Damon's smirk deepened, his eye contact with Antonio getting more tense.

"Leave us," he ordered the guards with a hand rised up in command.

The guards hesitated for a moment, exchanging uncertain looks, but they knew better than to question him.

One by one, they filed out of the room, the heavy door closing behind them with a loud thud, locked from the outside, leaving Damon, Antonio, and Hinata alone in the suffocating silence.

Antonio's eyes followed the last guard as he exited, every muscle in his body coiled with tension.

He knew that whatever Damon had planned, it was about to get much worse.

Damon, still holding the chain...