~36~

It's crazy how my life has done a complete 180. A few months ago, mafia chatter wouldn't even faze me. Now, just hearing the word sets off a migraine. Lucas has been on edge ever since Elena showed up at the cafe, and Kyle's vanished into thin air. He claims he's on some mission, but I can practically see the worry lines etching themselves deeper on his face whenever Kyle's name comes up.

As we drive to the cafe in a tense silence, my mind keeps drifting back to Bruce. God, I miss him something fierce, even if his brilliant idea was to lock me away in his freaking mansion.

"Hey, Lucas?"

He glances at me briefly, his usual cocky smirk replaced by a deep frown. His knuckles are white-knuckled on the steering wheel. "Yeah?"

"Will things ever be normal again?" I ask, barely a whisper escaping my lips.

Lucas lets out a heavy sigh. "Normal, Beryl? Come on, you know our lives haven't been normal for a long shot. But hey," he forces a smile, reaching over to squeeze my hand, "at least you're safe here. Bruce wouldn't have it any other way."

My hand stays limp in his. "Safe?" I scoff, bitterness lacing my voice. "Safe cooped up like some prized bird? That's not what I want, Lucas. I want Bruce. I want my life back."

He knows I'm right. Bruce, the stoic, powerful Alpha, went into overdrive after the car accident. Lucas and Kyle, two of his most loyal enforcers, were tasked with keeping me out of harm's way. But at what cost? My unhappiness weighs on Lucas almost as heavily as the constant fear of Ace's retaliation.

"We'll get you back to Bruce," Lucas promises, his voice firm despite the churning in his gut. "But we have to be careful. Taking down Ace won't be easy, but Bruce has a plan. We just gotta trust him."

I turn to stare out the window, the cityscape blurring past in a watercolor mess. "Trust," I mutter, the word laced with doubt. "There's a lot riding on that, Lucas. More than you know."

Lucas squeezed my hand, a thin smile playing on his lips. "The cafe needs you, Beryl. You're the heart of that place. Those pastries won't bake themselves, you know."

A flicker of a smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. Maybe he was right. Maybe there was a sliver of normalcy waiting for me at the cafe. But as Lucas pulled into the parking lot, a black car across the street snagged my eye.

Unease coiled in my gut. "Stay here," Lucas murmured, his hand dropping to his hip where a weapon was surely concealed. He scanned the street, his jaw clenched. "I'll check things out."

The car door clicked shut with a heavy thud, the sound echoing in the sudden silence. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drum solo against the quiet hum of the cafe across the street. Was this it? Was Ace finally making his move? My breath hitched in my throat. This wasn't supposed to happen.

Dread gnawed at me as Lucas made his way to the car, hands firm on the holster. As he got closer a flicker of relief crossed his features and his hands released the holster, stepping back to reveal Esme and Mason getting out of the car. Heaving a sigh of relief I dumped back into the seat and waited for lucas to come back. He walked over to my side and opened the door for me, Stepping out, I forced a smile as I waved at Esme, who was walking towards us. "Hey guys! What are you doing here?"

Esme's smile faltered slightly, a worried glint in her eyes. "Hey Beryl. We, uh, just wanted to check in and see how you were doing."

"I've had worse" I sighed, truly this wasn't anything new but it is nerve wrecking to experience this again. We got into the cafe and started prepping up for opening. I pre heated the oven and started to work on the pastries with help from Esme while Lucas and Mason tended to the coffee.

*****

Elena walked into the cafe looking as frail as I, but far worse. Her eyes scanned the room until we locked eyes and a flicker of a smile lingered on her lips

Relief washed over me, quickly followed by a surprising flicker of warmth. Elena wasn't the reason I was cooped up here, but seeing her friendly face brought a welcome change to the monotony. Lucas, however, remained stoic, his gaze flitting between Elena and the door as if expecting someone else to follow.

"Hey Elena," I greeted, offering a genuine smile. "What can I get you?"

Elena, shrinked under my gaze. Her cheeks flushed a light pink, and she mumbled, "Uh, hi Beryl. I, uh, was just passing by and... well..." she trailed off, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas cleared his throat, the sound sharp in the quiet cafe. Elena flinched, her eyes widening slightly before darting back to me.

"Just passing by, huh?" I said gently, trying to put her at ease. "Seems like a long way to come for a casual stroll."

A small, hesitant smile touched Elena's lips. "Maybe. But, well, I did miss your pastries, Beryl. They're the best in town, you know."

I chuckled. "Thanks, Elena. That means a lot coming from you." We fell into a conversation, easy and familiar. Elena, at first shy and reserved, gradually loosened up under my easygoing demeanor. Her laughter filled the cafe, a sound both beautiful and unexpected.

Unbeknownst to us, however, a dark cloud loomed over our conversation. Through the window across the street, two figures sat hunched in a black car, their eyes glued to our interaction. One of them, a burly man with a shaved head and a cruel glint in his eyes, spoke into a hidden microphone. "Looks like Elena found herself a new playmate, boss."

Lucas, his back to the window, seemed to sense the danger. His gaze flickered from me and Elena to the street outside, a muscle twitching in his jaw. He knew the risk of Elena's visit. Despite the tension, a pang of jealousy, sharp and unexpected, twisted in my gut. I forced away the unsettling feeling and continued my conversation with Elena.

Lucas glared at the black Porsche parked across the street of the cafe. It drove away momentarily after Elena got up to leave. I didn't want to think she had something to do with any mafia business but I couldn't help but overthink at this point. We closed the cafe and headed straight to my new home, the villa Bruce just had to buy because of the danger around me.

Exhausted and half asleep, I stumbled into the house, Lucas walking past me into the apartment beside mine and I made my way towards mine, movements sluggish with fatigue.

An unsettling noise drew me up short. I pulled a gun from under the entry way table and walked slowly with the gun in hand, I crept closer, my senses on high alert. My heart hammered in my chest, the gun still warm in my grip. The living room was bathed in a soft glow, shadows dancing across the plush carpet. There, in the center of it all, stood Bruce - my alpha, unharmed but with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"I-" I stammered, but he cut me off with a raised hand. Bruce had that effect on everyone, commanding attention with a mere gesture.

Frustration bubbled up. "Don't," I finally managed, voice tight. These unannounced visits were getting old. I understood the dangers, the mafia life Bruce led, but a simple phone call wouldn't hurt.

He closed the distance between us, his familiar scent - honey and whiskey, intoxicating as ever - washing over me. As he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close, the anger began to melt away.

"I know," he murmured, his voice warm against my skin. "But you're my omega, and I'll protect you, no matter what."

I leaned into him, caught between exasperation and the undeniable affection I felt for this complex man. One moment a ruthless alpha, the next a tender lover. It was infuriating and captivating all at once.

Then came the glint of a black box. My breath hitched as he opened it, revealing a diamond stud earring - a single, perfect spark of light.

"They're beautiful," I whispered, gazing up at him. His smile widened, and he leaned down, placing a soft kiss on my cheek.

"Anything for you," he murmured. And in that moment, amidst the shadows and unspoken secrets, I knew I was just as lost in this dangerous love as he was.

A/N

Greetings my darling muffins 💞. I hope your day was as lovely as you are

Mine is more like a rollercoaster on fire 🥲

See you in the next chapter 💞🦋