Where Darkness Learned Breath by Rylor Dusk 64

64 Chapter 64 

Aria pov 

“So were the security team Marcus got past,” Damien said coldly, his jaw clenched tight. 

Martha’s jaw tightened, a muscle twitching near her temple. “I’ll be in touch,” she said curtly before turning on her heel. 

She left, her partner following quickly behind The house fell quiet again except for the muted sounds of security patrolling outside. 

“You can’t seriously be considering this,” Damien said, his voice low and strained as he turned to face me 

“I’m considering anything that ends this nigh mare,” I replied, moving away from him, needing space to think. My mind raced with possibilities, each one more dangerous than the last. “Marcus is terrorizing us. He’s threatening our son. If there’s a way to stop him” 

“Not by putting yourself in danger,” he interrupted sharply, following me across the 

room. 

“I’m already in danger!” My voice rose, emotion cracking through my control, then immediately dropped when I remembered Noah sleeping upstairs. I pressed my palms against my temples, trying to steady myself. He’s watching us, Damien. He got into this house several times. He knows where I work, where I go, who I see. I’m already a target.” 

“Which is why we need to protect you, not parade you around as bait, he argued, frustration. running a hand through his hair 

“Or we end this now,” I countered, facing him fully. My heart pounded, but my voice remained steady. “One operation, controlled by the FBI. We draw Marcus out and catch him. Then Noah is safe, I’m safe, and we can all move on with our lives.” “And if something goes wrong?” he demande, his voice rising with desperation. “If Marcus outsmarts the FBI like he’s outsmarted everyone else? What then?” “Then you were right and I was stupid,” I said, crossing my arms defensively. “But at least I tried to end this instead of hiding behind security guards forever.” 

We stared at each other, locked in a battle of wills. His chest heaved with barely contained emotion. 

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64 Chapter 64 

Aria pov 

“So were the security team Marcus got past,” Damien said coldly, his jaw clenched tight. 

Martha’s jaw tightened, a muscle twitching near her temple. “I’ll be in touch,” she said. curtly before turning on her heel. 

She left, her partner following quickly behind The house fell quiet again except for the muted sounds of security patrolling outside. 

“You can’t seriously be considering this,” Damien said, his voice low and strained as he turned to face me. 

“I’m considering anything that ends this nightmare,” I replied, moving away from him, needing space to think. My mind raced with possibilities, each one more dangerous than the last. “Marcus is terrorizing us. He’s threatening our son. If there’s a way to stop him” 

“Not by putting yourself in danger,” he interrupted sharply, following me across the 

room. 

“I’m already in danger!” My voice rose, emotion cracking through my control, then immediately dropped when I remembered Noah sleeping upstairs. I pressed my palms against my temples, trying to steady myself.“He’s watching us, Damien. He got into this house several times. He knows where I work, where I go, who I see. I’m already a 

target.” 

“Which is why we need to protect you, not parade you around as bait,” he argued, running a hand through his hair in frustration. 

“Or we end this now,” I countered, facing him fully. My heart pounded, but my voice remained steady, “One operation, controlled by the FBI. We draw Marcus out and catch him. Then Noah is safe, I’m safe, and we can all move on with our lives.” 

“And if something goes wrong?” he demanded, his voice rising with desperation. “If Marcus outsmarts the FBI like he’s outsmarted everyone else? What then?” 

“Then you were right and I was stupid,” I said, crossing my arms defensively. “But at least I tried to end this instead of hiding behind security guards forever.” 

We stared at each other, locked in a battle of wills. His chest heaved with barely 

contained emotion. 

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“I can’t lose you,” he said again, quieter this time, his voice breaking. “Aria, please. Don’t 

do this.” 

“It’s not 

his gaze our choice,” I said firmly, though my resolve wavered under the intensity of 

“Like hell it isn’t,” he snapped, taking a step forward. “You think I’m going to stand by while you walk into a trap? You think I’m going to 

My phone rang, the shrill sound cutting him off mid–sentence. An unknown number flashed on the screen. 

We both stared at it, the ringing seeming impossibly loud in the tense silence. 

“Don’t answer,” Damien ordered, his hand reaching out as if to grab the phone. 

But I knew who it was. Knew what ignoring it would mean. My hand trembled slightly as I reached for it. 

I answered, putting it on speaker, my voice steady despite my racing heart. “Hello, Marcus.” 

“Aria!” His voice was cheerful, manic, unsettlingly bright. “I’m so glad you picked up. I was worried you might be too busy kissing my brother in cars to talk to your favorite 

brother–in–law.” 

“What do you want?” I asked coldly, watching Damien’s face darken with rage. 

“What do I want?” He laughed, the sound unhinged and wrong. “I want justice. I want Damien to suffer the way I’ve suffered. I want to take everything he loves and destroy 

it in front of him.” 

“I’m not afraid of you,” I lied, lifting my chin defiantly even though he couldn’t see me. 

“You should be,” he said, his voice dropping to something darker, more menacing. “Because I’ve been very patient, Aria. Very restrained. But my patience is running out. Soon, very soon, I’m going to make my move. And when I do, not even all of Damien’s money and power will save you.” 

“If you touch her-“Damien started, his fists clenching at his sides. 

“Ah, brother!” Marcus interrupted gleefully. “I was hoping you were listening. Tell me, Damien, what’s it like knowing you can’t protect them? Knowing that no matter how many guards you hire, no matter how many cameras you install, I can still get to them. whenever I want?” 

“You’re insane,” Damien said through gritted teeth, his whole body tense with barely 

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controlled fury. 

