The line beeps at the end and my hands fly to my cheeks. I exhale and inhale, trying to control my thundering heartbeat.

Gabe shuts his phone. “I made him hear it as well. It’s pretty obvious from this that his accident was calculated.”

My skin chills as I recall the fear in Damien’s words. Now I understand why Gabriel didn’t want me to bring Rian with me that time I came to London to see Damien in the hospital. Why he wanted me to stay away from here. Why Damien has a bodyguard following him. Why I can’t tell Damien anything. He would never want me to risk Rian’s life. Rian will always come first for us. I have to keep him safe at all costs.

“Aaliya...” Gabriel shakes my shoulder.

“Why did you not tell me this earlier? I deserved to know, Gabe.”

“I’m sorry. I should have told you earlier. I was just trying to keep you from getting frightened.”

I run a tired hand across my face.

“Gabe, no more secrets! From now on anything that affects Damien, you tell me, okay?”

He nods and continues, “We don’t know who tried to kill him, Aaliya. It’s probably the same person who killed his father and brother. At this point, when he already has this mystery to deal with, I’m not sure what he will think if you tell him who you are. What if he refuses to acknowledge you? You’ve seen him, seen how cold he is. What if he thinks it’s some huge plot to get to him? What if the people who are after him come after you and your son instead once they find out who you are? He got a threatening note today, Aaliya. It came in a bouquet delivered to his office.”

My stomach drops. “Oh My God! Tell me you have someone to help you figure this out. Please, Gabe, tell me you spoke to the police.”

Gabe sighs. “Damien doesn’t want to involve the police right now. His father and brother were involved in several nefarious activities while they were alive. We don’t know what all the police may uncover if we involve them. So, right now, Mike, his bodyguard, is helping us decipher everything.”

My hands tremble as I knot them together in my lap.

“I know you’re scared, Aaliya. But Mike is the best there is. He will protect him, with his life if needed. Damien needs to remember you on his own. He needs to remember so he can protect you and Rian once the whole world knows what you both are to him. We can’t risk your life or Rian’s while he doesn’t remember you.”