Where Darkness Learned Breath by Rylor Dusk 135

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< 135 Chapter 135: Unlikely Alliance 

135 Chapter 135: Unlikely Alliance 

Aria’s POV 

But as Noah ran over to show me his LEGO spaceship, chattering excitedly about family dinner and could we invite Richards because he was nice, I pushed aside the fear as my phone buzzed one more time. Margaret. 

“Vivian turned herself in. The DA accepted the plea deal. She’s being processed now. Well done, Aria.” 

I showed Damien the text. He smiled and kissed my forehead. “See? The right choice.” 

“The right choice,” I echoed. 

But as I watched Noah play, safe and happy and innocent, one thought kept circling: 

Marcus was still out there. And showing mercy to Vivian might have just painted an even bigger target on our backs. 

The call came at 2 AM. 

I jerked awake to my phone buzzing violently on the nightstand, Damien’s arm tightening around me instinctively. 

“Hello?” My voice was rough with sleep. 

“Ms. Monroe, this is Detective Barnes with Ravenwood PD.” A woman’s voice, tense and urgent. “We need you and Mr. Blackwood to come to the station immediately.” 

sat up, heart racing. “What’s wrong? 

Damien was already out of bed, pulling on clothes. “What happened?” 

“It’s about Vivian Monroe,” Detective Barnes said. “She’s been taken.” 

Twenty minutes later, we were at the police station, sitting in an interrogation room that smelled like stale coffee. Detective Barnes, a sharp–eyed woman in her fifties, spread photos across the table. 

“Vivian was in processing when it happened,” she said. “Around 9 PM. She’d turned herself in as arranged, was cooperating fully. Then during her bathroom break” She pointed at grainy security footage. “These two men, dressed as officers, intercepted 

her.” 

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I watched the video. Two large men in police uniforms grabbed Vivian, who barely had time to scream before they drugged her unconscious and carried her out a side exit. 

“How the hell did they get into a police station?” Damien’s voice was dangerous. 

“They had forged credentials. Good ones.” Barnes looked pissed. “Someone on the inside helped. We’re investigating, but right now” She pulled out a piece of paper in a plastic evidence bag. “This was found in the bathroom where they took her.” 

I read the note, my blood turning to ice. 

“I took your sister, but I’m a generous man. Trade: the boy for Vivian. You have 48 hours to decide. Instructions to follow. -M” 

“No.” The word came out strangled. “No, he’s not getting Noah. Never.” 

“We’re not considering it,” Damien said immediately, his hand finding mine. “But Detective, what are our options?” 

“We’re treating this as a kidnapping and extortion case. FBI is being brought in.” Barnes leaned forward. “But Ms. Monroe, I need to ask–are you willing to negotiate for 

sister’s release?” 

your 

“Is that even a question?” I met her eyes. “She’s still my sister. Of course I’ll negotiate.” 

“Even after what she did to you?” Barnes’s expression was carefully neutral. 

“Even after.” I squeezed Damien’s hand. “I just chose mercy for her hours ago. I’m not going to turn around and leave her to Marcus now.” 

“Marcus Blackwood is extremely dangerous,” Barnes warned. “He has a documented history of violence. If we go after Vivian, this could turn into a hostage situation with casualties. 

“Then we don’t go after her stupidly,” I said. “We plan. We strategize and we use every resource available” 

“Aria” Damien started. 

“No.” I turned to him. “I know what you’re going to say. That it’s too dangerous, that Vivian doesn’t deserve this, that we should let the police handle it. But Damien, she’s my sister. And I’m not the kind of person who abandons family, even when they’ve 

abandoned me.” 

“I wasn’t going to say that.” His eyes were intense. “I was going to say that whatever 

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plan we come up with, we do it together. Full partners. No one–especially not you- goes in alone.” 

“Together,” I agreed. 

Barnes studied us both. “You understand that negotiating with kidnappers is 

dangerous, Marcus could be setting a trap.” 

“He absolutely is setting a trap,” Damien said. “But he’s also my brother. I know how he thinks. And if we’re smart, if we’re careful, we can use that against him.” 

“What are you proposing?” 

“Give us access to your tactical team,” I said. “Let us coordinate with the FBI. We’ll draw up a plan that gets Vivian out safely without putting Noah at risk.” 

“That’s not how this works” 

“Detective Barnes.” I leaned forward. “I built a multinational company from nothing while raising a child alone in a foreign country. Damien runs one of the largest corporations in the country. We have resources, connections, and motivation that your department doesn’t. Let us help, or we’ll work around you. Your choice.” 

Barnes was quiet for a long moment. Then she smiled slightly. “I can see why you two are together. You’re both terrifying when you want to be.” She stood. “Fine. FBI arrives in three hours. We’ll coordinate a joint operation. But Ms. Monroe, Mr. Blackwood- you follow our protocols. No cowboy heroics. Understood?” 

“Understood,” we said in unison. 

Back home, dawn was breaking over the city. Noah was still asleep, blessedly unaware of the nightmare unfolding around him. 