“Maybe,” Marcus mused, his voice turning contemplative. “Or maybe I’m just done playing by the rules you set. You took everything from me–our family, my inheritance, my life. Now I’m taking everything from you.” 

“I didn’t” Damien’s voice broke, raw emotion bleeding through. “Marcus, I was a kid. I didn’t know what Father did to you. I didn’t understand.” 

“You didn’t want to understand!” Marcus screamed, the sudden volume making us both flinch. “You were so comfortable being the perfect son, the heir, the chosen one. You never questioned why I was gone. Never fought for me. Never cared.” 

“I did care. I do care,” Damien pleaded, his voice thick with desperation. “Marcus, please” 

“It’s too late for please,” Marcus hissed, his breathing harsh and ragged. “It’s too late for everything except revenge. So here’s what’s going to happen. Tomorrow night, midnight, the old Blackwood warehouse on Fifth Street. Come alone, both of you. No FBI, no guards, no weapons. Just you two.” 

“And if we don’t?” I asked, my throat tight with fear. 

“Then I start killing everyone you love,” he said, his voice suddenly calm now, matter–of–fact, which somehow made it more terrifying. “Your friend Olivia. Your assistant Jennifer. That lawyer you like so much. One by one, I’ll make them suffer while you watch helplessly. Until you finally understand what it feels like to lose everything.” 

The line went dead with a harsh click. 

Damien and I stared at each other in horror, the silence deafening after Marcus’s 

threats. 

“He’s bluffing,” Damien said, but he sounded uncertain, his face pale. “He has to be bluffing 

“What if he’s not?” I whispered, my hands shaking uncontrollably now. “Damien, what if he actually is?” 

“We call Martha. Now,” he interrupted, already dialing, his fingers jabbing at his phone. “We tell the FBI about the meet, they set up a sting operation. 

“He said no FBI,” I reminded him, grabbing his arm to stop him. 

“I don’t care what he said,” he snapped, though his hand was still. 

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“He’ll know,” I insisted, tightening my grip. “You know he’ll know. He’s been watching us this whole time. He probably has our phones tapped, our houses bugged. The second we involve the FBI, he’ll disappear and start killing people.” 

“So what do you suggest?” Damien demanded his voice harsh with fear and frustration. “We walk into an obvious trap? Let him kill us?” 

“We go,” I said, the words coming out steady, sure, even as my heart hammered. “Tomorrow night, we will go to the warehouse. But we don’t go unprepared.” 

“Aria” he started, shaking his head. 

“Listen to me,” I interrupted, stepping closer, my voice urgent. “We can’t involve the FBI officially. But we can have security nearby watching. We can wear hidden cameras, weapons. We play by his rules until we get close enough to end this.” 

“That’s insane,” he said flatly, staring at me like I’d lost my mind. 

“So is letting him kill innocent people,” I countered, meeting his eyes without flinching. “Damien, we both know this ends with a confrontation. We both know eventually we have to face Marcus. So let’s do it on our terms, as much as possible.” 

He was quiet for a long moment, his mind clearly racing through scenarios, weighing options, calculating risks. 

“If we do this,” he said finally, his voice heavy with reluctance, “we do it my way. Full security team on standby. Weapons, cameras, panic buttons. And the second thing goes south, we call in everyone.” 

“Agreed,” I said quickly, relief flooding through me. 

“And Aria?” He grabbed my hand, his grip firm and warm. “If it comes down to a choice between catching Marcus and keeping you safe, I’m choosing you. Every time.” 

“Even if it means he gets away?” I asked quietly, searching his face. 

“Even then,” he said fiercely, his eyes burning with intensity. “I’ve already lost you once. I won’t lose you again, not even to save the world from my brother.” 

The conviction in his voice should have annoyed me. Should have made me argue about my independence and ability to make my own choices. 

Instead, it made me feel cherished. Protected Valued in a way I hadn’t felt in years. 

“Tomorrow night then,” I said quietly, my vole barely above a whisper. 

“Tomorrow night,” he agreed, pulling me closer, wrapping his arms around me like he 

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could shield me from everything coming. “But tonight, I’m not leaving you alone. I’m sleeping in that guest room, and I’m checking every lock, every window, every possible. entry point. Okay?” 

I nodded against his chest, breathing in his familiar scent–expensive cologne mixed with something uniquely him. For a moment, we just stood there. Two broken people holding onto each other against the darkness threatening to swallow us whole. 

“Aria?” His voice rumbled in his chest, vibrating against my car. “About that kiss in the 

car. 

“Don’t,” I said quickly, pulling back before I could let myself get too comfortable. “We have enough to worry about without adding feelings to the mix.” 

“But-” he started, reaching for me. 

“Damien, please,” I pleaded, wrapping my arms around myself. “One crisis at a time.” 

He studied my face for a long moment, his expression unreadable, then nodded slowly. “One crisis at a time,” he conceded. “But when this is over, when Marcus is caught and everyone’s safe, we’re talking about it. About us.” 

“If there’s an us to talk about,” I said softly, unable to meet his eyes. 

“There is,” he insisted, cupping my face gently, tilting it up until I had to look at him. “There’s always been an us, Aria. We were just too damaged to see it.” 

He kissed my forehead–chaste, tender, full of unspoken promises–then stepped back, giving me space. 

“Get some sleep,” he said gently, his voice rough with emotion. “I’ll be down the hall if you need anything. Anything at all.” 

I watched him walk to the guest room, watched him methodically do a full security check of the hallway, testing locks and peering into shadows before disappearing inside. 

Then I went to my own room and lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind refusing to quiet. 

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