Chapter 6

Selene’s POV

Luca’s smirk widened as the rain drenched him completely. “Cassius, you really thought you could hide from me?”

“I warned you once,” Cassius said, voice low, dangerous. “Leave her out of this.”

“She has everything to do with it,” Luca replied, his eyes gleaming. “Everything you care about.”

I froze. Everything I care about? His gaze slid over me like a knife.

Cassius stepped closer. “Back away, Luca.”

“Or what?” Luca taunted. “You’re alone, outnumbered, and distracted.”

I flinched at the word. Distracted. Was that what he thought?

“I’m not distracted,” Cassius growled, tightening his grip on his gun. “I’m focused on keeping her alive.”

“You can’t protect her from me,” Luca said smoothly. “Not tonight.”

My pulse spiked. I wanted to scream, run, or do something. But I couldn't.

Cassius’s jaw flexed. “We can end this now. Step outside.”

Luca laughed, dark and low. “You always were predictable, brother.”

Cassius’s eyes flicked to me. “Selene, stay behind me. Don’t move.”

I nodded, my heart racing. I could barely breathe.

“You always had everything handed to you,” Luca continued. “I had to fight to survive, and now…you owe me.”

“Enough,” Cassius snapped. “I won’t let you take her. Not you, not anyone.”

“You already tried,” Luca said, cocking his head. “Remember the motel? You almost got her killed.”

Cassius’s fists clenched. “I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

I swallowed hard. “Cassius…what happens if he gets me?”

He froze, and for a fraction of a second, I saw something behind his eyes…fear, maybe even anger I couldn’t name. “He won’t. Not while I’m breathing.”

“You think you can stop me?” Luca said, stepping closer. “You can’t.”

Cassius didn’t answer. His gaze never left Luca. His hand hovered near me, steady, and protective.

I felt it, the heat radiating from him, rooting me in place, and holding me steady when fear wanted to make me spin out.

Luca’s grin widened. “And she,” he gestured at me, “she’s…tempting.”

I froze. I didn’t know if he meant it cruelly, or if my stomach was just reacting to his words.

Cassius’s voice dropped, almost a growl. “Don’t touch her. Not a finger.”

“Why do you care so much?” Luca asked. “About her?”

Cassius stepped closer, eyes dark. “Because she matters to me. And if she dies, you won’t survive it.”

I felt my chest tighten. Matters to him? My mind was spinning, heart clashing with fear and something dangerously close to relief.

Luca laughed again. “You’re predictable, just like him.”

“Enough,” Cassius said. “We end this tonight. You, me, and whoever else is hiding behind your tricks.”

Luca tilted his head. “Then we play a game.”

Cassius’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of game?”

“You’ve always loved games, brother,” Luca said. “But this time…you’re losing, and she’s the prize.”

I stepped back instinctively. “Prize?” My voice trembled.

“Don’t move,” Cassius said, stepping between us. “Not a step.”

Luca smirked, gun still raised. “Let’s see how far your loyalty goes.”

Cassius’s hand twitched near his holster. “Try me.”

I felt my heart in my throat, every nerve screaming. The storm outside pounded like it knew what was coming.

Luca’s eyes locked on me, sharp, calculating. “You’re going to make this interesting.”

Cassius growled. “I swear…if you touch her”

“You’ll what?” Luca asked. “Kill me? You already tried. Now it’s my turn.”

I couldn’t breathe. My chest ached. The rain drummed on the roof like a warning.

“Selene,” Cassius said softly, almost tenderly. “I need you to trust me. No matter what happens.”

I nodded, though my fingers trembled on my knees.

Luca’s grin widened. “Let’s begin.”

Suddenly, the lights flickered, and the storm’s thunder shook the building violently.

Cassius cursed under his breath. “They’re here.”

I froze. “Who?”

Before he could answer, the door behind Luca burst open with a deafening crash.

Shouts echoed through the room. Engines roared. Footsteps pounded.

Luca’s smirk faltered for the first time. “They shouldn’t be here…”

Cassius’s eyes narrowed. “We’re surrounded.”

I clutched his arm, heart racing. “What do we do?”

He looked at me, fierce and unflinching. “We fight, and we survive.”

Luca’s gun moved faster than I could think. Bullets screamed past us, splintering wood and shattering glass.

Cassius shoved me behind a fallen beam. “Hold on!”

The chaos swallowed everything. Rain, thunder, and gunfire. My ears rang.

Then, a shadow lunged at Luca from behind.

I screamed.

Cassius caught me instinctively, pulling me close. “Stay down!”

I felt his chest press against mine, hard, solid, and terrifyingly warm. My pulse raced not just from fear, but from the closeness of him.

He didn’t speak, only moved with fluid precision, covering me, and pushing me behind cover. His hand brushed mine, almost accidental, but it sent electricity through me.

The shadow tackled Luca, and I realized it was one of Cassius’s men. A short struggle ensued, and I caught Luca’s furious glare directed at us.

“You won’t win!” Luca shouted. “Not tonight!”

Cassius’s voice was low, deadly. “Watch me.”

The sound of tires skidding outside made me tense. More people were coming. More danger.

I leaned into Cassius without thinking. “I don’t want to die,” I whispered.

“You won’t,” he murmured. His voice was rough, intimate, like a promise. “Not while I’m here.”

I wanted to believe him. My chest tightened as rain poured through the shattered window.

Luca broke free, spinning toward us with his gun.

Cassius’s eyes locked on his, unflinching. “I warned you.”

Luca fired. The bullet tore through the beam near my head, splinters flying.

I screamed and ducked, heart in my throat.

Cassius lunged at Luca, tackling him to the floor. They grappled, the gun skidding across the room.

I scrambled back, pressed against the wall, trembling. My fingers grazed the wet concrete.

“Selene!” Cassius barked. “Stay behind me!”

I nodded, swallowing my terror, feeling every second stretch out impossibly long.

The storm outside roared, echoing the chaos inside. Lightning lit the room in blinding flashes, shadows dancing like monsters on the walls.

Luca pinned Cassius to the ground, gun raised again. “This ends now, brother,” he hissed.

Cassius smirked, blood trickling down his temple. “Not tonight.”

The door slammed open behind Luca. More shadows poured in.

I gasped. “Cassius…they’re too many!”

He looked at me, eyes blazing. “Then we make them regret it.”

Before I could react, Luca twisted, gun aimed straight at me.

My breath caught. My hands flew up instinctively.

Cassius moved like lightning, but it wasn’t fast enough.

A deafening shot rang out.

And the world went white.