Unraveled Secrets

Chapter 17: The Escape

Damian's heart pounded as he stumbled out of his father's building, the weight of the flash drive in his pocket and the confrontation with Luca still fresh in his mind. He had barely made it out. The adrenaline was still coursing through him, his body on high alert as he moved through the shadows of the city.

He had to find Izzy. Every second counted. Luca would come after him, and once his father learned about the files Damian had taken, the entire Rossi empire would be hunting him down.

He slipped into a narrow alleyway, keeping his head low as he made his way toward the spot where he had told Izzy to wait for him. His chest tightened at the thought of her-waiting, vulnerable, trusting him to make it back in one piece. He couldn't fail her.

Finally, he spotted her, standing near the dimly lit street corner, her arms wrapped around herself as she anxiously scanned the area. The sight of her-safe, alive-made Damian's heart ache with relief.

"Izzy," he called, his voice low but urgent.

She turned, her eyes widening with a mixture of relief and fear as she rushed toward him. "Damian, thank God. What took you so long?"

He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if he'd never let go. "I'm sorry. Luca showed up. It got... messy."

Izzy pulled back slightly, her hands gripping his arms as she searched his face. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

Damian winced, his shoulder still throbbing from where Luca had slammed him into the wall, but he forced a reassuring smile. "I'm fine. I got the files. We need to get out of here before they come looking."

Izzy nodded, her pulse quickening as she glanced around nervously. "Where do we go?"

Damian's mind raced. They had planned to hide out for the night, but now that Luca knew what they were up to, the city was no longer safe. "We'll go to Tony's. He can help us figure out our next move."

Izzy's eyes widened. "Tony? Are you sure we can trust him?"

"He's all we've got right now," Damian said, his voice tense. "And we don't have time to second-guess this. Let's go."

They moved quickly, keeping to the shadows as they made their way through the city streets. Damian's mind was on high alert, every sound making his heart race. He knew Luca wouldn't waste time. The moment he recovered from their fight, he would send his men after them.

They reached Tony's place, the same run-down building that had become a temporary refuge in the midst of the chaos. Damian knocked on the door, glancing over his shoulder as the seconds stretched into what felt like hours.

Finally, the door creaked open, and Tony stood there, his sharp eyes taking in the sight of them. "You two look like you've been through hell."

Damian didn't bother with pleasantries. "We got the files. But Luca knows. We need your help."

Tony nodded, stepping aside to let them in. "Come in, quick."

Inside, the atmosphere was tense, the weight of what they had just done settling over them like a storm cloud. Damian dropped into a chair, his body aching from the fight, but his mind was already working through their next steps.

"We're going to need a place to lay low," Tony said, rubbing a hand over his graying hair. "Once your father finds out what you've taken, he's going to come down on you like a hammer."

"I know," Damian said, his voice grim. "That's why we need to move fast. I've already got a contact in the media. We're going public with this."

Izzy's head snapped up, her eyes wide. "The media? Are you sure?"

Damian met her gaze, his expression hard. "It's the only way. If we expose everything now, we take the power out of their hands. Once it's out in the open, they can't control the narrative."

Tony crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. "It's a risky move, kid. You know they won't take this lying down. You're about to light a match in the middle of a gasoline-soaked room."

Damian's jaw tightened. "I know. But we don't have a choice."

Izzy stood, pacing the room, her mind spinning with the gravity of what they were about to do. This wasn't just about taking down their families anymore. This was about survival. About making sure they lived long enough to see the truth come to light.

Tony pushed away from the wall, his eyes locking with Damian's. "I'll make some calls, get you both out of the city for a while. Once the story breaks, you'll need to disappear."

Izzy stopped pacing, her heart skipping a beat. "Disappear? For how long?"

Tony's expression was grim. "For as long as it takes."

Damian stood, walking over to her, his hand resting gently on her arm. "We'll get through this, Izzy. I promise."

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. "But what if we don't?"

Damian's heart ached at the vulnerability in her voice. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, his voice soft but determined. "We will. We have to"