CHAPTER 64: I DARE YOU...

Chapter 64: I Dare You

Theo’s voice was commanding when he spoke, but Danielle could hear the urgency buried beneath each calm word.

"We need to go back to the mansion."

"Why? So we can finish everything there?"

"No..."

"Why not?"

Theo bent closer until she had no escape from his gaze. "Frank just sent a signal, and the president is looking for you. If he finds you missing again, he will think I mean harm to you."

Danielle rolled her eyes and shook her head as if she was shaking off his logic. "Why do you always decide for me? Why do I have to follow your rules?"

"Because there are people who want to end you," Theo said. "And if they cannot find you, they will find someone else to punish. Do you understand?"

She hated how his honesty always sounded like commands. She hated that she believed every word he said.

But she agreed with him anyway.

Theo turned the car around, and by the time they passed the gates, the night turned darker and colder.

The guards stepped aside the second they saw them. Theo parked the car in the garage and helped Danielle.

"We go in through here," he told her. "Less eyes."

They slipped into the back hallway silently tiptoeing on the floor. But when she reached the living room entrance, Danielle’s eyes widened and lips parted a bit.

Her father was standing there...

’Oh shit! Why is he here?’’

Tap...Tap...Tap...

His fingers drummed rhythmically against his shoulder as he stared at her.

The gesture was too calm. Danielle knew that was the moment before some shit destroyed everything in its path.

"So," Elias spoke in a deep, hard voice. "You leave without permission. You disappear. And then you stroll inside like nothing happened."

Danielle stepped forward and chin lifted. "I do not need permission to breathe."

Elias’s jaw tightened. "You disobeyed direct orders. I had to send people out to search. I’m worried."

"You worried about your control breaking," Danielle snapped. "Not about me."

Felix came in behind Elias as if he had been waiting for this scene. "Mr President," he said politely, "Theo brought her back safely. He-"

Danielle cut him off with fire in her voice. "Theo brought me back because you told on him. Not because you care."

Felix swallowed and stepped back.

Elias’s expression turned darker and many wrinkles formed on his forehead. "I will not tolerate this disrespect."

"Then stop trying to own me," Danielle raised her voice at him. "You think you can hurt and hide the truth forever? You think I do not know what you did to Mom?"

The room turned into a snowy winter...

Theo stepped closer behind her, and was ready for anything.

Elias’s voice dropped low. "Be very careful, Danielle."

"No," she said, louder now. "You be careful. You killed the only person who loved me. You killed her happines. You killed her future. You-"

SLAP!

His hand struck before anyone could process it. The sound cracked through the hallway like lightning hitting marble.

Danielle stumbled while shock was stealing her breath.

But before Elias could move again...

Theo grabbed his wrist mid-air and everything just stopped from moving.

Theo stayed between them now, and his own chest was rising and falling like a wolf ready to destroy the hunter. His grip tightened on Elias’s arm.

"Do not ever touch her again, Mr. President."

His voice was too quiet.

And it sounded like the kind that promised suffering and death if needed to be.

Elias looked down at Theo’s hand on him. Slowly, he pulled back. "You forget who you are speaking to."

"And you forget who I am protecting," Theo replied smoothly.

Danielle touched her cheek. It burned. But the anger inside her was stronger than the pain.

"You dare?" Elias growled. "You think you can defy me in my own house?"

Theo stepped forward, placing Danielle behind him with a firm hand. "I serve you. I do not serve your temper."

Felix’s voice shook slightly. "Mr President... please. Let us-"

"Do not speak," Elias snapped without turning.

Felix shut his mouth instantly.

Danielle shoved Theo’s hand away and stepped beside him, locking her eyes on her father. "I am not afraid of you anymore."

Elias stared at her, nostrils flared like a dragon. "You will regret saying that."

"I already regret being your daughter," Danielle answered.

Silence was so... Heavy... Suffocating.

Theo reached for her arm gently. "Come."

She hesitated, still glaring at Elias like she wanted to set him on fire. Theo leaned close enough for only her to hear.

"Not now. Not here."

Danielle finally turned away.

Theo guided her out of the room, protective and steady like an unbreakable shield.

Elias stayed frozen, staring after them with a storm in his eyes.

The moment they were around the corner, Danielle stopped and whispered, "He hit me... my own father hit me again..."

Theo looked at her cheek, and this madness was coming through his veins. "He will not do it again."

"How can you be so sure?" she asked.

Theo lifted her chin, forcing her to see the truth in his eyes.

"Because I will be here."

Danielle’s tears finally fell, even though she hated showing weakness. Theo brushed them away with his thumb. His touch was soft and his jaw looked hard.

"You are safe," he said.

But both of them knew safety was just a temporary lie.

Theo’s phone vibrated once.

A signal...

Danger was moving again...

"Motherfucker!"

"What is happening?" Danielle raised her left eyebrow, looking suspiciously at him.

"Ethan is near..."

"Maybe he’s just testing you?"

"No...that device is impossible to get rid of without my command, Dani."

"What if he wants to just-"

"No, bunny...Ethan couldn’t possibly remove it. I know for a fact."

But little did Theo know that not too far from their mansion he was in a small flat, removing a small part of his skin from his neck with a kitchen knife.

"Tttsssh..." Ethan gritted his teeth as he cut it deeper. "I’m going to fucking murder you, Theo!!!!"