Safe Between Monsters

WINTER'S POV

"You're going to love them, sweetheart. Richard's sons are wonderful."

I pressed my forehead against the car window and watched the iron gates swing open. The Moretti estate looked more like a prison than a home. Mom kept talking but I couldn't hear her anymore because my phone buzzed in my pocket.

Unknown Number: Found you, baby. Did you really think you could hide?

My hands went cold. I recognized that text. It's from Marcus. After six months of running and hiding, he'd found me again.

"Winter? Are you listening to me?"

I shoved my phone into my jacket and tried to breathe. "Yeah, Mom. I'm listening."

The mansion got bigger as we drove closer. Dark stone walls, tall windows, everything sharp and cold. My chest felt tight. I'd escaped one nightmare and driven straight into another.

Mom parked and jumped out of the car like this was the best day of her life. She was too happy about Richard's money to notice I was falling apart. "Come on, they're waiting!"

I took a breath and forced myself out of the car. The air felt heavy here, like the whole place was holding its breath. Or maybe that was just me.

Three men stood on the steps waiting for us.

The oldest one walked toward me first. Tall, expensive suit, dark hair, gray eyes that looked at me like he could see every secret I was hiding. He stared at me from my boots to my messy hair and something about his look made my skin feel hot.

"You must be Winter." His voice was deep and dangerous. "I'm Dante."

He held out his hand. I had to take it. His hand was warm and strong and he held mine too long. When I tried to pull away, his fingers got tighter for just a second before he let go.

The second brother leaned against a motorcycle with his arms crossed. Tattoos everywhere, dark eyes that looked hungry. He stared at me with no shame at all and smiled like he wanted to eat me alive.

"Kai." He didn't shake my hand, just kept staring. "Welcome to the family, little stepsister."

The way he said "little" made my stomach flip.

The third brother stepped forward with a smile that made him look sweet and safe. Soft brown hair, warm eyes, dimples. He was the only one who didn't look at me like I was prey.

"I'm Luca. It's really nice to meet you, Winter." His voice was gentle and kind.

I didn't trust him at all.

"Come inside! Richard's been cooking." Mom was already walking toward the door with Richard, a man with silver hair who looked rich and blind to everything happening around him.

Dante pointed at the door. "After you."

I walked up the steps and felt all three of them watching me. Their eyes felt like hands on my body. It was wrong but my body liked it even though my brain was screaming at me to run.

Inside was even worse. Marble floors, high ceilings, expensive art on every wall. My old apartment could fit in just the entrance. Everything was cold and perfect and expensive. Nothing like the small warm spaces I was used to.

"Your room is upstairs, third door on the left," Dante said behind me. He was so close I could feel the heat from his body. "We'll bring your bags up after dinner."

"I can get my own bags."

"I'm sure you can." His hand touched my lower back and pushed me gently toward the dining room. "But you won't."

I wanted to argue but his hand on my back made my brain stop working. I hated that my body wanted his control instead of fighting it.

The dining room was massive. A long table that could seat twenty people easy. Crystal chandeliers. More art. Windows that showed gardens I couldn't see properly in the fading light.

Dinner was torture. I sat between Mom and Luca. Dante and Kai sat right across from me. Every time I looked up, one of them was staring. Dante looked like he was planning how to break me. Kai looked like he was waiting to touch me. Luca kept asking questions that sounded nice but felt like traps.

Richard served pasta and kept talking about his business. Mom laughed at everything he said neither of them noticed the tension at the table or how their sons watched me like I was dessert.

"So Winter, why did you and your mom move here?" Luca asked with his warm smile and sharp eyes.

Because I'm running from a psycho who thinks he owns me. "Just needed a fresh start."

"Fresh start from what?" Kai took a drink and his eyes never left mine.

"Just life. You know." I pushed pasta around my plate.

"Running from something?" Kai's voice was lazy but his eyes weren't.

My fork fell and hit my plate hard. "What?"

"You have that look." He leaned back and studied me like a hunter. "Like you're always looking for exits. Like you're ready to run."

My heart was pounding. How did he see that? I'd gotten so good at hiding.

"Kai." Dante's voice was quiet but it made Kai smirk and stop talking.

"Just talking, brother."

My phone buzzed then again. I knew it was Marcus sending his normal threats mixed with love words. My hands shook when I picked up my water glass.

Luca noticed. Of course he did. "Are you okay, Winter? You look sick."

"I'm fine. Just tired from the drive." The lie tasted bitter.

"Long drive?" Luca asked gently.

"Five hours." Mom answered for me. "We left early this morning. Winter's not much of a morning person."

"Neither am I," Kai said with that sharp smile. "Guess we have something in common, little stepsister."

I didn't answer. I just wanted this dinner to end.

Dante cut his food with precise movements. Everything he did looked controlled and deliberate. "What are you studying, Winter? Are you in college?"

"I took a gap year." Another half truth. I'd dropped out when Marcus made it impossible to leave his apartment.

"Doing what?" Dante's gray eyes pinned me.

"Just working, figuring things out."

"Figuring what things out?" He wouldn't let it go.

"Life. What I want to do. Normal stuff." I was getting defensive and I knew it.

Dante's smile was small and knowing. "Nothing about you seems normal, Winter."

Before I could respond, Mom laughed loudly at something Richard said. The sound broke the tension for a second.

"You should rest after dinner," Dante said in a voice that told me I had no choice. "It's been a long day."

I nodded. I needed to escape these three men who saw too much.

The rest of dinner dragged on forever. Richard talked about expanding his business. Mom talked about redecorating the guest house. The brothers stayed quiet but I felt their eyes on me constantly.

When dinner finally ended, I stood up too fast. My chair scraped loudly against the floor.

"I'll show you to your room," Luca offered with his gentle smile.

"I can find it. Third door on the left, right?"

"Right but I'll walk you up anyway." He was already standing.

I wanted to argue but Mom was watching and I didn't want to seem rude on my first night.

Luca walked beside me up the wide staircase. His presence felt different than his brothers. Quieter. But no less dangerous.

"They can be intense," he said softly. "Dante and Kai. Don't let them scare you."

"I'm not scared." I blurted out a lie.

"Good." We reached my door. "This is you. Your bags are already inside."

I looked at him. "I thought Dante said you'd bring them up after dinner."

Luca's smile widened just a little. "I brought them up before dinner and wanted to make sure you'd be comfortable."

Something about that felt wrong. "You went in my room?"

"Just to drop off your bags. I didn't touch anything." His warm eyes looked innocent but I didn't believe him.

"Thanks." I opened the door.

"Winter?" His voice stopped me. "If you need anything tonight, I'm right next door. Just knock."

"I'll be fine."

"I'm sure you will be." He turned to leave then paused. "Sleep well, little stepsister."

I closed the door and locked it immediately.

I came here to hide from Marcus and start over.

Instead I walked into a house with three wolves who already decided I belonged to them.