Chapter Fifteen
Into the Lion's Den
The following day, the city seemed different, as though Paris had been enveloped in a pre-storm calm. Anticipation permeated the air, and every shadow appeared to be a possible threat and every corner to conceal danger. Everything I believed to be true about my life had just fallen apart when I realized that Gray was out there. Gray was at the center of a storm, threatening to destroy Damian and me, and we were no longer merely attempting to outsmart a dangerous man.
"We move tonight," Damian said in a steady, low voice as we stood in the warehouse's small, secure room, the words weighing us down like a blanket of inevitable fate. "We cannot afford to waste time. Before he takes action against us, we must ascertain what Gray is pursuing.
I nodded, my thoughts whirling with all that had been revealed. From the shadows, Gray had been observing me and playing with the strings of my life, waiting for the ideal opportunity to attack. We were going to fight him now, though. Furthermore, I was no longer going to be a pawn. The strings were going to be pulled by me.
Damian gazed at me with piercing eyes. There was something determined, yet protective, in his eyes. He was not only helping me out. He was also taking care of himself. I could tell he was hungry for vengeance by the way his jaw clenched.
Damian went on, "We are heading to Gray's private estate," his voice piercing my mind. "Leo has inside knowledge, but it is very guarded. We will infiltrate it in order to obtain the necessary answers.
The idea of going straight into Gray's territory sent a shiver down my spine. This was now a matter of survival rather than merely defeating a powerful man. I was not going to give up, though. Not right now.
Despite the adrenaline pulsing through my veins, I said, "I am ready," in a steady voice.
Damian looked at me for a long time, as if he was trying to find any hesitation or doubt in my eyes. However, he found none. There was no turning back.
---We assembled in the darkened warehouse room, getting ready for the mission as night fell over the city. Leo had already put everything in motion; we had access to Gray's estate, comprehensive blueprints, and security footage thanks to his connections. This was war, not a game anymore. And we were going to sneak into the center of the enemy's territory.
Damian said, "Let us move," with a sense of finality in his voice that caused my heart to race.
As the tension between us grew, we drove in silence while the lights of the city flickered outside the windows. We got closer to Gray, the unknown, and the impending confrontation with each minute that went by. Even though I could feel the mission's weight bearing down on me, I chose not to show it.
With his knuckles white, Damian's hand was firmly grasping the gear shift. His jaw was clenched, and I briefly wondered what was going through his head. Did he feel bad about involving me in this? Did he fear for my safety?
Leo said something from the back seat before I could ask. "We are getting close. Once we are inside, we will have to move quickly. The inner layers of security remain functional even though I have turned off the external ones. We must get around them as soon as possible.
Damian said, "Understood," in a composed tone that was tinged with anticipation of what lay ahead.
The imposing gates, watched over by armed men who patrolled the grounds, were visible to me as we got closer to the estate. Gray's estate was a fortress as well as a house. A place where his adversaries could be imprisoned and destroyed, a representation of his strength. However, we were not going to enter through the front door alone.
After Leo signaled, we arrived at a tiny, obscure entrance on the estate's side. As Leo had promised, the security cameras had been turned off and the gates were now unguarded.
"We are in," Damian said softly as he effortlessly exited the vehicle. "Remain near."
We made quick progress, slipping into the estate's expansive grounds from the shadows. The creak of the trees swaying in the wind was the only sound to break the deafening silence. I was not deceived by the silence, though. I was aware that Gray was watching everything.
With its dark windows gazing back at us like night-eyed eyes, the mansion loomed ahead. Leo promptly started working on the locks as we got closer to the side door, which was the entrance we intended to use. As his fingers moved over the mechanism, the door opened in a matter of seconds.
"Let us go," Damian said in a frantic tone. "We are running out of time."
The mansion was even more impressive inside. The air was filled with the subtle scent of expensive whiskey and aged leather, and the walls were paneled in dark wood. It was an area that exuded wealth, power, and secrets.
It was an area that exuded wealth, power, and secrets. With every step we took, we got closer to the center of the estate, where the answers we were looking for were concealed.
However, I sensed the danger growing as we got closer to the inner sanctum. Gray was more than just an entrepreneur. He flourished on dominating everything around him and was a master manipulator. And he would make sure we never left if he knew we were here.
Damian stopped in front of the last obstacle standing between us and the truth: a big, elaborate door. His face was unreadable as he turned to face me, but his eyes conveyed a different message. He was prepared for this. Was I, though?
"This is it," he uttered softly. "Are you ready?"
I inhaled deeply as my thoughts raced. "I am prepared."
After giving a nod, Damian pushed the door open.
---There was a big desk in the middle of the dimly lit room, papers scattered all over it. However, it was Gray, the figure by the window, that drew my attention.
He was facing away from us, but his icy, cunning demeanor was unmistakable. He was aware of our presence. He was anticipating our arrival.
Gray said, "I have been expecting you," in a smooth yet menacing voice. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips as he turned to face us. "Did you truly believe you could prevent me?"
Damian's hand twitched toward the weapon he was hiding at his side as his eyes narrowed. "Gray, this ends tonight."
Gray made a low, derisive laugh that made my skin crawl. "Damian, it is too late already. You ought to have been wise enough to avoid getting involved in something so risky.
Despite the fear gnawing at me, I took a step forward and spoke steadily. "Gray, you have been manipulating people's lives. I am done playing the role of your pawn.
A glint of surprise passed across Gray's face as his eyes shifted to me. The woman who believes she is in charge, huh? Naomi, you do not know what you are up against."
I looked him in the eye and said, "I think I have a pretty good idea," defiant.
Damian was standing next to me, prepared for anything that might happen.
The last battle had started.