Chapter 8 - The Lion's Den
Marin fell to her knees, clutching her head, tears finally breaking through her iron discipline. "Posie... oh God, Posie..."
Damian knelt before her once more, but this time, he gripped her shoulders firmly, pulling her upright until she had to look into his face.
"Look at me, Marin," he demanded, his voice steady as an anchor in a hurricane. "Look at me!"
She gasped, her chest heaving, looking into his pitch-black eyes.
"No one touches her," Damian swore, each word carved in iron. "I have two teams of my personal vanguard stationed at that hospital right now. The perimeter is locked down. A private medical helicopter is en route to transfer Posie to my private estate clinic in upstate New York. She will be operated on tomorrow morning by the finest pediatric surgeon in North America."
Marin swallowed a sob, trembling beneath his grip. "Why? Why are you doing this for me? I’m nobody. I’m just a maid."
Damian’s gaze softened by a fraction, his thumb unconsciously brushing against the sleeve of her sweater. "You are not nobody. And nobody who sheds blood under my roof gets discarded."
He stood, offering his hand. After a second of hesitation, Marin took it. His palm was warm, rough, and astonishingly secure. He pulled her to her feet with ease.
"From this moment, you do not wear that grey uniform," Damian said, walking to the double doors and opening them wide.
Standing in the hallway was a squad of four heavily armed operators wearing black tactical gear, led by Hollis, who looked unusually somber.
"Hollis, prepare the suite adjacent to mine," Damian commanded. "Miss Ross is no longer staff. She is under my personal protection. Anyone who enters this wing without my authorization is to be shot on sight."
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"Yes, Mr. Hail," Hollis replied without a second's hesitation.
"And call the Vance estate," Damian added, his eyes burning with cold fire. "Tell Vincent Vance that his daughter forgot her manners tonight. Tell him he has twelve hours to meet me at the docks, or the Hail family will consider their treaty void."
