Runaway - A DEVIL'S NIGHT FANFICTION (PTBR + ENG)

Chapter 48 - Nini

Nowadays...

Listening to the now-muffled music outside made me feel relieved, and if I started doing breathing exercises, maybe I could block it out completely. Looking around, I spun in the office chair while tenderly stroking my huge belly.

The place was dark, but I could see all the materials Damon worked with. Some objects finished, some unfinished, but all fascinating. The smell of sawdust was strong, mixing with the scent of cigarettes. I was in the right place to do what I intended.

"I'll be right back. Need to take a call," a male voice grumbled as it entered the garage.

"Dad, your phone isn't even rin—" The door closed, cutting off the rest of the sentence.

Damon muttered and took a deep breath, shaking his head as he walked to one of his shelves, moving aside a plastic box and grabbing a wooden one. From where I sat, I saw him take out a pack of cigarettes, pulling out two before putting the rest back.

"Who are you hiding your cigarettes from?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Jesus!" Damon exclaimed, startled. "Kid, what the hell are you doing here?"

"The party was too..." I tried to explain but ended up shrugging.

"Are you and them okay?" he asked, stepping closer.

I nodded and sighed.

"They're awake," I assumed. "I think it's impossible to sleep with so much noise."

"If you want," Damon suggested, suddenly sounding hopeful, "I can put an end to this, send everyone home and—"

"No," I refused, suppressing a smile. "If you didn't want the party here, why did you let it happen?"

He looked away and grabbed a lighter, putting the cigarette in his mouth—but then he remembered the garage was closed and I was there. Reluctantly, he took the cigarette out and stuffed it back in his pocket.

"Did Will ask for this?" I pressed. "Ivar? Winter?"

With a sigh, Damon turned to face me again.

"Yeah, Winter suggested it, but... I agreed," he admitted. "Will wanted to combine his birthday with this baby shower and was super excited about the party. Emory and Alex handled all the planning, and... I didn't want us left out, okay? We're the grandparents too."

I pressed my lips together as I listened to his complaint, then placed my hands under my belly and nodded.

"Well, thank you. The party turned out beautiful," I said. "Winter was an amazing host, and I'm sorry Mikhail III had to be moved to Banks' place for this."

"He would've destroyed the whole party. Even at two years old, he still acts like a puppy," he said, shrugging and repeating the same motions before remembering once again that the place was closed and I was there—forcing him to reluctantly put everything away. "You hiding out here for the rest of the party?"

This time, I couldn't hold back my laughter at his attempt to kick me out of his hideout, but I straightened my posture and took a deep breath.

"I came here because I knew you'd show up eventually," I admitted. "And I need to talk to you."

Damon looked intrigued and pulled up a wooden stool, sitting beside the desk to face me.

"Without your bodyguards?" he asked, glancing around. "I'm impressed."

I rolled my eyes, and he gave a short smirk.

"I want to buy the museum," I blurted after a moment.

"Menkin?" Damon asked, confused. "I have no clue who owns that place or who the shareholders are, but I can look into—"