Chase appeared at her side, pulling her gently away from Richard. “What happened?”
“I told her that Damian Sinclair is coming to dinner.”
“Damian?” Chase frowned, looking confused.
Sabrina’s shoulders slumped. When she’d told Chase about that last night with Aiden, she hadn’t told him about Damian being there. She had forgotten . . . somehow.
How could she have forgotten about Damian? Sabrina started to rub her face but remembered she was wearing makeup and dropped her hands to her sides. She clenched her fists, knowing she needed to answer the two men, but her voice wouldn’t work.
“Sabrina, do you know Damian?” Chase asked.
She nodded.
“They went out a few times,” Richard said.
Chase stiffened. “You didn’t tell me that.”
Sabrina’s shoulders slumped even more. She hadn’t been trying to hide it. She just . . . forgot. But how could Chase possibly understand that? She didn’t understand it herself. She looked up at Richard, pleading with her eyes that he’d understand. Somehow. “I forgot.”
Richard’s brows knit together. “You forgot?”
She bit her lip. “The night we met, Damian told me he was in a similar situation as I was with Aiden. Maybe I forgot because of that?”
Richard’s eyes narrowed, and he jutted his jaw out to the side. She couldn’t figure out what he was thinking, though. Somehow, he blocked his emotions from her.
Sabrina hung her head again as she felt Chase watching her. She didn’t want to see his anger. Feeling it was bad enough. Why didn’t I tell him about Damian?
“How did he hurt you?” Richard asked.
“He hurt you?” Chase exclaimed softly. “Sabrina, why didn’t you tell me?”
Sabrina closed her eyes. “I didn’t keep it from you on purpose.” She looked up and saw the hurt in Chase’s eyes. “I just . . . forgot.”
Chase sighed and Richard put his hand on Chase’s arm. “Listen before you judge, Chase.” He looked back at Sabrina. “Tell us what happened.”
Sabrina stared at the ground. “That night, when you came back,” she glanced up at Chase, “Damian was there too. Aiden told me I couldn’t let Damian know if I didn’t like anything they did. Or he’d . . .” She swallowed. “He’d burn me.” She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “It was mostly Aiden that hurt me, but I couldn’t tell Damian I didn’t like it. I had to pretend.” She looked between the two men and chewed her lip. “I’m sorry,” she added in a whisper.
Richard looked as thoughtful as he had earlier. Chase looked conflicted.
“I will make sure he knows that sort of thing is inappropriate here,” Richard said in a firm voice. He looked behind Sabrina. “Speaking of . . .” He nodded toward the entryway. “He’s here. I’ll go talk to him.”
Chase stared down at Sabrina’s pale face, his heart breaking. He knew she was telling the truth about Damian, but it concerned him she’d forgotten at all. Did the same person who had controlled Aiden control Damian now that Aiden was dead?
Considering Damian was part of The Brotherhood, no matter how distant, the idea of him being under someone’s control was disturbing. If it were true, all the Brothers were vulnerable. Granted, Damian didn’t have a direct Elder, and his group, led by Damian’s father, was an odd bunch.
“Sabrina, I’m not angry,” he said, realizing she hadn’t looked up. Her beautiful confidence from earlier had vanished. Chase’s heart ached for her.
Sabrina looked up slowly. “I can feel it.”
Chase shook his head and pulled her into his arms. “I’m angry at Damian and the situation, not you.” He leaned down to kiss her, cupping her cheek. “Thank you for telling us what happened.”
“I don’t think he’s a bad man,” she said, leaning her head on his chest.
He’d reserved judgment for later. “I love you.”
She lifted her face, eyes sparkling once more. “I love you, too.”
Richard and Damian walked into the lounge and over to where Chase and Sabrina stood. Damian looked at Chase’s arm around Sabrina and raised his brows but smiled warmly at her. “Sabrina, I’m so happy to see you again. I’ve tried calling a few times, but you haven’t answered.” Chase took a half-step back to let Damian kiss her on the cheek.
Sabrina blinked. “You did?”
Damian nodded and looked at Chase. “I think I understand why you didn’t return my calls, though.” He extended his hand to Chase. “Chase, good to see you.”
Chase nodded and shook the outstretched hand. “Damian.”
“You’re a lucky man to have captured this beautiful girl’s attention.”
Chase studied the man in front of him. He seemed completely sincere but his gut told him something was off. “That I am.” He slid his arm around Sabrina’s waist again.
“Sabrina, may I speak to you for a moment?” Damian asked.
She glanced back at Chase before nodding and following the man a few steps away.
“What do you think of him?” Richard asked in a low voice.
Chase studied Damian’s earnest face. “I’m not completely sure.”
Richard sighed. “Me, either. I’ve known him for years, and he’s a great asset, but something always seems off about him.”
“You think it’s safe for him to be around Sabrina?”
“He’s not stupid. I told him if he ever treated Sabrina like that again, there would be consequences. He apologized profusely and gave a similar excuse as Aiden.”
Chase turned his head sharply. “You think he’s being controlled?”
“If he is, his life may be in danger. Either way, we should keep our eyes on him. I’m not one hundred percent confident we should believe anything he says.”
“He reminds me of a snake,” Chase growled as he watched Damian pull Sabrina into his arms and kiss her cheek. She gave him a shy smile. His shy smile. He growled again. “I don’t like him.”
Richard chuckled. “No need to be jealous. She’s completely in love with you. It’s written all over her face.”
Chase pressed his lips together and wondered what made Sabrina blush.
“We never got to talk after that night together,” Damian said as he and Sabrina walked a few feet away from Richard and Chase. “I have a feeling I was rough on you. Am I right?” His ice-blue eyes were soft and sincere.
“A little,” she said, her voice soft.
“I am so sorry. I truly thought you were enjoying yourself.” He searched her eyes. “Can you forgive me for misreading you?”
The tension in her shoulders that had started when Richard mentioned his name melted away at his question and Sabrina nodded. He’d only done what he thought she enjoyed. How could he have known Aiden had controlled her that night?
He grinned broadly. “I’m so relieved. Richard said you were upset, and I worried you wouldn’t forgive me. Perhaps I can make it up to you tonight?” His eyes turned fiery.