Chapter 13

The world blurred into a smear of grey and neon as Lucian’s Maybach tore through the streets of Manhattan. Beside him, Elara was a statue of terror, her knuckles white as she gripped the door handle.

"I can't get through to the nanny," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Lucian, if he touches them... if he so much as scares them..."

"He won't," Lucian vowed, his voice a low, vibrating growl. He was typing furiously on his phone, bypassing the penthouse’s local security to hardwire into the internal speakers. "Leo! Leo, can you hear me?"

Static hissed through the car’s speakers, followed by a small, calm voice. "I hear you, Shark Man."

"Leo, listen to me very carefully," Lucian said, his heart hammering so hard it felt like it would crack his ribs. "Is there someone in the house?"

"Yes," Leo whispered. "He has a big bag and a loud voice. He’s in the kitchen with the nanny. He told her to be quiet. I took Mia into the panic room under your bed, Mama. Like the drill we practiced."

Elara let out a sob of relief, but Lucian’s eyes remained narrowed. The "panic room" was just a reinforced closet—it wouldn't hold forever against a desperate man.

"Leo, I need you to do something for me," Lucian said, his eyes fixed on the penthouse tower ahead. "Can you access the smart-home hub from your tablet?"

"Already did," Leo said. "I’ve locked the kitchen door, but the man is kicking it. He’s very angry."

"Good boy. Now, I want you to turn on the fire suppression system in the kitchen. Not the water—the gas. It will make him sleepy. Do it now."

"Lucian, the nanny is in there too!" Elara cried.

"She’ll be fine for sixty seconds, Elara. It’s the only way to stop him without a gun."

The car screeched to a halt in front of the building. Lucian didn't wait for the valet. He threw the door open and sprinted for the lobby, Elara right on his heels.

---

The Penthouse – 3 Minutes Later

The elevator doors hissed open. The smell of chemical suppressant hung heavy in the air. The kitchen door was splintered, but the room was silent.

Lucian kicked the door open. Serena’s brother, Victor, was slumped on the floor, unconscious, a heavy gym bag spilled open beside him. Inside were stacks of jewelry and Elara’s private research files—Serena’s last desperate attempt to ruin them. The nanny was huddled in the corner, coughing but safe.

"Leo! Mia!" Elara screamed, running toward the master bedroom.

The closet door slid open. Mia tumbled out first, tears streaming down her face, followed by Leo, who was still holding his tablet like a weapon.

"Mama!" Mia wailed, burying her face in Elara’s neck.

Lucian stood in the doorway, his chest heaving. He felt a wave of relief so powerful he had to lean against the wall. He looked at Leo. The boy wasn't crying. He walked up to Lucian and looked at the silver compass hanging from Lucian’s belt—the heirloom he had given the boy in the park.

"The bridge didn't collapse," Leo said quietly.

Lucian dropped to his knees, his eyes stinging. He didn't care about the thief. He didn't care about the files. He reached out, and for the first time, Leo didn't pull away. The boy stepped into Lucian’s arms, resting his small head against Lucian’s shoulder.

"I’ve got you," Lucian whispered, his voice thick with tears. "I’ve got all of you. I’m never letting go again."

Elara watched them from the floor, her arms wrapped around Mia. She saw the man who had once been so cold and untouchable now sobbing into the hair of the son he had almost never known.

The silence that followed was broken by the sound of sirens approaching. But inside the penthouse, the air had finally cleared.

---

Two Hours Later

The police had taken Victor away. The nanny was being checked by medics. Julian had arrived, breathless and frantic, but for the first time, he didn't step between Lucian and the family. He stood in the hallway, watching as Elara and Lucian sat together on the sofa, the twins asleep between them.

"He saved them, Julian," Elara said, her voice soft but firm. "He knew exactly what to do."

Julian looked at Lucian. The two men exchanged a look of mutual understanding. The "rivalry" wasn't over, but the war had changed.

"I should go," Julian said quietly. "I’ll check on you tomorrow, Elara."

As the door closed behind Julian, Lucian turned to Elara. "He’s a good man. He’s everything I wasn't."

"He is," Elara agreed. She looked at the twins, then back at Lucian. "But he’s not the father of my children. And he’s not the man I spent five years trying to forget."

Lucian’s heart stopped. "Elara?"

She reached out, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. "The bridge is built, Lucian. But we still have to walk across it. Together."

Lucian leaned in, his forehead against hers. "I'll walk a thousand miles if it ends with you."