~38~

Lucas appeared not long after Bruce left, looking out of sorts and frustrated as ever. His pacing and jerked movements had me worried about my only bodyguard. I had an inkling this is not about Kyle, but something far more stressful

"Please tell me you're pacing out of happiness?"

The beta shot me a tired look and ran a hand over his face, exhaling a slow breath and placed both hands on his waist, pacing again. He stopped and looked at me

"Do you trust Elena?" He asked, wariness evident in his tone. Tilting my head I eyed him. Trust her? What is he even saying? Lucas stared at me, waiting for an answer. I sighed and rolled my shoulders, tilting my head back to look at him

"Trust is a heavy word, I see her more like an unknown sister" Yeah it's crazy to say that, but it just felt like I had to protect her the moment I met her. I considered it a selfish wish of mine, not even knowing her. The need to protect her was unnatural, but for some reason I saw my past self in her, frail and on the verge of giving up.

"You have to be careful around her"

Lucas wouldn't say that without reason, sure he did show his... aggressive dislike for her, but he wouldn't say that without having any proof. I followed him to his room, blocking the door before it closed and entering. He wasn't happy, but I didn't care for his emotions at the moment. I needed answers

"You can't just say that without proof, Lucas." The beta in knowledge ignored me and went about getting ready to leave. I can be a persistent bitch if I have to , and now is the time.

"Are we really going to play the silent game? Lucas I need answers" I egged on, pushing him to tell just what exactly he meant. He finally got the hint and gave up.

"She might be working for Ace" I shot a skeptical glace his way. Elena? Granted I don't know much or even anything about her... she wouldn't, right?

You sound stupid as fuck. Do you even hear yourself?

Right, my bitch ass conscience is right. I can't just jump to defending her. I'm too tired for this, let's just go to the cafe.

I exhaled a tired breath and left for my room. A gleam caught my eyes once I entered and I turned to the source. The earrings lay in the box, pretty and gleaming. Picking up the stud earrings, a smile crept on my lips. He hasn't been gone that long and I already miss him. Walking to the bathroom I took the earrings with me. It fit perfectly snug on my ear, given I'm not they type to fancy jewelry.

But this was an exception.

With a little better mood I picked out my clothing, getting ready to head for the cafe. I brought up that cafe with Mason and Esme, putting all my energy into building that shop just to spite my father. There is no way on earth I'm stopping work just because some asshat wants me dead. Bring it on motherfucker

Lucas stopped me, placing my bag back on the counter. "There's a black car outside, same as the one from the cafe" I groaned, my day being absolutely ruined. I want one day, just one day where these mafia jerks aren't disrupting my life.

Dear God, I will be an absolute angel if you please let this end. I would go on my knees but... it's the sincerity, right?

"Stay here" He pulled out a gun and handed it to me, looking grave. I nodded and took the gun, watching as he stormed out of the villa. The screech of tyres linked with the faint scent of asphalt calmed my senses. Cautiously I walked to the window, peering at the spot where the black car was parked to see it was gone. I heaved a sigh of relief

The heavy thwack of the front door slamming shut echoed through the house, a stark contrast to the chirping birds outside. I clutched the gun in my hand, Lucas's warning hung in the air, thick and suffocating.

Silence. An unnatural quiet descended upon the villa, broken only by the pounding of your own heart. I strained to hear any sounds from outside, but there was nothing.  A flicker of hope ignited in my chest, quickly extinguished by a sudden, loud bang from the front of the house.

I panicked. Grasping the gun tighter, I crept towards the living area, each step a silent prayer. The room was empty, the patio doors hanging open, a trail of shattered glass sparkling on the floor like deadly confetti. They were inside.

Adrenaline flooded my system, sharpening my senses. A muffled thud came from upstairs. Fear, cold and sharp, clawed at my throat.  Taking a deep, shaky breath, I inched towards the stairs, the wooden floorboards creaking ominously beneath my weight.

