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When he arrived, the guards were already waiting outside.
He threw the car door open and ran inside, the sound of his shoes echoing across the marble floors.
"Where is she?"
"In the guest room, sir," one of his men answered softly.
He entered blood still in his hands.
Viktor stood by the bed. Elena lay there — pale, still, her breathing steady but slow.
Damian's chest tightened.
He walked closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. She didn't move.
"She hasn't woken up since I brought her," Viktor said quietly.
"I called your private doctor."
Right on cue, the doctor arrived, carrying a black case.
He nodded at Damian and began checking her pulse, her eyes, her breathing.
Minutes passed — tense and silent.
Finally, the doctor looked up.
"She's been injected with something," he said gravely.
Damian's heart stopped. "What kind of something?"
"A sedative. Potent.
Meant to keep her unconscious for several hours, maybe longer depending on her resistance."
"Can you reverse it?"
"Yes, but she'll be weak when she wakes.
Her body's been through a lot."
Damian stepped closer, his voice softer now.
"Just make sure she's okay."
The doctor nodded and began preparing an IV, inserting it gently into Elena's arm.
Damian watched every movement, every breath she took, his expression unreadable but his eyes burning with anger and something deeper.
Viktor leaned against the wall, exhaling.
"At least she's alive," he muttered.
Damian didn't answer. His gaze never left Elena.
His jaw flexed as he spoke, voice low and hard.
"Andrew's gone. But I'll find him."
Viktor asked. "Gone how"
"He was taken by some group of men, their faces were covered" Damian replied.
He sat beside her bed, brushing his thumb gently over her hand a rare softness in a man built of fury and fire.
"Wake up soon, cupcake," he whispered.
"Wow," he said, breaking the silence.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think i'm watching the behind the scenes of a romance movie."
Damian didn't even look up. "Not now, Viktor."
Viktor chuckled, pushing himself off the wall.
"No seriously, man. Look at you. Sitting there, holding her hand like she's your lifeline.
Next thing, you'll start reciting poetry or something."
Damian sighed, still not lifting his gaze from Elena. "You done?"
"Not yet," Viktor said, pretending to wipe a fake tear.
"My cold-hearted friend finally caught feelings.
Who knew the great Damian Volkov had a heart that wasn't just for revenge?"
Damian looked up, his expression flat. "Get out, Viktor."
Viktor raised both hands, laughing as he backed toward the door.
"Alright, alright."
Damian shook his head slightly as Viktor left, a small smirk ghosting his lips.
Then his eyes softened again as he looked at Elena. He leaned forward, brushing her hair away from her face.
"I'm sorry, cupcake," he whispered. "It's all my fault."
He kissed her forehead lightly, the touch lingering longer than he intended.
***
Andrew woke slowly. His entire body hurting from the fight he had with Damian
He groaned.
His eyes focused. He was in a room that smelled of old wood and alcohol.
The floor was dirty. A chair sat tipped over. Someone was beside him.
Andrew squinted. The man's face came clearer. Tall, sharp, a hard smile.
Andrew's eyes narrowed. Recognition hit him like a punch
"Adrian Volkov "
Adrian sat down on a crate and lit a cigar. Smoke drifted between them.
He watched Andrew with a slow, almost bored look.
"You're awake. Good." He took a long drag and let the smoke curl up.
"You took quite a beating from my cousin."
Andrew tried to pull himself up. Pain bit his side. He hissed and fell back. His hands trembled.
He looked at Adrian and spat out a laugh that had no humor.
"What do you want?"
Adrian smiled, small and cold.
"I know who you are, Andrew and I also know the underground business you and my cousin are into".
Andrew's eyes flashed.
"I want your cousin dead. I want him broken."
Adrian chuckled low.
"Ambition suits you. But you're not strong enough.
"Damian beat you till you fell unconscious" Adrian mocked.
"Damian's not a man you stab in the back and walk away from." He pushed the cigar between his fingers.
"He nearly killed me once when I slept with his teenage lover"
Andrew glared.
" He thinks he's untouchable. He thinks his name protects him."
Adrian leaned forward, voice quiet, careful.
"You want to kill Damian?" He let the question hang.
"Good. But you can't do it with pride and a few men.
Andrew's breathing was heavy. He clutched his side and tried to sit straighter.
"You offer help," he said slowly, testing the words in his mouth.
"Or you want to control his empire after he's gone."
Adrian smiled wider, dangerous. "Both"
"My grandfather mocks my father and I because of him and now they will see that Adrian Volkov is useful to them".
"I want to do this without my father's help".
"I want the company. We help each other. Simple."
Andrew looked at him hard. He weighed the words on his tongue.
"You saved my life once," Andrew said finally. " Either way — I owe you something."
Andrew spat again, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"And Elena?" he asked bluntly.
Adrian whispered smiling.
"I will think of what to do with Damian's pretty lady".