Chapter 50
Victoria’s hands shook as she turned off the TV, the news still replaying in her mind: Selena Kane dead. Damian Blackwood escaped. The weight of it pressed heavily on her chest, and her breathing quickened. She was spiraling. Selena’s gruesome death was shocking, but it was Damian’s escape that terrified her. If he was out there, she and the baby were in danger.
“Victoria, stop pacing!” Elena said, standing from the couch and reaching for her. “You’re going to work yourself into a frenzy. Sit down.”
“I can’t sit,” Victoria snapped, running her hand through her hair. “He’s out there, Elena! What if he comes for me? For the baby?”
Elena grabbed her shoulders gently but firmly. “Take a breath, okay? Damian might have escaped, but he’s not going to come anywhere near you. Zayden already has a security team watching the house. You’re not alone in this.”
Victoria nodded mechanically, but her heart was racing too fast for her to believe Elena’s words. Suddenly, her phone rang. She snatched it off the coffee table, her pulse quickening when she saw Zayden’s name flashing on the screen.
“Zayden,” she said, her voice shaky.
“Victoria,” his calm yet urgent voice came through. “I saw the news. Are you alright?”
“No, I’m not alright!” she exclaimed. “Damian’s gone. What if he—what if he tries to hurt me or the baby?”
“I won’t let that happen,” Zayden said firmly. “Lock the doors, stay with Elena, and I’m on my way. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“Hurry,” Victoria whispered, hanging up and clutching the phone tightly.
Elena sat her down on the couch, her voice gentle. “Zayden’s coming. You trust him, right?”
Victoria nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I do. But this feels different, Elena. Damian’s always been manipulative, but now… Now he has nothing to lose.”
Before Elena could respond, there was a knock at the door. Both women froze, exchanging a nervous glance.
“It’s probably Zayden,” Elena said, heading toward the door cautiously. She checked the peephole before opening it, exhaling in relief when she saw him standing there.
Zayden stepped inside, his tall frame immediately filling the room with a sense of calm authority. He was dressed casually in jeans and a black sweater, but his sharp gaze and protective stance made it clear he was ready for anything.
“Victoria,” he said softly, walking over to her and kneeling in front of the couch. “I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
She let out a shaky breath, her fingers clutching his hand tightly. “I don’t feel safe. I feel like he’s watching me, waiting to strike.”
“He’s not going to get anywhere near you,” Zayden promised, his voice steady. “I’ve already doubled security around the house. No one is getting in without me knowing.”
Elena crossed her arms, her lips pressed into a thin line. “And what about Xanos? This feels like their handiwork.”
Zayden glanced at her, his jaw tightening. “I’ve got someone looking into it, but we can’t jump to conclusions just yet. Right now, we focus on keeping Victoria safe.”
Victoria leaned back against the couch, taking a deep breath. “Zayden, what if he comes after the company? What if this is all part of his plan?”
Zayden shook his head. “Then we’ll handle it, together. You’ve already been through hell, Victoria, and you’ve come out stronger every time. You can do this.”
Elena chimed in, her voice lighter but still firm. “And you’ve got me, the bad influence aunty. If Damian even looks in this direction, I’ll personally take him down.”
Victoria managed a faint smile at Elena’s determination. “Thank you. Both of you.”
Zayden stood, pulling Victoria to her feet. “You’re not fighting this alone, Tori. And I’m not leaving your side.”
Suddenly, Victoria’s phone buzzed on the coffee table, the vibration breaking the fragile calm in the room. She stared at it, her stomach twisting into knots as she reached for it. When she unlocked the screen, her blood ran cold.
The message read: “If you don’t do what I ask for, I’ll do it myself.”
Her hands trembled as she showed the phone to Zayden and Elena. “It’s him,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “It’s Xanos.”
