Chapter 54 Chapter 54
Lucien
The moment I stepped out of that house and saw Ronan's face swollen, bruised, split open something in me locked into place.
This wasn't about pride. It wasn't even about reputation. It was about blood.
The warehouse was quiet except for the low hum of a generator. One hanging bulb cast a weak yellow light over the concrete floor.
He was tied to a metal chair in the center.
Dario. The third son of the Donelli family.
His lip was already cut from earlier. His knuckles were raw too. He tried to sit straighter when I walked in, like that would make a difference.
"You're making a mistake," he said through clenched teeth.
I said nothing. I took off my jacket slowly and placed it on a crate. Rolled up my sleeves.
"You and your brother think you can touch my family?" I asked calmly.
He laughed weak, but defiant. "Your brother touched me first."
I stepped forward and drove my fist into his stomach.
Air rushed out of him in a broken gasp. The chair scraped loudly against the floor.
"He defended himself," I said evenly. "You escalated."
He coughed, trying to regain breath. "It was a fight. It happens."
I grabbed the back of the chair and flipped it sideways. He crashed to the ground with it, groaning as the metal frame hit hard. I crouched beside him.
"It doesn't just happen," I said quietly. "Not with my brother."
His eyes flashed with something close to fear now. Good.
"You think Ambrose will clean up your mess?" he spat.
That made me pause. Then I smiled.
"You still don't understand."
I grabbed his collar and dragged him upright again, slamming the chair back onto its legs.
"This isn't my father's problem."
I leaned in close enough for him to see exactly how serious I was.
"This is mine."
He swallowed. "I want you to listen carefully," I continued. "You don't look at him. You don't speak to him. You don't breathe in his direction."
His jaw tightened stubbornly. So I hit him again.
This time across the face. Blood sprayed onto the concrete. The crack echoed in the warehouse.
I straightened slowly, flexing my hand once.
"You picked the wrong person," I said coldly. "You thought he was alone."
He blinked up at me, dazed. "He's not."
One of my men stepped forward slightly. "That's enough?"
I considered it. The message had been delivered. The fear was there now.
But I needed certainty. I grabbed the front of his shirt again and forced him to meet my eyes.
"If your brother even thinks about retaliating," I said slowly, "I won't come alone next time."
His breathing was shallow now. I let go of him abruptly.
"Drop him near their territory," I told my men. "Make sure they see him."
I picked up my jacket and slid it back on. The adrenaline hadn't worn off yet. My pulse was steady. Controlled. They had underestimated Ronan.
They wouldn't do that again. Not to anyone in my family. I stepped out into the cold night air.
"Keep an eye on the Donacili brothers," I said to Kade that was following behind me buttoning my jacket.
Kase nodded once.
"I don't care about the one I just handled," I continued. "Watch Matteo."
Matteo Donacili. The smarter one. The one who didn't throw punches first but enjoyed watching them land.
"If he moves," I added, "if he calls a meeting, if he even breathes in the wrong direction I want to know."
"Understood."
"And Kade?"
He paused.
"Anything suspicious. You reach out to me directly."
"Yes."
I got into my car and shut the door. Picking up my
Phone from the other seat. I had left it inside the car when I went into the warehouse.
The screen lit up the moment I picked it up.
Missed calls. Messages.
Her name over and over again.
Are you okay?
Please call me.
Lucien?
My jaw tightened slightly. For a second, I almost called her. Almost.
But if I heard her voice right now, I might go home too fast. And I still needed a few minutes to let the adrenaline drain out of me.
⸻
When I got back home, it was way past midnight.The guards didn't question me.
The entire place was silent. Lights were off. Hallways dim. Everyone was asleep. I walked upstairs without turning on anything.
My feet carried me in one direction automatically. Her door. I told myself I would just look at her.
Just make sure she was fine. Then I would go to my room. I turned the knob slowly.
She doesn't even bother closing her door. Was she expecting me to come to her room? The room was dark except for the glow from the bedside lamp she must have left on earlier.
She was in bed. Curled slightly under the covers. Peaceful.
All the violence from earlier felt distant in comparison. I stepped closer, just enough to see her clearly. That was the plan. Just look.
But as I stood there, eyes lingering on her face, she stirred. Then her eyes opened. She blinked.
Then suddenly she pushed herself upright.
