Chapter Fifty five

"Wait," he murmured. "Listen to me."

I stepped back to get his hands off my waist. "I don't know what you are thinking..."

I do not want to hear that!

"You know what, just answer my questions. I don't need your explanation. I might look crazy to you but..."I swallowed. "Why do you have my high school picture framed in your studio?"

" Cause I know Paige Kam. Obviously, she's a star." He stopped. I would have laughed in his face if I hadn't been so serious. He only annoyed me more.

"You're not going to tell me who Henry really is, huh? Are you Damien Smith?!" I yelled.

 He smiled. "Yes I am."

I blinked, felt like a dream or another hallucination. I really need a therapist.

He laughed. "Stop staring like you've just seen a ghost. I'm Damien!"

I jumped on him in a tight embrace.

"Oh my God, this must be a dream. Crazy punk! That ugly pretence wasn't so good."I whispered. He held me so tight like he was never going to let go. I was happy. Yes, I'm not crazy. I know Damien when I see him. But why did he disappear to another country and have his name changed? Wasn't Damien shot that day?

"I wasn't blindfolded that day. He shot you, right in your stomach. It is too hard to believe, Damien."

"I'll explain, later." I tried to detach myself from him but he held me still. "Just stay. I've missed you so much."

I reached for his hair and loosened it.

"I love it just the way it is. You don't need to pack your hair when I'm around."

Damien smiled.

The alarm rang, followed by Amy's voice.

"Master Henry, the house is surrounded. Arms suspected!"

Henry cursed beneath his breath.

"Are we in some kind of danger?"I asked when he suddenly let go of me.

"Not really. You stay here, I'll be right back."

I wanted to argue but the door slammed behind him and refused to open. He locked me in. Wow!

I was so confused. I just couched behind the door in bitter silence and sweet happiness all mixed together.

*

"Amy!" Henry whispered to his robot, an action she loved to mimic. He wanted her to keep her voice low anyway.

"Yes Master."She whispered back.

"Send me a message. Don't speak till I ask you to."

She was causing unnecessary disturbance with her voice and he wouldn't want Paige to be scared. He knew his house was surrounded by Brianne's. He probably hasn't told them to stop the killing mission. The house is bulletproof and the doors are soundproof. Only Amy's alarms can get them agitated. He placed a call on Brainne.

"You boys are making a scene at my house."

"You should go see them. I asked them to watch you."Brianne said. "They want to confirm that she's there. Period."

"Fine!" He hung up.

He took Paige's bag which was on the couch and, went out to meet them. They nodded on seeing him and got back into their vans.

*

"What was that about? The cops?"I asked when he got back.

"No, just a little misunderstanding in the neighborhood, I've settled it."He sat on a swivel chair, I sat on another beside him, the frame in my hand.

"I love this picture,"I said.

He nodded.

"I'm confused. This still feels like a dream. You died."

"I had surgery that saved my life."

"Your body was found by the police. How do I believe you, Henry?!"

He arched his brow. "It wasn't my body. I can explain."

"Then shoot!"

"I was saved by someone. A stranger. Not really saved though. He had a motive. He swapped the bodies and he took me to the hospital. I had surgery. I survived, thanks to God, but I wasn't free."He paused. "He has a plan he wants me to help him execute. He kept me on a condition. I'd be his adopted son. I can't see my family. It's against the deal. I can't let anyone know that I'm alive. It's against it. If I don't do what he says. He'll kill us."

"What plan is that?"

"I'm not allowed to tell you." he said.

"Oh why?!"I exclaimed.

"Can we forget that for now?"

"But I still don't believe you?!"

That was a lie.

He stood up and pulled his vest. I turned my face away immediately.

"I didn't ask you to do that!"

"See for yourself Paige, look at me." He wanted to show me his scars from the surgery. I just can't...

"No, put your shirt back on. I believe you."

He wore his shirt back and sat down.

"I'm so sorry for everything I've put you through Damien."I held his hands. "The incident that day was my fault. I know who kidnapped us. Who sent them to kill you?"

"I know too."

"I'm sorry, I didn't do anything..."

"You don't need to be sorry about anything."

Tears momentarily dropped from my face , he wiped them away with his thumb.

"I'm glad I found you. I know you found out about me the first day that we met in school. Of course, you won't want to believe it. I told you I was going to come back to you, didn't I? "

"You might have grown bigger but you didn't change too much."I smiled, a teary smile.

"And you are better than the girl I used to know."He said, pulling me closer to him. "I'm so happy to have you back. And I will not let you go a second time."

"Is that a promise?"I smiled.

His intense grey eyes locked with mine. I had butterflies in my stomach.

Maybe time stopped when his lips met mine, but the flutter only intensified. My heart pounded in my chest as my knees got weaker. I could only focus on how soft he felt against my mouth, how addictively he invaded all my senses. This was the kiss I have lived for. He kissed me like it was his life-long ambition. And I was kissing him back.

It still wasn't clear if I dreamed this moment of life, but there was raw emotion in the way his fingers curled around mine, my left finger around his silky hair. I kept my eyes half open, sneaking a guilty peek at him every time I stopped for air, just to make sure this wasn't a product of my imagination. It wasn't my first kiss, but it felt like an entirely different one. Different from the numerous ones I've had with my dad, different from Ria's fantasized kiss. It was the kiss I've ever longed for.

I've found my Damien. This time, I'll protect him with all I've got.