Lucas watched quietly from the shadows, the room heavy with the coppery scent of blood. Draco, the man on the floor, whimpered pitifully, his wrists bound tightly to a chair. Every strike, every hissed threat, every shudder that passed through Draco's body was a confirmation of betrayal. He had been feeding information to Kael, Lucas' rival a reckless, stupid mistake that would cost him more than his pride.
"You think Kael will protect you?" Lucas' voice cut through the room, calm and measured, yet carrying a weight that made every guard flinch.
Draco stammered, bloodied lips trembling. "I… I didn't—please! I was forced! Kael… he said—"
"You were forced to betray me," Lucas interrupted, his tone cold and final. "Do you know what happens to men who betray me?"
Draco shook violently, sobbing. "I-I do! Please, I can fix it!"
"Fix it?" Lucas' eyes narrowed, a shadow of a smile brushing his lips. "You can't fix what you've already destroyed. And Kael? He won't bother. He'll enjoy watching what happens to you."
The guards exchanged subtle glances, the tension in the room like a taut wire. Klaus, Lucas' right hand and enforcer, stood silently behind him, every muscle coiled, ready to strike.
Lucas leaned back in his chair, watching Draco flinch at the smallest movement. "I should end this now," he murmured.
Then, a movement at the edge of the room caught his attention. A flicker of pale skin, the glint of terrified eyes.
Lucas didn't move. He didn't breathe differently. Yet something… something about the girl pulled his attention. She wasn't part of this world, not yet. She was small, fragile, trembling but in her fear, there was something he couldn't name. Something magnetic.
Klaus leaned closer, whispering into his ear. "She shouldn't be here. We can't let her go."
Lucas' jaw tightened, but he shook his head slowly. "No. Let her run… for now. I want the mice to scatter. Let her think she's free. The hunt is far more entertaining that way."
Klaus raised a brow, skeptical, but remained silent. He knew better than to argue further.
Lucas turned his gaze back to Draco, watching the man sweat and stammer. "Make sure he understands the consequences of every word he's spoken. And once he's done… remove him from the equation entirely, kill every one he has met,his family, everybody."
Then, Lucas leaned forward slightly, eyes never leaving Hailey. "Find out everything about her. Everything. Who she knows, where she lives, what she eats, where she hides. I want her life mapped out before she even realizes it. Nothing escapes me."
Klaus and the other guards nodded, the order understood without question. Lucas' attention returned to Draco, but the image of Hailey lingered, planted like a seed in his mind.
He didn't feel kindness. He didn't feel attachment. Not yet. But he felt her sudden, raw, unrefined and he knew she would not escape the storm that was coming.
The scene shifts seamlessly. The night ends. Morning comes. Hailey is safe… for now. She returns to her apartment, brushing off the lingering dread, only to be confronted by the first person who knows her intimately.
Sonia's voice was sharp, impatient, carrying a hint of worry. "Hailey! Where the hell were you last night? You just vanished!"
Hailey froze, staring at her friend. The memory of the alley, the blood, Lucas' icy gaze—it all came rushing back. "I… I just… needed some air," she muttered, trying to sound casual.
"Air? Ha! You disappeared! I thought something happened to you. I called you a million times," Sonia said, arms crossed, frowning.
Hailey swallowed, a shiver running down her spine. "I… I just… got lost. The streets were… confusing."
Sonia's frown deepened, skepticism evident. "Lost? Hailey, don't lie to me. You're not good at it. Something happened out there. I can feel it. You're hiding something."
Hailey forced a small laugh, though her hands trembled slightly. "Nothing happened. I promise. I'm fine, really."