“We need to move him,” Damien said quietly, watching our son sleep. “Somewhere Marcus can’t find him.” 

“The lake house,” I suggested, 

“Good thinking.” Damien pulled out his phone. “I’ll have Richards arrange transport and additional security. Noah leaves within the hour.” 

“I’ll pack his things.” I moved toward Noah’s closet, then paused. “Damien, when this is over–when Vivian is safe and Marcus is in custody–we need to talk about your family. 

“I know.” His jaw was tight. “And I will and I tell you everything. But right now” 

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“Right now, we focus on survival.” I touched his face gently. “I know. But later, no more secrets. Deal?” 

“Deal.” He caught my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. “Aria, if something goes wrong— if Marcus somehow gets to us” 

“He won’t.” 

“But if he does,” Damien continued, his voice intense, “you take Noah and run. You don’t look back, you don’t try to save me. You protect our son.” 

“I’m not leaving you,” I said firmly. 

“Aria” 

“I’m not leaving you,” I repeated. “We’re partners, remember? We face this together or 

not at all.” 

“You’re impossible.” But he was smiling slightly. 

“You love it.” I kissed him quickly. “Now help me pack. We have a son to evacuate and a 

sister to save.” 

Noah woke up confused when we explained he was going on a “special adventure” to the lake house with Uncle Richards and his favorite security guards. 

“But why can’t you and Mama come?” He clutched his stuffed T–Rex, lower lip trembling. 

“We have to take care of some grown–up business,” Damien said, crouching to Noah’s level. “But buddy, I need you to be brave for us. Can you do that?” 

“I’m always brave.” Noah’s chin lifted. “Like a dinosaur.” 

“Exactly like a dinosaur.” I hugged him tight. “And we’ll come get you as soon as we can, Probably just a few days.” 

“Promise?” Noah’s eyes were wide. 

“Promise,” I said, praying it was true, 

After Noah left–escorted by enough security to protect a president–the penthouse felt empty and cold. 

“Okay,” I said, spreading files across the dining table. “Let’s figure out where Marcus is holding Vivian.” 

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For the next few hours, we worked with police and FBI, analyzing every piece of 

information available. Marcus’s known associates, his financial records, properties he might have access to. 

“Here.” Damien pointed at a map. “The old Blackwood steel mill. It’s been abandoned for years, but the property is still in the family trust. Marcus would have access, and it’s remote enough that no one would hear screams.” 

“That’s cheerful,” I muttered. But I marked the location. “What else?” 

“The shipping yards on the East River. Blackwood Enterprises used to own them before I sold the division off. But there are still warehouses standing, and Marcus has connections to the dock workers union.” 

“So multiple possible locations.” FBI Agent Torres circled both on the map. “We’ll need 

to scout them all before we move.” 

“We don’t have time for that,” I said. “Marcus gave us forty–eight hours. That’s” I checked my watch. “Forty–one hours now. We need to narrow this down.” 

“How?” Damien asked. 

I thought for a moment, then pulled out my phone. “By making him tell us.” 

“What are you doing?” Agent Torres moved to stop me. 

“Texting Marcus.” I was already typing. “If he wants to negotiate, let’s negotiate.” 

“Received your message. Ready to discuss terms for Vivian’s release. Where and when? -A” 

“That’s incredibly dangerous” Agent Torres started, 

My phone buzzed almost immediately. 

“Brave or stupid? Can’t decide, Warehouse District, Pier 47, midnight tonight. Come alone or she dies. And Aria? Tell the FBI agents in your apartment right now that I know what they are planning. Always watching. M” 

Everyone in the room froze. “He’s got surveillance on us,” Damien said quietly. 

I stared at Marcus’s text my mind buzzing. Come alone or she dies. 

“You’re not going alone, Damien said immediately, 

H 

“I know.” I met his eyes. “But I am going. That’s non–negotiable: 

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“Aria” 

135 Chapter 135: Unlikely Alliance 

“She’s my sister, Damien. And Marcus wants to hurt me by hurting her. Which means I’m the only one he’ll actually negotiate with.” I stood. “The FBI can surround the warehouse, you can coordinate from a safe distance, but I’m the one walking in that door.” 

“Absolutely not,” Agent Torres said. “We don’t negotiate with terrorists by sending in civilians.” 

“Then I’ll go without FBI cooperation,” I said calmly. “I was the one that put in the position for Marcus to take her,so definitely I am going to bear the responsibility for it, your choice.” 

“You’re as stubborn as your fiancé said,” Torres muttered. “Fine. But you wear a wire, you wear body armor, and the second things go sideways, you hit the ground and let my team handle it.” 

“Deal.” I turned to Damien, who looked like he wanted to lock me in a safe room. “Don’t 

even think about trying to stop me.” 

“I’m not going to stop you.” His jaw was tight. “But I am going with you. Not inside–I know Marcus wants you alone. But I’m going to be in that warehouse district, close enough to get to you if things go wrong.” 

“Damien” 

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