Page 50 of Scorching Sienna

I was entirely me. Free. This new me that I didn’t want dying a slow death because of some asshole. Damon tried to explain thisto me the other night when he thought I was sleeping. But, while I heard the words, I wasn’t really listening. Not in a way that brings understanding.

“He has taken so much from you, Sienna. Don’t let him. Don’t let anyone. The control is yours to take back. You are strong.”

The words couldn’t take root at the time because the sorrow in my heart left no room for them, but as the days wore on, the level of grief sloshing around in my chest cavity eased up. That was all it took—that little room to breathe. I took one large breath in that silent space. And then another. Coming up for air. That’s when his words seeded in me.

I didn’t want The Reaper or The Reaping to define my life.

Yes, it happened. No, I wasn’t over it. But did I want to be? Hell yes.

I know I would probably be better off without Damon. He is dark and dangerous, and I’m not entirely sure what we are to each other and whether I will ever be something more to him than a distraction. But I want to find out. I want to explore who I am with him. Hence, the feeling had settled that I might lose him if I didn’t find Damon now.

As I walk out of the room, and with my head clear for the first time, I notice the paintings lining the corridor. Flowers. This is the theme of each and every one of them. Chatting from the dining room steals my attention as I quickly make my way there, eager to find Damon.

Jordan and Kai, the sweetest guys I have ever met, greet me with warm smiles when I enter the room.

I am grateful they are here when Damon is not. But they are not Damon.

“Where is Damon?” Jordan looks at Kai, the expression on their faces making the anxiety in my stomach bloom.

“He said he will be back in a couple of hours.” Jordan doesn’t look at me but instead sips his coffee—one of the many littering my diningroom table.

“But where is he exactly?” I stand there, looking between the two guys as they look at each other again.

“Is he in trouble?”

“No. He is fine. He said if you wake up, we must tell you he will return in a few hours.” A regurgitation of what he said to me moments ago with no new information. I doubted they would tell me anything. They worked for Damon, and their loyalties probably lie with him and their paycheck, which is okay. But irritating. I suppose I would have to handle this differently.

“Okay. I’m going to look for him. If he is back before I am, call me on my cell.” I don’t wait for an answer but spin on my heel and head towards the front door.

“No! You can’t leave. Damon said you must stay here,” Jordan shouts, a commotion behind me as he hastily tries to get up from behind the desk. Kai fares no better and knocks a coffee cup off the table, its contents and the glass crashing to the ground.

I spin around, eyeing them as they round the table, looking flustered.

“You can’t keep me here. Either way, I am going out to look for Damon. It would be easier if you just took me to him. I think Damon would probably prefer that out of the options currently on the table.”

Jordan and Kai look at each other, clearly unsettled by this scenario. I was backing them into a corner. I just hoped it paid off. When neither one says anything, I spin on my heels again, my hand on the doorknob when Jordan finally speaks. I smile, knowing from the tone of his voice that I have won.

“We have a tracker on his phone, but we couldn't get in even if we took you to him. It's run by the mafia don's son, Alessandro. You need to be on the guest list. It's dangerous for you to go there. The peoplewho go to those places are not nice people.”

Alessandro. Marcello's son. We are supposed to attend a party he is hosting sometime this week, but I had forgotten entirely with everything else going on.

“Why would Damon be going there then if it’s not for nice people and so dangerous?” The question makes Kai wince, while Jordan starts scratching his beard nervously.

They are not going to say much more. But they don’t have to. If Damon was going somewhere like that, then I needed to find him. This had to stop. Whatever this was.

“You will take me there, and I will get us in.” I spin on my heels, Jordan and Kai running after me as I exit the apartment.

“Wait. Please, Sienna. Let me call an escort. We have to be careful after your attack.”

A reminder of what I have been through halts me in my tracks as I turn around.

“Fine. I’m waiting.”

Jordan calls someone who says they will be outside in five minutes. He turns around, and I suspect he tries to call Damon, but he doesn’t answer, and the look he gives me is apologetic.

Kai locks up, and then we follow Jordan to the elevator. We must be on the top floor. There is only one other apartment on this level. I wonder who my neighbor is.

The elevator pings, and only as the doors are closing do I realize the carpeting on our floor—the tenth, as indicated on the elevator panel—is black. The same black as the carpeting of the private section at the back ofSin, where the seven rooms and Damon's office are.

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