Chapter 4 When Silence Breaks

CHAPTER 4:

"You're going to want to sit down for this," He said with that smoothness of his. He was now leaning against a pillar with an arrogance that got on Aria's nerves.

She had taken the locket from him, and was now looking at it like a strange artifact. "I've been lying down for hours in case you forgot, passed out in your overly expensive dungeon suite."

He chuckled briefly. "You can't call it a dungeon when you were covered by Egyptian cotton sheets, and a ten-thousand-dollar mattress. Most prisoners don't get that level of hospitality."

"Aw really? Should I say thank you then?" she hissed at him. "Maybe I should also curtsy while I'm at it right?"

"I would actually pay to see that," Damien said under his breath, then he dragged himself from the pillar. "But right now, I'd rather feed you... you must be starving."

Aria frowned and then scowled at him. "Is that another command, or are you actually trying to be a gentleman?"

"Neither." His voice had suddenly dropped. "It's a distraction, a public space that serves as neutral ground... You'll want a clear head when I tell you what is on my mind."

She studied him carefully, everything about him seemed to radiate controlled danger, and she hated that unbothered look in his eyes that would definitely melt most people... but Aria wasn't most people.

"And if I say no?"

"Then I'll have no choice but to carry you to the car." he replied coldly.

She didn't doubt him, so she only sighed. "Fine... But you better have one hell of an explanation for all of this mr..."

"You already called me bastard." he said when she realized she didn't know his name. But before they got into the car, he mumbled it to her. "Damien... Damien Vale."

He took her to an exclusive restaurant, a restaurant that was obviously meant for people like him in the society. He sat down and pointed a seat to her.

Aria sat down and folded her arms, she was still pissed and she ignored the menu a waiter had passed her.

"Do you bring all your kidnapping victims here or just the ones with a grudge?"

Damien kept his eyes on the menu. "Only the ones who survive being hit by a car."

"very funny." She rolled her eyes at him and reached for the menu. "I hope you choke on your expensive meal."

He watched her from the corner of his eyes as she paid attention to the menu. Despite the hostility between them, he couldn't shake off the feeling of tenderness he suddenly felt. He admired her resilience and fire, the way she was so alert and scanning the premises, probably checking out every exit. She had been hit by a car, yet here she was with no serious injury, running her mouth and throwing insults at him at any given opportunity.

She was... extraordinary. And he didn't like that one bit.

"You're staring," she snapped.

"I'm observing."

"Observing what? Am I some animal in a zoo?"

"More like a small bundle of chaos covered in sarcasm."

She tilted her head. "Was that supposed to be a compliment?"

"You can take it however you want." he muttered and faced his phone.

The waiter finally brought their food, but Aria barely touched hers. Damien however ate cooly, like well bred royalty... she wasn't surprised.

A few minutes later they were interrupted by a sudden burst of laughter. The front door opened, and a loud group of teenagers in hoodies and sneakers swarmed in like they owned the place.

Aria paid no attention to them until one bumped into her chair, and her fork fell off her hand. She turned and glared at him.

"Hey," one of them whistled. "Didn't know they allowed angels in this place."

Another one grinned at Damien. "You don't deserve her man, what's an overdressed Ken doll doing with such a queen. I bet she's just with you for the money."

Aria stood slowly. "Excuse me?"

The first one winked at her. "Come and sit with us sweetheart, we're definitely more fun than Captain Armani over here."9

Damien didn't react, neither did he even utter a word. He simply relaxed in his chair and kept his eyes darkly on the boy like he was calculating the quietest way to break his neck.

Aria was well ahead of him.

"You little creeps have five seconds to shut your mouths and walk out before I show you how I deal with roaches back where I come from."

The leader laughed. "Oooh, feisty..."

"Four," she said, her voice was now dangerously low. "Three. Two..."

They saw she was not bluffing, so they muttered something under their breath, and went away with reluctant swagger.

Damien sipped his wine as she sat down. "Impressive restraint, I thought you were going to stab someone with a fork."

She frowned at him. "You let them talk to me like that. You just sat there!"

He was utterly calm. "You had it handled, and besides I'm not here to protect you... I'm only here to tell you something important."

"Oh, right, your mysterious truth that conveniently involves my dead mother and a locket that somehow resurrected itself from a coffin."

"Eat," he said coldly. "You're going to need the strength for what's coming."

"I'm full."

Damien paid the bill when they were done, and they headed towards the car. The street was quiet, and Aria found it strange. She turned to ask him a question, but at the same time his head also turned very quickly.

There was a whizzing sound, and the bullet flew past her ear into the window beside them. She screamed as the window shattered, and went down quickly, while Damien reacted quickly and guided her into the backseat.

More shots were fired at them, and people were screaming in the distance.

Aria's heart was pounding. "Who the hell is shooting at us?!"

He didn't answer, instead he scanned the rooftops from his position, his face darkened by a scowl.

There was silence again now, whoever it was that was shooting at them was gone.

Aria got out shaking. "You wanna explain that?"

His eyes met hers... cold and furious. "It seems I'm not the only one who has noticed you Aria."

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