“Gabriel!” I breathe into the phone. “Where is Damien? It’s been a week since I heard from him. One whole week with his phone switched off and you giving me a different excuse each time I call. I’m scared, Gabe. You can’t even begin to imagine the thoughts running through my mind.”

His silence only fuels my fear.

“Gabe, please,” I plead. “Where is he?”

“Aaliya, he...he’s been in a car accident!”

“No! God, no!” I shudder. “Is he-”

I swallow against the pain in my throat and try again, because I need to know. “Is he fine? Please tell me he’s alive!”

“Aaliya, he’s fine. He was in a coma for a week. He’s just woken up now.”

“One week!” I gasp out. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Tears burn my eyes, threatening to spill over. “His trip to London was planned for two days not ten, Gabe. I’ve lived in terror this last week ever since I lost contact with him. You knew how worried I was and yet you fed me with one excuse after the other. How could you keep his accident from me? I deserved to know, Gabe.”

“Aaliya...”

“Don’t you dare try and placate me!” I yell, unable to hold it back any longer. “You should’ve called me the minute he was admitted to the hospital.”

“Aaliya, I’m sorry. I truly am!” His voice comes out broken. “This is hard for me too. I didn’t tell you because he told me to look after you and Rian first if anything happened to him. I never imagined that he’d meet with an accident so soon after. You may not understand this now, Aaliya, but I did this to protect you both.”

“Protect us from what?”

Gabe sighs. “How much do you know of the English aristocracy?”

My fist squeezes tighter around my phone. “I don’t care about the damn English aristocracy. Tell me about Damien. How is he?”

“Like I said, he’s fine now. He woke up a few hours ago. He’s injured his head, but he will be fine. There’s a lot to tell you, Aaliya. Damien hasn’t told you entirely who he was...is.”

“What do you mean, Gabe? Don’t talk to me in riddles. Besides, I know who he was...” I shake my head. “...he is. I know about his life in England. So, stop trying to tell me something else.”