CHAPTER 54
CHRISTIAN'S POV
I sat in the study long after everyone had left.
The smoke from my cigar curled slowly around me, wrapping the room in a hazy cloud. The whiskey burned its way down my throat, dulling the edge—but only slightly.
Now more than ever, I had to find Daemonikai… or Kai… before he found me.
My gaze drifted outside, toward the endless stretch of pine trees surrounding the villa.
Forks.
Small. Quiet. Always wet.
Perfect for hiding.
And just as perfect for being found.
I ran a hand through my hair and exhaled slowly.
I knew what I had done.
I had taken Brenda—against her will—and brought her here. No one could reach her. No one could find her. Last week, she had been reported missing… but with the kind of connections I had, the report disappeared before it could breathe.
Buried.
But I wasn't the only one with power.
Daemonikai had his own reach.
He wouldn't think to look here… not at first.
But if he did—
He'd find me.
Fast.
BRENDA'S POV
My stomach growled as I came down the stairs.
I had eaten just a few hours ago, but the hunger hit me again—sharp and sudden. Something smelled too good.
Spicy chicken… with a hint of lime.
My mouth watered instantly.
I followed the scent into the kitchen, but it was empty.
No one cooking.
Typical.
Eva and Massimo were barely ever around during the day. And Lucinda… well, Lucinda preferred silence over conversation. The last time we spent time together, she told me my talking sounded like traditional incantations.
So yes—hard shell.
"Italy…"
That was all I caught as I moved toward the living room.
The closer I got, the quieter they became.
The moment I stepped in, silence.
I paused.
"What happened in Italy?" I asked.
No answer.
Instead, I kept moving—following the scent like a starving animal. Call it embarrassing if you want. I was pregnant and hungry.
"Are you… okay?" Reginald asked, shifting slightly as I hovered near him.
I ignored him.
The scent was stronger now.
Closer.
I stopped in front of Christian.
He looked at me, suspicious.
"Don't move," I said when he shifted.
I leaned in slightly… then closed my eyes.
There it was.
Him.
I didn't think. I just moved.
I sat beside him and rested my head against his chest, pulling myself closer.
Both men went quiet.
I didn't care.
I just stayed there, breathing him in.
It was warm. Familiar.
Comforting in a way I didn't want to question.
Maybe I could get used to this…
Maybe not.
But for now—I let myself have it.
CHRISTIAN'S POV
Surprise flickered through me as Brenda pressed herself closer, as if trying to disappear into me.
I glanced at Reginald. He looked just as stunned.
No—I hadn't expected this.
Not today.
Carefully, I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer.
She didn't resist.
"So…" Reginald started, clearing his throat. "Now that she's found what she was looking for—"
"Italy?" Brenda cut in, lifting her head slightly. "What happened in Italy?"
She heard that?
I sighed.
"I was in Italy," I said. "Tuscany. There was a masquerade ball… harvest celebration."
She slowly pulled away from my chest.
"Tuscany?"
I nodded.
"A masquerade ball?"
Another nod.
Her eyes sharpened.
"Hunter…?" she asked quietly.
And just like that—
It clicked.
She was there.
That night.
The woman behind the mask.
The one who had drawn me in without ever showing her face.
Brenda… was Luna.
Reginald cleared his throat and stood.
"I'll leave you two," he muttered, walking out.
Silence followed.
"So… that night at the bar," I said slowly. "You were there for me? For Hunter?"
She nodded.
"We weren't stood up," I murmured. "We just didn't know who we were without the masks."
I lifted her chin gently, making her look at me.
"The pain I caused you…" I exhaled. "I know it goes beyond words. I broke something in you."
My voice softened.
"I may never be the right man for you. But I can try… to bring you back. To who you were. To Brenda Belair."
I held her gaze.
"One day… I'll tell you everything. Why I did what I did."
A pause.
"You gave me the best moments of my life. I don't want to lose you again."
Tears slid down her cheeks.
I wiped them away gently.
"Hey… none of that."
Then I took the chance.
I kissed her.
Soft at first.
Careful.
And then—
She kissed me back.
My breath caught.
I pulled her closer, my fingers sliding into her dreads, holding her there. The kiss deepened—slow, not rushed—like something we had both been holding back.
When we pulled apart, we were both breathless.
"I'm not ready," she whispered. "You hurt me… and it still hurts."
I nodded.
"But I'm willing to try again," she added softly. "Just… no secrets."
I pressed a light kiss to her nose and rested my forehead against hers.
"No secrets."
We stayed like that—quiet, still—blocking out everything else.
For once…
There was no chaos.
Just us.