Ethan Storm’s Dark Awakening novel Chapter 27

Sophia’s fingers trembled as she slowly lowered her phone, the screen going black. Her face was as pale as chalk.

Belen stared at her, confused and alarmed. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

She didn’t answer immediately. Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. Then, in a hoarse whisper, she said, “There’s a new head of the Irving family.”

Belen scoffed, trying to laugh off the rising dread in his chest. “So? That’s good news, right? We’re still protected—”

“No,” Sophia snapped, her voice cracking. “It’s not good news. The new boss… isn’t backing us. We’ve been told to stay out of internal affairs. Effective immediately… we’re nothing. Powerless.”

Belen’s jaw dropped. “W-What?”

Sophia’s hands clenched at her sides. “We’re on our own.”

Suddenly, Ethan took a step forward, his presence towering, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “Then get lost.”

Both of them looked up at him in shock.

“You heard me,” Ethan said, his tone frigid. “You’re no longer under anyone’s protection. The Irving name can’t save you anymore. So unless you want to end up like Sierra and Marcus…” He paused, letting the implication hang in the air like smoke. “Disappear.”

Sophia swallowed hard, taking a shaky step back.

Belen, still trying to save face, barked, “You think this is over? You think you’ve won?”

Ethan didn’t even blink. “I don’t think. I know.”

“Come on!” Sophia hissed, grabbing Belen’s arm. “Let’s go. Now!”

With one last glance at Ethan — filled with terror and resentment — the two turned and ran. Their footsteps echoed behind them as they disappeared down the hall, like shadows chased away by the sun.

Meanwhile, across the city, Sierra stumbled through the door of her penthouse. Her face was swollen, one eye barely able to open. Her cheeks were red and raw, her lips split, and blood still crusted at the corner of her mouth.

She tossed her bag onto the floor and screamed, a raw, guttural sound of rage and humiliation. Her hands clawed at the couch cushions before she flung one across the room.

“He humiliated me!” she howled.

She stormed to the mirror, staring at her ruined reflection. Her fists trembled. “That bastard Ethan… that worthless mutt…”

Memories of the boutique played through her mind — Ethan’s cold expression, Devon’s disdain, the slaps, the customers watching… the utter shame.

“No one’s ever made me look that pathetic. No one.”

Her eyes flared with fury as she grabbed a towel and pressed it against her bruises. “You want to play dirty, Ethan?” she whispered, voice shaking. “Fine. I’ll play too.”