all, I have work to do."

But just as her fingers brushed the handle—

"Ryan Carter."

She froze.

Her breath hitched, but she didn't turn around. She couldn't.

Damian's voice was softer now. Calculated. "your brother"

Ariana closed her eyes for a fraction of a second. She should have known.

Nothing—nothing—escaped Damian Kingsley's notice.

Slowly, she turned back, her face carefully blank. "yes ..what about him?"

Damian studied her, his expression unreadable. "we have a problem."

Ariana's stomach twisted. "Ryan has nothing to do with this."

Damian tilted his head, as if debating whether to push further. "You're certain about that?"

"Absolutely." Her voice was sharp, unwavering.

A muscle in his jaw ticked. "Then let's hope you're right."

Because if she wasn't—it wouldn't just be her reputation on the line.

It would be his life.

---

The Truth Comes Crashing Down

That night, Ariana couldn't sleep.

She sat in the penthouse's massive living room, staring at the city skyline, phone in hand.

Her fingers hovered over Ryan's contact.

She wanted to call. To warn him. To make sure he was safe.

But she knew better.

Any move she made now—Damian would know.

And if Ryan was in any kind of danger, the worst thing she could do was tip him off.

Footsteps sounded behind her. She didn't have to turn to know it was Damian.

He walked past her, pouring himself a drink. "Can't sleep?"

Ariana didn't answer.

He took a sip of whiskey, watching her over the rim of his glass. "Tell me about Ryan."

She exhaled. "I already told you—"

"I don't want the lawyer's version," Damian interrupted smoothly. "I want the truth."

Ariana's fingers tightened around her phone.

For a moment, she considered lying. Deflecting.

But something in Damian's gaze told her he wouldn't let this go.

So she spoke.

"Ryan ." Her voice was quiet. "He got mixed up in the wrong things. Bad debts. Worse people."

Damian's expression didn't change, but she could feel the shift in the air.

She continued, "I spent years cleaning up his messes. Paid off what I could, defended him when no one else would and after our agreement after he was released you know he didn't contaced me. But…" She hesitated.

"But?" Damian prompted.

Ariana swallowed hard. "The last time I saw him after i free him from the jail, he told me he was done. That he'd get out."

Damian's gaze sharpened. "And did he?"

Ariana exhaled shakily. "I don't know."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Damian set his glass down with a quiet clink.

"You should have told me."

Ariana looked at him, her frustration bubbling. "Why? So you could use him as leverage against me for this agreement?"

His jaw tightened. "So I could protect him."

She blinked. That… she hadn't expected.

Damian sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "You still don't get it, do you?"

Ariana crossed her arms. "Enlighten me."

His next words sent a chill down her spine.

"Someone else is looking for him, Ariana."

Her heart stopped. "What?"

Damian's expression darkened. "And if we don't find him first, he's as good as dead."

---

A Race Against Time

Ariana barely remembered getting into the car.

One moment, she was in the penthouse, reeling from Damian's words. The next, she was speeding through the city, Damian beside her, his phone pressed to his ear.

"Find Ryan Carter," he ordered his men. "I don't care how. Just do it."

Ariana gripped the edge of her seat. "Who's after him?"

Damian's jaw was tight. "A man named Callum Voss."

The name sent ice through her veins.

Callum Voss.

A notorious underworld enforcer.

A man who never let debts go unpaid.

And now—he wanted Ryan.

Ariana's stomach twisted. "How bad is it?"

Damian was silent for a long moment.

Then—quietly, almost reluctantly—

"He doesn't leave people alive, Ariana."

She pressed a hand to her mouth, forcing herself to stay calm. Panicking wouldn't save Ryan...

She turned to Damian. "Then we find him first."

His gaze met hers. Unwavering. Fierce.

"Damn right we do."

---

The Clock is Ticking

By the time they reached Kingsley Corporation's private security office, Damian's men had already gathered intel.

One of his top operatives, Marcus, pulled up a map. "We traced Ryan's last known movements to an underground gambling ring in the east side."

Ariana's hands clenched. Damn it, Ryan.

Marcus continued, "But here's the problem—Callum's men were spotted in the same area two nights ago."

Ariana's breath hitched.

That meant they were close. Too close.

Damian turned to her. "We leave in ten minutes."

Ariana frowned. "You're coming?"

His lips twitched. "Do you really think I'd let you handle this alone?"

She exhaled. "This isn't your fight, Damian."

He stepped closer, his voice low. "It is now."

And the way he said it—possessive, dangerous, certain—

Ariana knew.

This wasn't just about Ryan anymore.

This was about them.

And for the first time since this deal began—

She wasn't sure where they stood.

But one thing was certain—

The moment they found Ryan, nothing would ever be the same again.

---

To Be Continued…