War and Whispers
The forest was eerily silent, broken only by the distant echoes of gunfire from the mansion. Lucian stood like a predator on edge, scanning the darkness, calculating his next move. He had spent years building an empire too strong for rivals to shake—yet tonight, someone had struck at the heart of it.
And they had gone for Elena.
That detail gnawed at him more than the fire, more than the destruction. His enemies could have asked for money, territory, anything. But they had demanded her.
"Marco," Lucian barked, his tone sharp. "Find out who orchestrated this. I don't care if you have to turn the city upside down. I want names, I want blood."
Marco gave a curt nod and disappeared into the night with two men.
Lucian turned back, his eyes softening when they landed on Elena. She was sitting with Isabella curled against her chest, stroking the child's hair with trembling hands. Her dress was torn, soot-stained, but she looked like a goddess born from the ashes.
"You're shaking," he said, crouching down in front of her.
"I just shot someone tonight," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I never thought I'd…" She trailed off, her eyes filling with tears she had been holding back. "And I'm terrified, Lucian. Not for me—for her." She glanced down at Isabella. "What if they come again?"
Lucian's hand closed over hers, steady and strong. "They won't touch her. Or you." His voice was rough, edged with a promise that felt more dangerous than the attack itself.
Her gaze lifted to his, trembling with unspoken words. For a long, breathless moment, their faces were inches apart. His thumb brushed her knuckles, lingering, as if his body betrayed the restraint his mind screamed for.
"Lucian…" she whispered, his name slipping out like a secret.
But before the moment could break, Marco returned, his face grim.
"We found something," he said, handing Lucian a bloodstained insignia torn from one of the attacker's jackets. A serpent wrapped around a dagger.
Lucian's eyes darkened. Recognition flickered instantly. "The Valdez cartel," he growled.
Elena tensed. "Who are they?"
Lucian rose to his full height, his rage radiating off him like fire. "A rival family. Old enemies. They've been waiting for a chance to strike." He glanced back at Elena, his voice a deadly vow. "They made a mistake coming after you. I'll tear them apart piece by piece."
Elena's chest tightened. For the first time, she wasn't sure what scared her more—the cartel's threat… or how far Lucian would go to protect her.