The house seemed to stretch before me, every shadow a potential hiding place, every rustle a threat. I reached the landing, heart hammering a frantic rhythm.  Slowly, ever so slowly, I peeked around the corner.

Two figures loomed in the hallway at the far end. One, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a shaved head, stood guard. The other, shorter and stockier, was fiddling with a phone.  His voice, rough and laced with impatience, drifted down the hall.

"Where is he?" The guard grunted, his reply inaudible from my position.  A surge of defiance welled up within me. No way was I going down without a fight.  Clutching the gun, I took a tentative step forward, then another. The floorboards groaned in protest, drawing the attention of the shorter man. He whipped around, his eyes widening in surprise as they landed on me.

So much for the element of surprise

For a frozen moment, time seemed to stand still. Then, with a snarl, he lunged for his own gun. Reacting on instinct, I raised  the gun and fired. The bang echoed deafeningly in the confined space. The man staggered back, clutching his arm, a scream erupting from his throat. The guard spun around, his face contorted in rage.  He raised his gun, but before he could fire, another shot rang out. I squeezed my eyes shut, the deafening sound of gunfire filling my ears.  A searing pain erupted in my shoulder, a jolt of pain coursed through my body. I cried out, dropping to the floor. Son of a bitch shot me

The gunfire ceased as abruptly as it began. Silence, thick and heavy, filled the air.  I lay there, gasping for breath.  Slowly, I peeked open one eye. The hallway wasn't empty. The two figures were gone, but a new one stood in their place. A tall man with a cruel smile, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.  He held a gun pointed directly at me.

"Looks like the party's over," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. I gasped as the pain shot through me, so this is how it feels to get shot. I couldn't do anything as the man walked closer to me, tall figure looming over my frame. I was loosing consciousness and I knew it, fighting to stay awake was a lost battle

"Sleep tight" a cruel smile curved his lips before darkness took over me.

LUCAS

The screech of tires tore through the morning, shattering the peace. I whipped around, heart hammering against my ribs. The black car from the cafe was back, parked across the street, watching the house like a predator.

Before I could even think, the car lurched forward, tires squealing in protest as it sped away. One thought blazed through my mind: Beryl

Pure adrenaline surged through me. I sprinted towards my car, parked discreetly around the corner. Throwing myself behind the wheel, I slammed the car into gear, the engine roaring to life. I peeled out of the parking spot, weaving through traffic in a desperate pursuit of the black car.

The chase was a blur. I pushed my car to the limit, ignoring the blaring horns and shouts of other drivers. I had to cut them off. The black car weaved through traffic with an unnerving ease, taking shortcuts that sent chills down my spine. But I persevered, staying on their tail.

I was nearing the outskirts of the city, buildings giving way to a deserted highway. I saw my chance. In a daring maneuver, I swerved into the oncoming lane, forcing the black car to brake sharply.

For a moment, I thought I had them. The black car skidded to a halt, tires smoking. But then, everything went wrong. A car coming from the opposite direction swerved to avoid me, slamming head-on into the side of my vehicle.

The world spun into a sickening chaos of metal and glass. Pain erupted in my chest, stealing the air from my lungs. The car lurched to a stop, the engine sputtering its last.

Dazed and disoriented, I tried to focus. My vision blurred, the ringing in my ears deafening. I coughed, a sharp stab of pain shooting through my side. I was hurt, badly.

Strong hands yanked me from the wreckage. Through the haze of pain, I saw figures emerge from the black car. Their faces were obscured by shadows, but they moved with a practiced efficiency, dragging me towards their vehicle.

"Let me go!" I rasped, a pathetic attempt at resistance. A cold chuckle echoed in my ear. "Don't worry, you're coming with us."

The world faded to black as darkness swallowed me whole.

A/N

So I forgot to add Lucas....

I'm late on that, I know. Apologies

Hope you liked this chapter 💞✨