The Cost Of Defiance.

“Vince,” Damian said softly, but the warning in his voice was clear.

Vince’s gaze snapped toward the corner. His jaw tightened, and for the first time tonight, Lucy saw not just anger in his eyes but fear.

The scarred man raised his glass in a mock toast, his grin widening as if to say we know your weakness now.

Lucy’s stomach twisted, nausea clawing at her throat. She had not only defied her brothers tonight but she had just given their enemies a glimpse of something they could use against them.

Matteo muttered a curse under his breath, pulling Lucy close to him in a sudden grip. “See what you’ve done?” His voice was a razor-edge whisper in her ear. “You’ve just painted a target on yourself.”

Lucy’s body trembled, her mind reeling. For once, she had no clever words, no rebellion strong enough to hide the dread curling deep inside her.

The storm inside the club was no longer just between her and her brothers. Now, shadows beyond their family had caught the scent of blood.

And Lucy realized, too late, that her search for one mysterious man may have just made her the most dangerous pawn in her family’s war.

Lucy barely registered Vince’s hand snapping around her wrist until the pressure made her flinch. His grip was unyielding, iron wrapped in flesh.

“We’re done here,” he said, his voice low but lethal, cutting through the bass of the music like a blade.

“Vince” Lucy tried to slip from his grip, but the rest of her protest was smothered as Adrian stepped in close on her other side, his broad frame blocking the crowd’s view. His jaw was clenched so tight she could see the vein pulsing along his temple.

Matteo was already moving, knife palmed out of sight, his body angled as though daring anyone in the club to take one step toward them. Damian fell into stride behind, his sharp gaze scanning every shadow, every movement, the lazy humor gone from his eyes.

The shift in her brothers’ demeanor was enough to change the air around them. The crowd parted instinctively, whispers buzzing in the dark, eyes following them like moths to flame. The four men radiated danger, her brothers, her blood and in their storm, Lucy was pulled along like nothing more than a captive.

“Let me go!” she hissed, trying to dig her heels into the floor. But Vince didn’t loosen his grip. His silence was worse than any words, unyielding and absolute.

“You’re making a scene,” Matteo muttered, not even glancing at her as his hand pressed lightly against her back to keep her moving. “And not the good kind.” He added.

Humiliation flushed her cheeks as she realized the eyes of strangers were still glued to them, the club patrons, the bartender polishing glasses behind the counter, even the DJ who let the track fade too long before another dropped. She wasn’t Lucy Valerio here; she was the little sister being dragged away by her furious brothers.

Her chest tightened, shame and anger swirling together until she thought she might scream.

But over it all, she couldn’t shake the memory of those two men in the corner. The scarred one’s grin. The way his companion had leaned in, whispering, like her entire life had just been reduced to a secret worth selling.

They knew.

She swallowed hard, her pulse hammering in her ears. It wasn’t just embarrassment anymore, it was dread.

By the time they reached the club’s front entrance, she could barely catch her breath. The bouncer didn’t meet their eyes as they stormed past, and the days air hit her like a slap. The city outside was alive with noise, traffic, laughter, neon lights flashing against the pavement…..but in her chest was only the crushing weight of silence.

The black SUV was waiting at the curb, engine purring, tinted windows gleaming under the streetlamps. Adrian yanked open the door, his hand heavy on her shoulder as though afraid she’d bolt.

“I can walk myself,” Lucy snapped, twisting under his touch.

“Not a chance,” Adrian growled, shoving her gently but firmly toward the open door.

“Enough,” Vince barked, his patience frayed. He pushed her inside, his voice low enough to avoid drawing more attention from the street but sharp enough to slice through her defiance. “You think this is about your pride, Lucy? You think we enjoy dragging you out like some misbehaving child? Open your eyes. You just put a target on yourself.”

Her head snapped up, her eyes burning. “I didn’t….” but before she could finish

“Yes, you did,” Matteo cut in, sliding in after her. He leaned close, his voice dropping to a hiss. “Those men in the corner? You don’t even realize what you’ve done. You might as well have handed them a loaded gun and said ‘shoot me here.’”

Lucy’s throat went dry. She wanted to deny it, wanted to insist that she was strong enough, smart enough, that she wasn’t some pawn but the memory of the scarred man’s smile clawed at her chest.

Damian slid into the SUV last, his eyes still sharp, scanning the streets outside until the door shut and locked. The city noise dulled instantly, leaving only the tense rhythm of their breathing.