"You're back?" Her voice was thick with sleep. Then panic replaced it. "Are you okay?"
She threw the covers aside and got out of bed before I could answer.
Her hands were on me immediately checking my arms, my shoulders, my face.
"Did they hurt you? Are you bleeding? Lucien, answer me."
I couldn't help it. I smiled. "You're talking like I went to war,"
She looked up at me sharply. "You did."
Her fingers were still moving over me, searching for injuries. I gently caught her wrists.
"I'm fine."
She exhaled shakily. "You shouldn't risk your life like that."
"This?" I scoffed lightly. "This is nothing."
Her eyes flashed. "Nothing? They're reckless. What if they had weapons? What if—"
"Val."
She stilled.
"This is what I do," I said calmly. "And anyone who touches my family pays for it."
Her throat moved as she swallowed.
"This isn't some game, Lucien."
"I know."
She searched my face like she was trying to see if I understood the weight of what I was saying.
"I don't want you hurt," she whispered.
The softness in her voice did more to me than any threat ever could. I stepped closer.
"I'm not reckless," I said quietly. "I'm calculated."
Her hands slowly lowered from my chest.
"But you were worried," I added.
She didn't deny it. Instead, she just looked at me relief still lingering in her eyes.
And in that moment, I realized something dangerous. The fight earlier hadn't shaken me. The blood hadn't shaken me. But seeing fear in her eyes? That did.
She was still looking at me like I had just walked back from the edge of something dark. I exhaled slowly. Then I did what I should have done the second I stepped into this room.
I pulled her into my arms. She froze for half a second then melted against me.
Her hands fisted into the back of my shirt like she was making sure I was real. Like I might disappear again.
"I'm sorry," I murmured into her hair.
She stiffened slightly. "For what?"
"For not answering."
I felt her breath leave her slowly.
"I saw your messages," I continued quietly. "I should've called."
"Yes, you should have," she muttered, but there was no real anger in it. Just leftover worry.
I tightened my arms around her. "I didn't want you hearing anything in my voice that would scare you."
She leaned back just enough to look at me. "You think I'm that fragile?"
"No," I said honestly. "I think you're strong. I just don't like you worrying."
Her expression softened.
She rested her head on my chest again. "You scared me."
"I know."
Silence wrapped around us. It felt... peaceful. Dangerous in its own way.
After a minute, she gently pushed at my chest. "Okay. You're alive. You've been inspected. You can go now."
I raised a brow. "Go?"
"Yes. To your room."
I stared at her. "Are you trying to send me away?"
She crossed her arms dramatically. "Obviously."
"You don't want me here?"
She tilted her chin up playfully. "I don't want you."
I stepped closer again. Slowly.
"Careful," I warned softly.
She swallowed but held her ground. "You can't sleep in my room."
"And why not?" Well…the answer is pretty obvious.
"Because you cannot," she said stubbornly. "So go to your room."
I looked at her for a long second. Then I slipped my hand around her waist.
She sucked in a quiet breath as I pulled her closer her body fitting against mine like it always had. My other hand came up slowly, brushing a few strands of hair away from her face.
She went quiet. Her playful expression faded into something softer. More vulnerable.
I looked at her like I was memorizing her.
And God...In that moment, every violent thought I had earlier returned but reshaped.
I would burn cities for this woman. Break kingdoms.
Destroy the world if it meant she stayed safe.nAnd that terrified me more than anything.
I leaned down. Kissed her.nSoft. Brief. But it lingered.
Her fingers curled into my shirt again, like she wasn't ready for it to end. Neither was I. I deepened it just slightly just enough to feel her melt into it then I forced myself to pull back.
My forehead rested against hers.
"If I stay," I murmured, "I might decide not to leave."
Her cheeks flushed. "Then go," she whispered, though her hands hadn't let go of me yet.
"Goodnight, Val."
I brushed one last kiss against her lips. Then I stepped back. Slowly.
She watched me like she didn't trust herself to speak again. I walked to the door. Opened it. The hallway outside was silent. Dim. Still. I glanced back once.
She was still standing there, watching me.
I gave her one last look one that said more than words ever could then I stepped out and closed the door gently behind me.
The click echoed softly in the quiet house. I stood there for a second. Breathing. Then I turned and headed to my room. Alone. And trying very hard not to go back.