Chapter 6 - The Man Standing Beside Damon
The room exploded into silence.
Damon turned toward Viktor.
Viktor looked almost offended.
“That’s ridiculous.”
Nikolai stood.
“You were there.”
“I was nineteen.”
“You drove the car.”
Damon’s voice became dangerously calm.
“Viktor.”
Viktor looked at him.
“I drove your father that night.”
“Where?”
“To the warehouse.”
“Why?”
“He ordered me.”
“And what happened?”
Viktor hesitated.
That hesitation said everything.
Damon moved closer.
“What happened?”
“Sergei was waiting.”
Alina watched Damon’s face lose all emotion.
Viktor continued.
“I didn’t know what Sergei planned.”
“Did you leave?”
“No.”
“Then you saw.”
“Yes.”
Damon looked away.
For years Viktor had stood beside him.
Protected him.
Advised him.
He had been family.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was afraid.”
Damon laughed once without humor.
“You?”
“Yes.”
Viktor’s eyes hardened with shame.
“I was nineteen. Sergei told me you would die next if I talked.”
Nikolai interrupted.
“He also helped me escape.”
Everyone turned.
Viktor looked at him.
Nikolai continued.
“Three days after Mikhail died.”
Alina frowned.
“Why?”
“Guilt.”
Viktor nodded.
“I couldn’t save Mikhail. I could save someone.”
Damon sat slowly.
The revelation was not simple betrayal.
That made it worse.
“Where is Sergei now?” Damon asked.
Nikolai answered.
“Closer than you think.”
He explained Sergei had returned under another identity and spent years rebuilding influence.
The recent messages were not Nikolai’s.
Sergei had discovered Alina worked for Damon.
“He wants the ledger,” Nikolai said.
Damon’s gaze shifted.
“We have it.”
“That means he’ll come.”
“No.”
Damon stood.
“We go to him.”
Alina immediately said, “Absolutely not.”
Everyone looked at her.
She turned to Damon.
“You keep doing this.”
“Doing what?”
“Walking toward danger because you think being the strongest person in the room means nothing can happen to you.”
“This is my responsibility.”
“And what about everyone who cares whether you come back?”
Damon stared at her.
The room became awkwardly quiet.
Sloan suddenly became interested in a bookshelf.
Nikolai raised an eyebrow.
Damon said softly, “Alina.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“You don’t get to order me away from this conversation.”
For a moment Damon seemed angry.
Then something changed.
“You care whether I come back?”
Her eyes widened.
“That’s what you heard?”
“Yes.”
“You are impossible.”
“Answer.”
“Fine.”
She lowered her voice.
“Yes.”
Damon’s expression softened.
“Then I’ll come back.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“I can promise I’ll try.”
It was enough.
They created another plan.
The ledger contained evidence that could destroy Sergei’s network without direct confrontation.
Financial records.
Names.
Accounts.
Proof.
Damon sent copies through legal channels and trusted contacts.
Sergei’s power began collapsing before sunset.
Then the mansion lost electricity.
Emergency lights activated.
Viktor reached for his radio.
Nothing.
Damon immediately moved Alina toward the inner corridor.
“Stay with Sloan.”
“No.”
“Alina.”
“Don’t waste time arguing.”
A voice came through the mansion speakers.
Older.
Amused.
“Damon.”
Everyone froze.
Sergei.
“You always were stubborn.”
Damon looked toward the security monitors.
Black.
Sergei continued.
“And Nikolai, after all these years. What a reunion.”
Alina felt her father’s hand close around hers.
“How did he get inside?”
Viktor whispered, “He didn’t.”
Damon understood.
“He’s using the external system.”
The voice continued.
“Bring me the original ledger, Damon. Or every secret your father died protecting becomes tomorrow’s headline.”
Damon almost smiled.
“You think I care?”
“No.”
Sergei laughed.
“But you care about the girl.”
Alina’s blood chilled.
Damon’s expression became stone.
“Don’t.”
“Ah.”
Sergei sounded delighted.
“So that part is true.”
The speakers clicked off.
Then Alina’s phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
Her mother.
Taken years earlier.
Alive.
Beside Sergei.
Alina stared.
May you like
Underneath was a message.
Your father wasn’t the only parent who lied to you.
