into the den

The submarine ride was silent, except for the soft hum of the engine and the occasional creak of metal as they moved through the water. Serena sat on one of the metal benches, arms wrapped around herself as she tried to process everything that had happened in the last few hours.

She was the only woman among a dozen ruthless men. It was a stark contrast to the world she had known, where she had always been surrounded by the best of luxury, protected by her father’s men, and treated like royalty. But here? Here, she was nothing but a prisoner caught in the middle of a war.

Her dress was a mess. Torn at the hem, dirt smeared along the fabric, and a rip along the side exposed more of her thigh than she was comfortable with. She pulled at the fabric in frustration, trying to cover herself, but it was no use. The men around her had noticed the moment she entered, and though none of them openly stared, she could feel their eyes lingering.

Lucian and Enzo stood near the controls, their conversation hushed as they strategized their next move. The soldiers were occupied, reloading weapons, tending to minor wounds, and checking supplies. No one had time for her.

Good.

She sat in a corner, her back pressed against the cold steel wall, knees drawn up to her chest. Her body ached from exhaustion, and despite the adrenaline still thrumming in her veins, sleep threatened to pull her under. But she wouldn’t allow herself that weakness. Not here.

A shadow moved in front of her. She glanced up to see Enzo crouching, a cigarette hanging lazily between his lips. He took a slow drag, exhaling smoke as his sharp green eyes studied her.

“You look like hell" he commented, amusement flickering in his gaze.

Serena rolled her eyes. “Thanks"

Enzo smirked. “Tough night?”

She let out a humorless laugh. “You could say that"

He tilted his head, glancing at the torn fabric of her dress before his gaze met hers again. “Need a jacket?”

She hesitated for a second before nodding. Enzo shrugged off his black coat and tossed it to her. She caught it and quickly wrapped it around herself, grateful for the warmth and coverage.

“Careful" he said with a teasing grin. “Lucian might get jealous"

Serena scoffed, but her gaze flickered toward Lucian involuntarily. He was still deep in conversation, his expression unreadable. But something about the way his shoulders tensed made her wonder if he had noticed.

Enzo leaned closer, lowering his voice. “You should get some rest. We have a long night ahead"

She wanted to argue, to say that she didn’t trust any of them enough to close her eyes, but exhaustion won the battle. With a small nod, she pulled the coat tighter around her and leaned her head against the cold wall.

Sleep came reluctantly, filled with fractured memories of blood, betrayal, and the dark gaze of the man who had stolen her from her world.

The sound of metal screeching against metal jolted her awake.

The submarine had surfaced.

Lucian’s voice cut through the low murmurs of the soldiers. “Move out"

Serena blinked rapidly, shaking off the haze of sleep as Enzo nudged her. “Welcome back, princess. Time to go"

She pushed herself up, still wrapped in his coat, and followed the men toward the hatch. When Lucian’s gaze landed on her, his jaw tightened.

“Get rid of that"

Serena frowned. “What?”

He gestured toward the coat. “You don’t need it"

She knew it wasn’t about the coat. It was about the fact that it belonged to Enzo. She smirked slightly but didn’t argue. She shrugged it off and handed it back to Enzo, who looked far too amused by the exchange.

The moment they stepped out of the submarine, Serena inhaled deeply. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of the sea and something else—wood smoke.

They were on the outskirts of a secluded harbor, surrounded by dense trees and towering cliffs. A safe house loomed ahead, an old but sturdy structure hidden deep in the wilderness.

Lucian led the way, his men flanking them in formation.

As they stepped inside, Serena took in the surroundings. The safe house was more like an abandoned lodge—stone walls, a massive fireplace, and wooden furniture that had seen better days. It was simple but functional.

The men quickly spread out, securing the perimeter, checking weapons, and settling in. Serena, however, found herself feeling out of place.

She was the only woman in a den of ruthless criminals.

She moved to the farthest corner of the room, arms crossed, waiting for Lucian or Enzo to give their next command. But they were both busy, discussing plans with their men. No one paid her any attention, and she wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.

She shifted uncomfortably. The exhaustion was catching up with her, but there was no way she would allow herself to relax. Not here.

Lucian’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “Serena"

She turned to find him watching her, his gaze unreadable.

“You’re in the way"

Her brows furrowed. “Excuse me?”

He gestured toward where she stood. “If you’re going to be useless, at least don’t take up space"

Heat surged through her veins, anger and embarrassment colliding. “Screw you, Lucian"

A smirk tugged at his lips. “You’re already in my world, princess. Screwing me is only a matter of time"

Her cheeks burned, but she refused to back down. “You’re disgusting"

Lucian stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “And yet, your body reacts every time I get close"

Serena clenched her fists, hating how her pulse quickened.

He chuckled darkly. “Get some rest. You’ll need it"

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, seething.

Serena exhaled sharply, moving back to her corner. Fine. If he wanted her to stay out of the way, she would. But she wasn’t going to be useless.

No matter how much Lucian thought he controlled her, he was wrong. And soon, she’d make him realize it.