Damian

(One Year Later)

It's been one year since Evelyn disappeared without a trace, and there have been no sightings of her after I left France. She's gone. I quickly sold my penthouse and moved into my new home. It's better living in a mansion than in a penthouse. After six months of paying for the renovation and installing everything I needed, I moved in. But I have a feeling that I will find Evelyn one day.

"You called for me, boss?" Pheonix said, walking into my office.

"Update me," I said.

"Vinnie and Johnny still won't tell us who the traitor is and I'm telling you they're close to death," Pheonix explained.

"You keep them alive, they'll die at my hands when I'm ready," I growled.

"Still nothing on Evelyn, it's been fourteen months, boss, isn't it time to forget about her?" Pheonix said.

"Are you fucking with me?" I pounded my desk. "I will never give up! Nobody double-crosses me and gets away with it,"

"As you wish. We also have that shipment coming in tonight," Pheonix said.

"You and Parker take care of it, I'm busy," I said. Phoenix nodded and walked off.

(Four Months Later)

I was reviewing the list of supplies and shipments that had yet to arrive and was pleased to see nothing was missing. I've been cracking down on theft this past year. Parker opened my door and panted when I was done going over everything. "Boss, we have a sighting of Evelyn!"

"We have had lots of sightings on Evelyn, but is it her?" I asked.

"Oh, it's her; Alex in LA sent a photo. Have a look," Parker gave me his phone, and it showed a picture of Evelyn in a bakery, serving customers. I missed her smile.

"Where is she?" I asked

"Rolling Hills is a suburb just outside Los Angeles. She's working in a bakery there," Parker told me.

"She was under our noses this whole time?! Tell Bellamy to get the jet ready, I'm flying to LA in the morning," I said.

Parker nodded and walked after I gave him his phone to call Bellamy. I have you now, Evelyn; you won't escape this time. Your days are numbered.

I got the jet with Pheonix the following day and set out of LA; I was thinking of what I would do when I saw Evelyn after all this time. It's only been a year and a half.

"So, what's the plan?" Pheonix asked.

"I would fancy a coffee. Maybe at Ezra's Cookies and Cakes," I said.

The jet landed at the airport, and Pheonix drove us to the bakery. I looked at the sign Ezra's Cookies and Cakes. "Let's go say hi to an old friend," I chuckled as I opened the door.

Evelyn

I often think about how far I've come over the last year and a half. I didn't stay in France long; I couldn't grasp the language and was lonely. I often wondered about Damian and The Black Dragons, and I nearly went back many times in the early months after I left. But deep down, I knew that I could never go back. I left Paris and returned to America, settling in a quiet suburb outside Los Angeles. Somewhere, I could easily blend into the crowd. Things were difficult at first, but I worked day and night at any job I could to get to where I am now. I glance around my bakery and smile; I can't believe it's mine. Ezra's Cookies and Cakes is the small local bakery that I opened. I hired two part-time girls to help me, but I primarily work in the bakery. I can only afford to pay a little staff, but business is certainly taking up.

Soon, a customer walked in and brought me out of my daydream. "Welcome; what can I get for you today?" I smiled at them, but my blood turned to ice when I saw two familiar faces.

"Damian!? Pheonix?!" My breath hitched, and my eyes widened.

"Long time no see, Evelyn. Did you really think you could hide from me forever?" Damian growled.

"I have customers to serve," I began to take some steps back.

"Do not take one more fucking step," Damian grabbed my arm.

"I have to work, Damian," I said nervously.

"Pheonix, get everyone out of here and lock the door," Damian ordered.

"No! You can't do that!" I protested.

Phoenix got everyone out of the bakery with little to no resistance.

"You seem to forget that I can do whatever I want. Now, why don't we take a seat," Damian pointed to the table. We sat down together while Pheonix was keeping watch. "Would you like to explain why you disappeared?"

I took a deep breath but said nothing.

"Answer me, Evelyn!" Damian growled.

"Um. I just...I didn't want to be a part of the Black Dragon anymore," I said quickly.

"That's bullshit, and you know it. I want the TRUTH!" Damian slammed his fist on the table.

"I don't have any anwsers," tears were falling from my face.

"So you want me to kill you?" Damian pulled out a gun.

"What? Please don't kill me. Please, Damian," I begged.

"Wow, begging," Damian scoffed. "I did come here to kill you, but before I do, I have one question. Did you betray me?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Are the traitor, the spy, the rat or whatever you choose to call it?" Damian yelled. "Were you working with Vinnie and Johnny? Did you let them into the penthouse the night Avery was killed?"

"What? No, are you serious? How can you even think that? In case you've forgotten, you sent me to seduce Vinnie, and I ended up getting shot. Wouldn't they have protected me if I was working with Vinnie and Johnny? Or at least got me out of the hospital after? Now here you are, accusing me nearly two years later. I guess you still haven't found who the spy is?" I said.

"That's not your concern," Damian looked away.

"It is my concern when you're here blaming me," I growled.

"Then tell me why you ran away?" Damian said, looking into my eyes. "Why did you leave?"

"After all this time, does it even matter?" I shrugged.

"Yes, it fucking matters! You double-crossed and stole from me. You made me look like a fool in front of my men," Damian yelled.

"I'm sorry about the money; I only took enough to survive," I said.

"I don't give a damn about the money, Evelyn. I want to know why you left and I want to know now," Damian said. "And so help me, god, if you don't start talking in the next two seconds!"

"I thought you were going to kill me, so I ran in fear for my life," I lowered my head.

"Why the hell would you think that?" Damian wasn't expecting that answer from me.

"I overheard you and Parker talking about selling the penthouse and moving. You said you wouldn't be taking me with you and didn't know what to do with me," I answered.

"And did you hear me telling Parker that I thought it was time to buy you your own house?" Damian smirked.

"What? No, I didn't/ Well, I didn't really wait around to hear anymore. I just ran," I paused. "So, what happens now?" I asked.

"I haven't decided yet. What time are you finished with work?" Damian asked.

"At seven, why?" I said.

"I'll be back to continue this conversation. I need to think," Damian said.

"I can't; I must get home after work," I said.

"And where is home?" Damian smiled.

"It doesn't matter," I said. Oh no, Damian can't come to my house. "We will talk when I finish work.

Damian stood up. "I'll be back, and don't even think about trying to run again, Evelyn. I have someone watching you,"

I nodded. I couldn't run this time even if I wanted to.

I closed the store at seven and started crying behind the counter. It's been nearly two years, and I still feel the same about Damian. Why do I still love him, even after all this time? The last thing I need is to get sucked back in by him. If he doesn't kill me for running away, he will surely kill me if he finds out the truth. I pulled out my phone and called my friend, Sofia.

"Sofia, it's me. I'm letting you know I will be home late. I'm trying out some new recipes. If I take too long, I just might sleep at the bakery tonight,"

"Don't worry about it, Evelyn, we'll be fine," Sofia said softly.

"Okay, thank you," I hung up the phone. Damian will be back any minute, and I need to tell him whatever I have to make sure he leaves and never returns.

He will never be safe with him.