Chapter 12: Secrets in the dark

The penthouse was plunged into darkness.

Victoria's knock echoed again, louder this time, followed by her voice. "Damien? It's me. Open up. It's important."

Damien cursed under his breath. "Stay here," he told Nora, who stood frozen by the edge of the hallway, heart racing.

She nodded, though her fingers curled tightly into her palm. Her instincts screamed at her, something about this moment wasn't right. The blackout, the timing of Victoria's arrival, the strange message she'd received… it all felt too convenient.

Damien opened the door.

Victoria stepped in, but she wasn't alone.

Behind her, a tall man in a charcoal coat followed, uninvited.

He was lean, his dark eyes scanning the room with quiet calculation. His presence sucked the warmth from the air.

Damien's voice dropped. "You brought him here?"

Victoria's red lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "He insisted."

The stranger stepped forward, ignoring both Nora and Damien as if they were insignificant. "Damien Voss," he said slowly, like savoring the name. "It's been a long time."

"Not long enough," Damien snapped. His usual composure slipped for a second, enough for Nora to catch it. There was fear there.

Real fear.

The man glanced around, unimpressed by the luxury of the penthouse. "Still hiding behind money, I see. Thought you could outrun consequences forever?"

"Get to the point, Cole."

Cole.

Nora memorized the name.

The man turned, eyes landing on her with a slow drag. "This her? The one you've been protecting?"

Damien stepped forward instantly. "She has nothing to do with this."

Cole chuckled. "Everything to do with it now."

Victoria's voice was soft. "You should've told her, Damien."

"Told me what?" Nora asked, voice firm despite the storm growing in her chest.

No one answered.

The lights flickered.

Then buzzed back on dimly, like the penthouse itself was reluctant to return to normal.

Cole stepped toward Damien. "We warned you. Cut ties. Burn the evidence. Erase what you did. Instead, you got sloppy." He looked at Nora again. "And emotional."

Damien's jaw clenched. "She's off-limits."

"That's not your call anymore."

In a swift movement, Damien stepped between Cole and Nora. "She doesn't know anything."

"She will," Victoria whispered, her voice oddly sad. "If you don't tell her, they will."

Damien turned to Nora. "Go to your room."

"I'm not a child," she snapped.

"Nora," he growled, but she didn't budge. "Please."

She stared at him, at the flicker of panic, of desperation, of something deeper than just fear.

Love.

He wasn't just protecting her. He was scared of losing her.

"Who is he?" she demanded. "What's going on, Damien?"

Cole raised a brow. "Tell her. Or I will."

Damien stared at Cole, then back at Nora. His voice dropped, low and raw. "He's with Helix."

Nora's breath caught. "The same Helix that…"

"Blew up your team?" Cole finished for her. "Yes. Though that wasn't our plan. Someone went rogue. Just like Damien here."

Nora's knees went weak, but she stood her ground. "You worked for them?"

"I built them," Damien said quietly. "The research, the funding, the surveillance systems—Vortex Innovations was a front for most of it, years ago. Until I tried to walk away."

Victoria looked pained. "But you can't walk away from Helix. Ever."

Nora blinked, stunned. "So everything, everything I thought I knew about you…"

"I never wanted you involved," Damien said, stepping toward her. "That's why I kept my distance at first. Why I hated that I couldn't stop thinking about you."

"And now?" she asked.

He was close now. "Now I'd do anything to keep you safe."

Cole scoffed. "Too late."

Before anyone could react, Cole pulled something from his coat pocket and threw it at Damien's feet. It rolled and clicked.

A small device. Blinking red.

"Tracker," Cole said simply. "We've been watching everything. She already knows too much. And if she runs, Helix will find her. Just like they found your precious Team 3."

Nora felt like the floor had vanished beneath her.

Victoria turned away. "We should go. The longer we stay, the more exposed we are."

Cole gave Damien one last look. "This isn't over. You have 48 hours. Then she disappears. One way or another."

Then they left.

The door closed with a final, cold click.

Silence.

Damien turned to Nora. "I was going to tell you."

"When? After they killed me too?"

His jaw tensed. "I'm going to fix this."

Nora crossed her arms, eyes blazing. "You better start now."

He stepped toward her, but this time, she didn't flinch.

Their war had just begun.