97

97
Lucien
"Boss… Mrs. Giordano is in trouble."
Damian's voice came through the phone, clipped and urgent.
The words slammed into my chest like a bullet.
My grip on the pen tightened, my jaw clenching as I straightened in my chair. My mind processed the words before my body reacted, but the moment the gravity of it settled in, I shoved my chair back, standing abruptly.
Gripping my phone so tightly my knuckles went white. My entire body stilled, my breath catching as I processed what Damian had just said.
“What the fuck happened?” My voice was steel, but inside, I was anything but calm.
“Lillard was shot on his way to pick her up,” Damian said quickly. “I’m stuck in traffic heading to the hospital, but Mrs Giodarno—she’s alone, and she’s being followed.”
I didn’t hear anything after that.
Moore. Alone. In danger.
Something cold and paralyzing wrapped around my spine—fear.
I pushed my chair back again , so fast it screeched against the floor and fell over, but I didn’t care. I was already moving. The office walls blurred past me as I strode toward the elevator, my heart pounding so violently it felt like it might break free from my chest.
I knew something would be off the moment I asked Moore's contact to be forwarded. I had almost immediately hacked into her phone that same day.
Not to monitor who she speaks with, Moore can be a hassle, but I can bet my guts on her loyalty.. I was her first and I knew she belonged to me.
But a few weeks ago, she started receiving threats. Yet she hadn’t said a word to me about it. Not once.
The realization burned through his veins. Did she think I wouldn’t care? That I wouldn’t fucking destroy anyone who dared harm her?
The elevator doors took too long to close. Too long to descend. Each second stretched unbearably, my jaw locked so tightly I could feel the pressure in my skull.
Arthur.
That bastard.
I had suspected he would be behind the messages, after all I forwarded her contact. I had even told Damian to track him. But I had underestimated Arthur. I thought he would not take the challenge knowing fully well I dared him.
And now Moore was in danger because of it.
The moment the doors opened, I was already in motion.
I threw myself into the car, gripping the wheel so hard my fingers ached, and floored the gas.
The tires screeched against the pavement.
I didn’t care.
I was driving on pure instinct, my mind screaming at me to get to her, to find her before something happened.
Because if I didn’t—if I was too late—
I couldn’t even fucking think about it. Arthur better not touch what's mine or I'll make sure he regrets every single bit of it. He had touched Lillard, I'll make him pay in folds.
The streets blurred past me, but all I could think of was her.
I don't know how long I drived, but soon I saw Moore.
She was alone, scared and she was running.
My pulse spiked as I spotted her.
She was running down the street, her body trembling, her hands shaking as she fumbled with her phone. She was terrified. I could see it in the way her shoulders hunched, in the way her breaths came out ragged and uneven.
It made something snap inside me.
I slammed the brakes and threw the door open before the car even fully stopped.
I stalked toward her, my vision narrowing until all I could see was her.
The moment they saw me, her pursuers hesitated, then quickly backed off. I didn’t need to go after them—I had already alerted David, and I knew he and the others would handle it.
She was still dialing, her lips moving as she whispered something—pleading for someone to pick up.
Then my phone rang.
I pulled it out, and her name flashed across the screen.
For a second, I just stared at it.
She called me.
Moore had called me. She had seen me as her fortress. She had thought of me in that position. Moore had admitted she was mine.
Despite everything, despite the way she had fought me, resented me—when she was scared, when she needed help, she reached for me.
Something deep inside my chest twisted. My woman. My wife.
Not thinking twice, I picked and her name slipped off my tongue. Full of warmth and assurance. She was safe.
"Moore."
She froze.
Her breath hitched audibly through the line, and then—
She looked up.
Her eyes locked onto mine.
And in that instant, the terror in her face cracked.
“Lucien…”
She whispered my name like it was the only thing anchoring her to reality.
And then she ran.
Straight into my arms.
I caught her without hesitation, my arms wrapping around her as her body collided with mine. She buried her face into my chest, her fingers gripping my shirt so tightly I could feel the fabric bunch under her nails.
Her entire body shook against me.
My heart clenched painfully.
She was terrified.
And I hated it.
I wrapped my arms around her tightly, pulling her closer, one hand sliding into her hair as I murmured against her temple, “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”
She let out a shaky sob, her breath warm against my chest.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I should have told you… I should have—”
“Shh.” I tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes. “This isn’t your fault.” My voice was firm, unyielding. “Whoever did this is as good as dead.”
Her lips trembled.
Something dark and consuming unfurled in my chest.
She was mine.
I would kill anyone who touched her. I'll find them and kill every single person who made her this scared.
Moore’s lips parted like she was about to say something, but I didn’t let her.
Instead, I did the one thing I had been fighting against for so long.
I kissed her.
She stiffened instantly, her entire body tensing.
But I didn’t push. I didn’t demand.
This wasn’t about control.
This was about reassurance.
About protection.
About letting her know she wasn’t alone.
Slowly, the tension in her shoulders melted.
And then—she kissed me back.
It was hesitant, almost unsure. But it was there.
A silent plea.
A desperate need for safety.
Her lips trembled against mine, her tears still wet on her cheeks, but she didn’t pull away.
I deepened the kiss just slightly, my fingers tangling in her hair.
Then, I pulled back, my forehead resting against hers, our breaths mingling.
She looked at me with those wide, glassy eyes.
And in that moment, I knew.
Moore wasn’t just some woman under my control.
She was mine. She was mine all along and I'll protect her with every single breath I have.
And I would kill anyone who tried to take her from me.
Without breaking eye contact, I bent down and lifted her into my arms.
She let out a soft gasp, her hands flying to my shoulders.
But she didn’t resist.
I carried her to the car, my grip firm, unwavering.
She belonged to me.
And tonight—I would make sure the whole world knew it.