𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐠𝐞 ✔️

Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

I watched the orange sky mixing with the shades of purple and pink passing by us, it was a beautiful day, and I can feel it. Hardy played some Punjabi songs that we both vibed on before he dropped me to Damien's home. 

Surprisingly,  this time he didn't warn me anything about the owner of the house, he wished me good night and drove off. I hate the idea that he has to travel so far just to drop me safely and no matter how many times I tried to talk to Hardy about this, he takes it as his duty as an officer to look after a citizen. 

Weird but thoughtful, nonetheless. 

Going inside the house, the lights were already turned on, I saw Nia playing with her doll and Roman and Petresia were sitting next to her like they were there to protect her meanwhile Damien and my sister both weren't home yet. 

I called Sania and she never answered my phone as I decided to quickly freshen up and change into my pajamas. I came back downstairs, finding my niece still busy with her toys. Since no one is at home, I don't think I need to hurry in making dinner,  hence I lifted the baby up in my arms and began to caress her back while asking silly questions about her day and what she was doing in my absence, quite knowing that she never replies, at least not like the kids of her age due to speech delaying. 

But she will quickly learn to speak and I am sure of it.

"Dada," She mutters out of the blue, "Dadda," She repeats looking behind me at someone. I confusingly turned around to see if Ravi had arrived or what. 

To my puzzlement, Damien had parked his car right outside the home and was heading in our direction, "Good evening, Ladies," He greeted. 

"G-Good evening." My mouth had gone dry and my voice was hesitating to process what I just heard. 

Was Nia really able to pronounce her first word?! That too calling Damien as Dad? Or his short form. 

"Why are you both staring at me like I just came back home murdering someone?" Damien questions, observing my features. I kept on a gawk with my lips parted, I quickly shook my head and gave him a normal look. 

"Ah, nothing," I replied. 

He walks up to Nia, softly scratching her chin, "Dadda," She addresses him, giggling. 

"He's not dadda, Nia," I corrected. 

"Why not?"

"Because you aren't," 

"Don't be a fun killer, Teresa, if the angel sees me as her father there is nothing wrong with it, " He defends, standing straight up. 

"Wait until her actual father hears it," I taunted with an eye roll. 

He chuckles, mockingly, "He never stays with her the way I do, anyway, I don't think he has any reason to complain," 

"Fine. Have you seen my sister?" I changed the subject. 

"She was on call when she left the house in a hurry." He answers, taking off his jacket, he throws himself on the couch, relaxing his muscles. 

"And where are you coming from?" I asked out of curiosity. 

"I went to bury a dude," He smiles, innocently, batting his eyelashes in a funny manner. 

I laughed, shaking my head at him. I wanted to throw a pillow at his face, "Jokes apart, will you mind taking care of my niece while I cook?" 

"Obviously not," He extends his hand and scoops Nia in his broadened arms. I was heading to the kitchen when I received a call from Hardy. 

I was expecting him. 

I answered after I entered the kitchen and kept a bowl with vegetables on the counter, "Hello?" 

"Are you home?" Came his rushed voice. 

"Yes?"

"Do me a favor If Damien is anywhere near you, find a safer place,"

I kept everything aside as the knots were twisting in my stomach, feeling horrible, "Don't worry about it, what happened?" 

"We recovered the dead bodies of those teenagers who went missing in the forest," He says with a heavy sigh leaving his mouth, he took a pause to allow me to process his words. 

"A-And?"

"One of the boys from the group is brutally eaten by a wild animal, but someone has tortured him before his death, it indicates to Damien."

Word count-780
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