Page 50 of Shadows of Recovery

Nineteen

Damon paced furiously on his picturesque porch in Eldon Falls, his anger bubbling just beneath the surface. He replayed the events over and over, each memory a fresh wound to his pride.

Sophie had fallen down the stairs to the basement because he told her she wasn’t moving fast enough. Her defiance had infuriated him. She had been so close to being his grand prize, the final jewel in his crown of control. But she had fought back, even in her weakened state, and that had thrown him off-balance. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he remembered her stumbling down the stairs, her body crumpling at the bottom.

The sewage tunnel beneath the hospital had been his secret weapon, a decommissioned escape route no one knew about. A bar conquest who worked in the office of planning had destroyed the records, ensuring their perfect escape. The small explosive devices planted around the hospital caused enough damage to cover their retreat. As his people fled through the tunnel, a larger explosive blew up behind them, erasing any trace of their path.

He hadn’t gotten everything he wanted. Supplies and drugs for his medical clinic were now in his possession, but not enough. He had to leave some items behind. He waited a little longer than he should have.

But he succeeded in putting fear into the residents of Waverly County.

The one thing he had truly desired, Sophie Everhart, had slipped through his fingers. Her smart mouth, her defiance were more than he could tolerate. He was so close, and yet she managed to escape—well, more like he had to leave her behind. This left him with a sense of failure.

He replayed the moments in the basement and tunnel. She was so busy defying him, she fell down the stairs and broke her leg. The moment she began throwing up and then passed out in the tunnel, his anger turned to frustration. He couldn’t carry her. Not then, not with the time ticking away and the threat of discovery looming over them. He was forced to leave her behind, but the memory of her body, the way she felt when he took her, stayed with him.

Damon's thoughts grew darker, more twisted as he imagined the next time he would have her. He would have all the tools close by to break her spirit completely, mold her into what he wanted. She would learn her place, and he would have his revenge for the humiliation she had caused him. The thought brought a cruel smile to his lips, but it was quickly wiped away by the reality of his current situation.

He had lost her. For now.

He slammed his fist into the wall, the pain barely registering through his haze of anger. His people did their part, and now it was up to him to rectify his mistake. He would find Sophie again, and when he did, she would not escape. She would be his—completely and utterly.

Damon’s eyes narrowed as he planned his next move. He would love to see the faces on that Brad and Ethan. He’d escaped under their noses. Then there was Tristan. Sophie’s lover. He fingered his letter to her in his pocket. He’d taken her, almost broken her. There’d be nothing for him.

He was back on tribal land. A sovereign nation. The tribal council had the authority to create and enforce their own laws and customs within their reservation’s borders.This status affected how tribal law applied on the reservation instead of state law.His family’s finances boosted the tribe. As long as he stayed there, he was above the law. Their tribe would never turn on a Whitlock.

He still had his resources, his loyal followers. He would regroup, and he would come back stronger. Sophie Everhart was not beyond his reach, and he would ensure she learned the consequences of defying him.

For now, he would lick his wounds and prepare. His failure was a bitter pill to swallow, but it would not be the end. It would be the beginning of a new chapter, one where he would emerge victorious, and Sophie would be his prize. He just needed time.

As the night grew darker, Damon’s resolve hardened. The taste of failure lingered, but it fueled his determination. He would not rest until he had what he wanted. And when that day came, Sophie Everhart would know the true extent of his power.

Damon's rage simmered just below the surface as he walked through the door of his secluded home. The contrast between the excitement of the day and the serenity of his house was stark. The warmth and light of the living room greeted him, and, for a moment, he felt a semblance of peace. His pregnant wife, Emma, appeared in the doorway, her arms outstretched.

"Welcome home," she said softly, wrapping her arms around him. Damon felt the tension in his body begin to ease as he returned her embrace, burying his face in her hair. She pulled back and looked up at him, offering a gentle smile. "You were gone for so long, working so hard. I made your favorite meal tonight."

Damon forced a smile, the façade of normalcy slipping into place. "Thank you, Emma. It sounds perfect."

They moved to the dining room, where the table was set with a steaming roast, mashed potatoes, and freshly baked bread. The familiar smells filled the air, momentarily distracting him from the day’s failures. They sat down to eat, the silence between them comfortable, if not entirely genuine.

Emma watched him closely. "Are you okay?"

Damon reached across the table, taking her hand in his. "Just a long few days," he replied, his tone steady. "But it's better now, being here with you." He knew their little town had no internet access his family didn’t control. No one would know what the news was saying.

She smiled softly, squeezing his hand. "I'm glad you're home.”

After dinner, Damon checked on their sleeping children, his heart softening at the sight of their peaceful faces. He gently stroked his son's hair, then moved to his daughter's crib, marveling at how small and fragile she seemed. For a moment, he allowed himself to forget the darkness that lurked within him, the cruelty he had inflicted on others.

As he stood there watching his children sleep, a thought crept into his mind. He wondered if he had impregnated Sophie. The idea sent a shiver of arousal through him, a twisted sense of power and ownership that he couldn't shake. His mind wandered to the memory of her defiance, her vulnerability, and the thought of her bearing his child ignited a dark desire within him.

Damon returned to the bedroom, finding Emma already under the covers. She looked up as he entered, her eyes filled with love and trust. He approached the bed, lingering thoughts of Sophie fueling his arousal. Emma welcomed him with open arms, oblivious to the true nature of his desire.

They made love, their bodies entwined in intimacy. For Damon, it was an outlet for the darker urges that consumed him. As they moved together, his mind drifted between the present and the haunting image of Sophie.

Afterward, they lay together in a tangle of sheets, Emma resting her head on his chest. Damon stared at the ceiling, his mind still restless. He stroked Emma's hair absently, his thoughts returning to his unfinished business. Sophie was still out there, and the need to reclaim his prize burned within him.

Emma's breathing slowed as she drifted into sleep, her trust in him complete. Damon closed his eyes, his double life pressing down on him. He would have to keep up the illusion of normalcy, for Emma's sake, for his children’s sake. But the darkness within him was never far from the surface.

As he finally allowed himself to drift into sleep, he vowed to find Sophie again. He would finish what he started. And no one—not his family, not his wife, not his children—would ever know the true extent of the monster lurking beneath his calm exterior.

---