Page 146 of Wild Tangled Hearts

I nod. “Yes.”

“Get to the bedroom and stay down. Don’t come out until I say it’s safe.” Damien's command snaps me into action, and I let out a shaky breath, my heart pounding.

I guide Stacey toward the bedroom, staying low as we move. As we enter the room, I shut the door and push the bed against it, trying to create a barrier between us and the unfolding chaos outside. I quickly grab a quilt and wrap it around Stacey's shoulders.

Her voice trembles as she speaks, her guilt and fear evident in her words. "He's never going to forgive me. I've messed up so many times... I'm never going to get Lexi back now."

I want to offer her reassurance and tell her everything will be okay, but I know that false promises won't help in this situation. My primary concern is Damien, and the muffled arguments and shouting continuing outside the room only heightened my anxiety.

"I'm sorry," Her lips and eyes have turned an unsettling shade of blue, her pallor is ashen, her body shakes unnaturally, and when I look into those blue eyes that are so much like Damien’s, I see familiar demons there.

"We'll figure this out," I tell her, putting my arms around her shoulders and pulling her close. "Damien will fix this.”

But my reassurances are cut short by the horrifying sound of gunshots, one after another, followed by shouting, chaos, and fear that permeates the cabin. The realization that Damien is out there amid this terrifying confrontation fills me with an overwhelming sense of dread and helplessness.

More gunshots ring out.

“Oh my god,” I gasp.

The mayhem outside continues, shouts and threats blending into a cacophony of horror and violence. But amidst the turmoil, there's a stark absence of Damien's voice. My heart races with each passing moment, dread clawing at my insides.

Two more gunshots pierce the air, and then... silence. A profound and deafening quiet settles over the cabin, broken only by our uneven breaths. I can feel the terror in the air, see it reflected in Stacey's wide eyes as she utters those dreaded words, "He's dead."

No, I want to scream. It can't be true. I refuse to believe it. He promised me he'd never leave me again. The weight of uncertainty and fear presses down on me, threatening to consume me whole.

And then, just as despair threatens to overwhelm me, footsteps approach. The bedroom door slowly scratches open, pushing against the bed until it moves, and my heart leaps into my throat.

I forget to breathe in that moment until I see him.

"Damien!" I cry out, my voice a mixture of relief and desperation. Without hesitation, I rush to him, my arms wrapping so tightly around his chest that he grunts. His presence and warmth are a lifeline in this nightmare, and I hold onto him as if my very life depends on it.

"It’s okay, Bella," he murmurs. “Everything is going to be okay.”

I clutch onto his neck, tears streaming down my face. "I thought..."

His grip on me tightens, and he gently kisses my forehead. "I promise, Bella, I'll never let anything happen to you again. I'll protect you with everything I am.”

“I wasn’t worried about me.” I lean back and study him, then gasp when I see the blood on his shoulder. “You’re hurt.”

He grunts, wincing at his injury. "It's just a scratch. I'll be fine," Damien reassures me, his forehead resting against mine. "I'm so fucking sorry I put you in danger again."

I reach up and gently cup his face in my hands. "Don't," I start, my voice trembling. "Don't do that."

His lips thin, and his jaw clenches, a mixture of guilt and frustration in his expression.

I shake my head, tears welling up in my eyes. "I love you. Anything that happens, we’re in it together. Promise me that.”

His gaze meets mine, and I can see the truth in his eyes. "I'm not leaving you, Bella," he says with a fierce determination that sends a shiver down my spine.

I nod, my heart finally finding some solace in his unwavering commitment.

"I need you to stay here with Stacey until my men come," Damien says firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You don't need to see any of this."

I swallow hard, feeling a mixture of fear and relief, and nod in agreement.

Then, his gaze shifts to Stacey, and his expression hardens. "And you," he begins sternly, "this is it. When my men get here, they drive you straight to rehab. You'll stay there until I know shit like this will never happen again."

Stacey nods, her eyes downcast and her shoulders slumped in resignation.

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