Unraveled Secrets

Chapter 16: Face to Face

Damian froze, his body going cold as the door slowly creaked open. Every instinct screamed at him to move, to hide, but there was nowhere to go. He was caught. His hand hovered over the computer, the files safely transferred to the drive, but getting out of here alive was now the real challenge.

The door swung wider, and in stepped the last person Damian wanted to see.

Luca.

His older brother, dressed in his usual suit, the faint smirk playing on his lips as his sharp eyes zeroed in on Damian. "Well, well," Luca said, his voice low and mocking. "I should've known you'd come sneaking around here, little brother."

Damian's pulse quickened, but he kept his expression blank, trying not to show the fear and anger bubbling beneath the surface. "What do you want, Luca?"

Luca closed the door behind him, the smirk never leaving his face. "You've been busy, haven't you? Running around with that Valenti girl, causing all kinds of trouble."

Damian clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm. Luca always knew how to push his buttons, how to get under his skin. "Stay out of this."

"Oh, I'm afraid I can't do that." Luca stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "You see, Father's not too happy about what you've been up to. Neither is Valenti. You're messing with things you don't understand, Damian. And it's going to get you killed."

Damian's jaw tightened. He had expected this. He had known it was only a matter of time before Luca showed up to deal with him. But that didn't make the reality of the situation any less terrifying.

"You're not going to stop me," Damian said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his insides.

Luca's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "You always were the naive one, Damian. Thinking you could just walk away from all this. But you can't. You belong to this family, whether you like it or not."

"I don't belong to anyone," Damian spat, his hands balling into fists at his sides.

Luca's eyes flicked to the computer, and for the first time, the smirk faltered. "What did you take?"

Damian said nothing, his silence speaking volumes. Luca's expression darkened, his casual demeanor slipping into something more dangerous.

"You really think you can stop us?" Luca asked, his voice low and menacing. "You and that girl of yours? You think you can bring down everything Father and Valenti have built?"

Damian's heart pounded in his chest. He knew Luca was right. This was bigger than the two of them. But that didn't mean he was going to back down. Not now. Not after everything they had been through.

"I'm not afraid of you," Damian said, his voice firm.

Luca's expression twisted into something cold and cruel. "You should be."

Before Damian could react, Luca lunged at him, his hand grabbing Damian's wrist, twisting it painfully. The drive slipped from Damian's fingers, clattering to the floor. Pain shot through Damian's arm, but he fought back, shoving Luca away with all his strength.

The two brothers collided, their bodies crashing into the desk as they grappled for control. Damian's heart raced as he fought to keep Luca away from the files, away from the drive that held everything they needed to expose the truth.

But Luca was stronger, more experienced, and it wasn't long before he had Damian pinned against the wall, his arm twisted behind his back.

"You're a fool, Damian," Luca snarled, his breath hot against Damian's ear. "You always have been."

Damian gritted his teeth, fighting against the pain, refusing to give in. But he knew he couldn't hold Luca off for long. He had to think of something-anything.

His eyes darted to the drive, lying on the floor just a few feet away. If he could just get to it...

With a surge of strength, Damian shoved Luca away, his body slamming into the desk. He scrambled for the drive, his fingers brushing against the cold metal just as Luca lunged for him again.

But before Luca could reach him, the door burst open, and Tony appeared, his gun raised.

"Enough," Tony barked, his voice steady and commanding. "Let him go, Luca."

Luca froze, his eyes narrowing as he turned to face Tony. "Uncle Tony," he sneered. "I should've known you'd be helping him."

Tony stepped into the room, his gun trained on Luca. "Get out of here, Luca. This doesn't have to get messy."

Luca glanced between Tony and Damian, his face contorted with rage. But he didn't make a move. With a low growl, he released Damian and backed away.

"This isn't over," Luca spat, his eyes burning with fury as he stormed out of the office.

Damian collapsed to the floor, his breath coming in ragged gasps as the adrenaline surged through him. Tony rushed to his side, helping him up.

"You alright, kid?" Tony asked, his voice gruff but filled with concern.

Damian nodded, still trying to catch his breath. "Thanks."

Tony's eyes flicked to the drive in Damian's hand. "Did you get it?"

Damian nodded again, his grip tightening on the drive. "I got it."