Chapter Four

POV: Damon Voss

“She’s not answering.”

I was already dialing again, even though I knew it wouldn’t change anything.

The call went straight to voicemail. For the fifth time in ten minutes.

“Calla,” I said into the phone, pacing behind the limo. “If you don’t pick up in the next hour, I’m sending someone to find you. Don’t be stupid.”

I hung up and turned to Emil, my head of security.

“She left alone,” I said. “Find out where she went. I want GPS, security footage, elevator logs. I don’t care if you have to pull traffic cams.”

He didn’t ask questions. He nodded and got to work.

I stepped back inside the hotel and walked straight through the ballroom, ignoring the congratulations and fake smiles.

I had bigger problems.

By the time I reached the penthouse, Emil had already texted me. Her phone pinged once in the Lower East Side. Then it went dark.

I called again.

Nothing.

I opened a bottle of scotch and stared out the window, the city spread beneath me like a chessboard.

Logan should never have gotten near her. That part was on me.

But the flash drive? That changed everything.

“Tell me you tracked the car she took,” I said when Emil called.

“Cab number confirmed. It dropped her off on Stanton Street. We’re running surveillance footage.”

“Any sign of Logan?”

“No. But if he gave her something, we’ll know.”

I ended the call and set the glass down.

I didn’t like the tight feeling creeping up my chest.

It wasn’t guilt.

It was control slipping.

And I’d built my entire life on never letting that happen.

My phone buzzed again.

This time, it was a different number.

I hesitated. Then picked up.

“You made a mistake,” Calla’s voice said.

I straightened. “Where are you?”

“You really think I’d tell you that?”

“I can find you.”

“I’m counting on it. But you’re not going to like what happens when you do.”

“You shouldn’t have left.”

“You shouldn’t have lied.”

“Tell me what he gave you.”

“I heard the recording.”

Silence.

“Say something, Damon,” she said.

“You’re not thinking straight.”

“I’m thinking clearly for the first time since I met you.”

“Whatever Logan gave you, it’s twisted. He’s manipulating you.”

“You used me. My name. My brother. You put my life into a contract so I wouldn’t ask questions.”

“I told you what this was from the start.”

“You told me enough to keep me quiet. Not enough to stop me from finding out what you really wanted.”

“I wanted the board to back off.”

“You wanted my name on paper so you could buy out the company without triggering a red flag.”

“That wasn’t the only reason.”

She laughed. “Do not try to play feelings now.”

“You think I planned every part of this?”

“Yes.”

“You think I knew how much you’d get under my skin?”

“I think you don’t know how to feel anything that doesn’t serve you.”

“Calla.”

“No. I’m done listening. I’m done letting you rewrite everything with that perfect voice and those cold eyes.”

“I didn’t lie about all of it.”

“You lied about enough.”

“You’re not innocent in this.”

“I never claimed to be. But I didn’t put your name on a contract and pretend it was love.”

“That was never the game.”

“Exactly.”

“You could’ve walked away at any time.”

“I thought I could trust you.”

“That was your first mistake.”

She paused.

“You’re not even sorry,” she said.

“I’m not in the business of sorry.”

“Then you don’t deserve what comes next.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“You’ll see.”

The line went dead.

I stared at the screen, replaying every word.

I called Emil again.

“Find her. Now.”

“She just posted a location tag on her old account,” he said. “It’s a bookstore she used to volunteer at.”

“She’s baiting me.”

“Yes.”

“Pull the car around.”

I was already moving.

Ten minutes later, I stepped out in front of a tiny brick building wedged between two apartment complexes. The lights inside were dim.

She was standing by the counter, arms crossed, purse hanging loose on her shoulder.

“You took your time,” she said when I walked in.

“I know what you’re doing.”

“Good.”

“I won’t play this game.”

“You’re not here to play.”

“Neither are you.”

I walked closer. She didn’t move.

“You came here on purpose,” I said. “To be seen. You want this to go public.”

“Only if you try to spin it first.”

“I wasn’t going to.”

She raised an eyebrow. “That’s the first lie of the night.”

I exhaled slowly. “You don’t get it.”

“Explain it.”

“There were shareholders ready to tear this company apart. I needed a public defense.”

“So you bought one.”

“I created one.”

“With me.”

“With your name.”

“You used me as leverage.”

“You agreed.”

“Because you gave me no choice.”

“That’s business.”

“No,” she said. “That’s you.”

I stepped closer. “You’re angry. I understand that. But this gets bigger if we don’t handle it right.”

She opened her bag and pulled out the flash drive.

“You want it?”

“I want this to stop.”

She dropped it on the counter between us.

“Then tell me everything.”

“I already told you the parts that mattered.”

“Then tell me the parts that didn’t.”

I looked her in the eyes.

“I was going to buy out a rival using shell companies. It required a spouse on record to avoid conflict-of-interest red flags. Your name gave me what I needed.”

“And the wedding?”

“Necessary.”

“The rest?”

I didn’t speak.

“You kissed me like it meant something,” she said.

“It did.”

She blinked.

“You lied so well, Damon. I thought maybe some part of it was real.”

“I didn’t expect you to mean anything.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because you do.”

She swallowed hard.

“You said I didn’t matter,” she whispered.

“I was wrong.”

“And now?”

“You matter too much.”

I watched the words hit her.

Then the bell above the door chimed.

We both turned.

A man stepped inside, dressed like he belonged in a boardroom, not a bookstore.

He looked at me. Then at her.

Then he smiled.

“I figured I’d find you here,” he said.

Calla backed up.

I stepped in front of her.

“Who the hell are you?” I asked.

“Someone who made a deal with your wife. Or did she forget to mention that part?”