HIDDEN (FIGHT OR FLIGHT)

Chapter 31

DAMON'S P.O.V.

Emily's hand lingered, a soft, comforting warmth on my shoulder as if her very touch held the promise she'd made—that I was safe, that I wasn’t alone. And for the first time in ages, I believed I was really safe. Emily finally led us to the soft, comfortable sofa, where the scent of lavender and aged wood wrapped around us like a warm embrace. It was comforting.

As she took her seat and looked around, her gaze softened with recognition at Andrew. She smiled warmly. "Andrew! It’s been too long."

Andrew grinned, giving a little wave. “It’s been, what, all of a month, Emily? And I already missed you.” He looked over at Kyle, his smile growing a bit wider as if he had some kind of secret on him. “Kyle here’s been a handful.”

I couldn’t help but smile, grateful for the levity. “Oh yeah, I’m a real problem,” Kyle muttered, smirking at Andrew.

Emily’s eyes shifted to Vincent, who was already wearing that mischievous grin that could charm anyone. I gestured to him, “This is Vincent. My… friend.” My voice trailed off a little, but Vincent quickly picked up.

“A pleasure to meet you, Emily,” he said, extending a hand, though he flashed her a wink. “You’re as kind as Kyle promised you would be but he didn't mention you were such a beauty.”

Emily laughed, her whole face lighting up. “Well, you certainly don’t look bad yourself, Vincent,” she complimented "And anyone who is a friend of Damon is more than welcome here.”

Vincent gave her an exaggerated bow. “Ah, thank you, milady! I assure you, my talents don’t stop at charming my friends' mothers; I’m also a mediocre cook and an occasional plant killer. Very useful skills, as you can imagine.”

Emily laughed again, wiping her eyes. “Well, I’ll have to make sure you don’t get anywhere near my garden.”

We all laughed, and for a moment, it felt like nothing had ever gone wrong. Then I turned to Felix. He stood beside Vincent, hands clasped tightly, his gaze fixed on Emily with that strange combination of longing and uncertainty I knew all too well. My chest tightened, but I found my voice. “And, saving the best for last,” I said quietly, “this is Felix. My older brother. He’s…he’s the rock in my life.”

Something flickered across Emily’s face as she stared at Felix. Her eyes grew wide, and then softer, as if a memory had just bloomed. “Felix…” she murmured, her voice filled with wonder. “You’re… Elliot’s son, aren’t you?”

Felix looked like he’d just seen a ghost, his expression filled with shock and a strange, desperate kind of hope. “You…you knew my father?”

Emily’s own eyes glistened with tears as she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Felix. “Yes,” she choked out, pulling him close. “We were…locked up together once. In a very dark place. Your father…he never stopped talking about getting back to you.”

Felix’s hands trembled as he returned the embrace, tears streaming down his face. “He…he did?” His voice cracked, and I felt something in my chest twist, my own tears burning behind my eyes.

Emily pulled back, her hand resting on his cheek. “Yes. He loved you so much, Felix, you and Damon. He tried everything he could to make sure you would be safe and wouldn’t be alone.”

Swallowing, I looked down, my fists clenched. “Did he…did he survive? Do you know where he is?” I barely recognized my own voice—shaky, rough.

Emily’s face softened, the sadness in her eyes deepening. “They tortured him, Damon. Every day, they took him, beat him until he could barely stand. Sometimes they’d drag him off to where you were locked up so he could calm your crying, but most of the time…they didn’t bring him back until he was bleeding from head to toe. And then…one day, they took him, but he never came back.”