Page 51 of Secrets Of Blackwood

Her heel slams down on his foot, and he grunts in pain. But Damien doesn’t release her; instead, he uses his height and strength to drag her away from Alexander and me. Victoria thrashes like a wild animal caught in a trap, and I see something in her eyes—a flicker of sheer panic.

“Wait,” Alexander says suddenly, holding up a hand.

We all freeze, even Victoria. Alexander’s gaze is fixed on something behind Victoria, something hidden by the tangle of bodies and flailing limbs. Damien loosens his grip just enough for Victoria to turn, and we all see it.

A small, innocuous-looking flash drive falls from the folds of her dress, clattering against the hardwood floor. It’s the kind of thing that could be easily overlooked, but in the silence that follows, it might as well be a grenade.

“Is that…?” My question hangs in the air.

“Insurance,” Victoria sneers, her chest heaving. “You think you’ve won? That was just the beginning.”

Damien bends down to pick up the flash drive, his movements deliberate. He meets Victoria’s gaze, and his voice is low, dangerous. “What have you done?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Victoria’s lips curl into a cruel smile. “I made sure I’d have the last laugh, no matter what. You’ll never be free of me. Not really.”

The implication slams into us with the force of a physical blow. This isn’t just about money or power—it’s personal, and Victoria has been playing a game far more twisted than any of us realized.

“Damien,” I whisper, my heart pounding so loud I’m sure they can hear it. “What are we going to do?”

He doesn’t answer right away, his attention still on the flash drive in his hand. Then, slowly, he lifts his gaze to meet mine. “We end this. Together.”

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The air is thick with the scent of sweat and betrayal as we stand amidst the wreckage of Victoria’s last stand. Shattered glass crunches underfoot, a tangible reminder of the violence that just tore through this room. The three of us—Damien, Alexander, and I—our chests heaving, our hands trembling, are bound by the gravity of what we’ve just learned.

“Can you believe she’d go this far?” Alexander’s voice cuts through the heavy silence, his words edged with disbelief. His usually immaculate suit is rumpled and torn, evidence of the struggle.

Damien’s hand closes around mine, his grip firm and reassuring. “We knew she was desperate,” he says, “but this…” He gestures to the flash drive clenched in his other hand, a digital Pandora’s box.

I can feel the pulse of his heartbeat against my palm, and it steadies me. “We will stop her,” I declare, feeling the conviction rise in me like a flame. “No matter what it takes.”

Our eyes lock, and in that moment, there’s no doubt left. We are united against a common enemy, our resolve hardening into something unbreakable.

“Then it’s settled,” Alexander confirms, stepping closer. “We’ll expose every lie, every secret she’s hidden on that drive.” His jaw sets, his usual charm now a weapon honed for truth.

“Tomorrow,” Damien states firmly, “we bring her down.”

The tension still hums in my veins, a relentless reminder of the battle ahead. But there’s something else too—a fierce joy at having these two men at my side, ready to face whatever darkness awaits.

“Tonight,” I say, my voice low but certain, “we fortify ourselves.” And with those words, I pull Damien toward me, claiming his lips in a kiss that tastes of promise and rebellion.

Alexander watches, his eyes darkening with desire, before stepping behind me, his hands tracing the contours of my body. There’s solace in their touch, a silent vow made flesh as they worship every inch of me, erasing the chill of Victoria’s shadow with every caress.

“Let her come at us,” Damien whispers against my skin, his breath hot and possessive. “She won’t break us.”

“Never again,” Alexander adds, his lips grazing the sensitive spot at the nape of my neck, eliciting a shiver that runs deep.

In this stolen moment of passion, we become an oasis in the storm, a testament to the power of unity and the strength found in each other’s arms.

As we cling to one another, lost in the heat of our connection, a new day looms on the horizon—the final act of our perilous dance with Victoria Grayson.

The chapter closes with us still entwined, a tangle of limbs and whispered vows, the weight of the coming dawn heavy upon us. What will tomorrow bring? What horrors might that flash drive unveil? The questions hang, suspended in the charged air, as we brace ourselves for the answers.

The silence stretches, a tightrope walk between fear and anticipation, until it’s shattered by the shrill ring of a phone. We freeze, hearts pounding anew.

“Leave it,” Damien growls, his mouth trailing a path along my collarbone, but I reach out, compelled by the urgency of the tone.

“Hello?” My voice is breathless, laced with the remnants of our earlier fervor.

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