Chapter 8 Danger

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. But more than that, I couldn't believe how blind I had been. As I stared at Verena, everything I thought I knew about her shifted.

She was an amazing worker, one of our best employees-dedicated to Evangeline Interiors, invested in the company's growth rather than just her paycheck. And Ezra... He had been obsessed with her for as long as I could remember, despite her being older than him by nearly a decade. She looked the same age as me, maybe a couple of inches taller, her youth preserved in a way I now understood all too well.

Everyone knew about Ezra's infatuation-how he hovered around her like a moth to a flame. I'd always admired the way she handled him, even slapping him once when he crossed the line. I'd taken her side, of course, but it had cost me. Desmond had made sure I paid for it by banning me from the office for a week, denying me food at the house. He hadn't cared about the business or me, but Verena? Too much of a beauty to let go.

And she'd been living in hiding this whole time, avoiding the fate most Omegas feared-being sold off and used for breeding. The thought made me sick.

Verena sighed, sensing my inner turmoil. "It's okay, Nyx. Don't think too much about it."

"I'm sorry," I muttered, still in disbelief. "I can't believe I didn't realize..."

"It's fine," she said softly, her eyes full of understanding. "You've got bigger things to worry about."

She wasn't wrong.

Nikolai had gotten me out, but what was he planning?

"What was he looking for? Why did he stay behind?" I asked, hoping Verena might have answers I desperately needed. But she shook her head.

"He didn't tell me much," she admitted. "Just that he needed help after getting you out, but there was something he had to retrieve."

A frown creased my forehead. "How long have you two been in touch? I thought we'd only seen each other a couple of times."

Verena's cheeks flushed faintly, and her lips curled into a sheepish smile. I felt my own eyes widen in realization. "Wait-are you two... hooking up?"

Verena blushed deeper, waving her hand dismissively. "It was just a one-time thing, okay? Nothing serious."

I laughed softly, the tension easing just a little. "No strings attached, huh? Well, that makes sense. My brother isn't exactly the dating type."

Verena rolled her eyes playfully, and I couldn't help but smirk. "Still, too bad. I wouldn't mind having you as a sister-in-law," I added with a teasing wink.

For a split second, Verena stiffened at my words, her smile faltering ever so slightly. I didn't dwell on it, though. I figured I had probably touched a sensitive subject.

Shifting the conversation, I asked, "Any idea how Nikolai found out about the marriage? He's been AWOL for months."

Verena's expression hardened, her tone becoming more serious. "Desmond's been spreading the news like wildfire. Everyone knows about it by now."

I nodded, though the thought still made my skin crawl. "Of course I didn't agree to it," I said, my voice tinged with frustration. "I have a boyfriend."

"Right. Ethan." Verena's response was laced with mild skepticism, and I wondered how much she really knew about my relationship with him.

The mention of Ethan stirred something inside me, a longing to hear his voice, to feel his arms around me, grounding me in the midst of this chaos. With everything piling up-the sudden engagement, the looming threat of Desmond-it felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on my chest. I needed to talk to Ethan, to hear his voice, if only to remind myself that there was still something good in my life. But even as I thought of him, doubt gnawed at the back of my mind.

"Can I borrow your phone? I want to call Ethan," I said, the desperation seeping into my voice.

Verena smiled, nodding as she grabbed her phone from the side table and handed it to me. "Go ahead. I'll set up a mattress for you to crash on tonight."

I dialed Ethan's number, anxiety clawing at me when it went to voicemail on the third ring. Why wasn't he picking up? Then I remembered I wasn't calling from my phone. Maybe he didn't recognize the number. I tried again.

This time, the call connected.

"Ethan? Hey, it's me, Nyx. I'm sorry I didn't call sooner. Something-"

But before I could finish, the voice that greeted me wasn't Ethan's. It was the one voice I dreaded most.

"Come home," Desmond growled, his tone dripping with menace. "Or you'll never see your filthy human ever again."

I froze, my blood running cold as terror gripped me. The threat in his voice was unmistakable, the malice behind his words sending a jolt of anger straight to my core.

"Don't you dare hurt him," I spat, my voice trembling with fury. "This has nothing to do with him."

"You don't get to make demands, Nyxia," Desmond sneered. "Come home, now. Or I'll make sure you regret ever thinking you could defy me."

My throat tightened as tears of frustration burned behind my eyes. I couldn't afford to break down, not now. Not with Ethan's life hanging in the balance.

"I'm coming," I said through gritted teeth. "But if you lay a finger on him, I swear-"

"You're in no position to make threats," he interrupted coldly. "You have twenty minutes. Don't make me wait."

The line went dead. I stared at the phone, numb with disbelief. How dare he? How dare he drag Ethan into this nightmare? Fury bubbled up inside me, mixing with fear until I thought I might explode. I wanted to scream, to punch something, anything, to release the rage coursing through my veins.

But I couldn't. I didn't have time.

"Fuck," I whispered as the tears finally fell.