Rescue

Luther POVThe night was quiet, or at least it had been. I sat across from Marylin in the lounge, the faint glow of amber whiskey in her glass catching the dim chandelier light. She crossed her legs deliberately, always too calculated with her movements.

She was talking about something about the deal in Barcelona, about how she thought I should push harder on the Conti cartel’s weak link. I nodded absently, my mind only half in the conversation.

The sharp creak of the door cut through her words. Marco stepped in, his face pale, urgency written in every line of it.

“Boss,” he said, voice low but pressing. “We’ve got a situation. Rose’s house..it’s being broken into.”

My chair scraped against the marble before he’d even finished. My blood turned to fire. Rose.

I stood, but Marylin’s hand shot out, her long nails grazing my wrist. “Are you serious right now?” she said, her voice laced with disbelief. “You’re about to run off—again—for a woman who doesn’t belong in our world?”

Her eyes narrowed, her lips curving with disdain. “Luther, you’re wasting time. She’s not one of us. She’s not worth—”

I yanked my wrist free with a sharp motion. “Enough.” My voice cracked like a whip. “Don’t ever tell me what Rose is worth.”

Marylin’s smirk faltered, but she leaned back against the velvet sofa, swirling her drink with calculated calm. “You’ll regret it,” she said, but her tone didn’t matter anymore.

I was already moving.

The streets blurred as I drove, every turn sharper than the last. My grip on the wheel was so tight my knuckles whitened. If they lay a hand on her..if they so much as breathe wrong near her..

When I pulled up outside Rose’s place, my heart seized. The front door was half open, splintered. Inside, chaos.

I stormed in, the air thick with the sound of muffled cries.

And there she was. Rose. Struggling. Two men pinning her arms against the floor while another stood guard by the shattered window. Her eyes…wide with terror…snapped to me the second I entered.

Something inside me snapped.

“Get the hell away from her!” My voice thundered through the room.

The men froze. Recognition flickered across their faces…the flicker of fear I knew well. They knew me. They knew who I was. And in that second of hesitation, they bolted. One through the front, another through the back. The guard at the window didn’t even try to fight; he leapt out, crashing into the alley below.

I cursed under my breath. My hand went for my gun, but they scattered too fast, shadows melting into the night.

I was left breathing hard, fury boiling in my veins, as Rose trembled on the floor.

“Rose,” I said, softer now, kneeling beside her. “It’s me.”

Her chest rose and fell rapidly. She didn’t answer, just stared at me with those dark, terrified eyes. A bruise was forming on her wrist where one of them had grabbed her. My stomach twisted at the sight.

“You’re safe now,” I whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’m here.”

She swallowed, finally finding her voice, though it was thin and shaky. “They… they tried to..” Her words broke.

“I know.” I pulled her gently to her feet. “But they’re gone. I swear on my name, no one’s going to touch you again.”

Rose said nothing more. She didn’t argue, didn’t resist when I told her, “You’re coming with me. You’re not staying here another second.”

She just nodded, obediently, almost numbly. Maybe it was fear, maybe it was exhaustion, but she followed me without a single protest.

The drive back was silent. She sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window, her fingers trembling in her lap. I kept glancing at her, fighting the urge to pull over and hold her until she stopped shaking. But I knew her well engough…she needed time, space, and most of all, safety.

When we reached my house, I parked sharply and turned to her. “Rose,” I said firmly. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. As long as you’re with me, no one will touch you. Understand?”

Her eyes flicked to mine. For the first time since I’d gotten her out of that hell, she spoke with a steadier tone. “Why, Luther? Why do they keep coming after me?”

My jaw tightened. “Because someone close to me is leaking information.” My voice was bitter. “They knew where to find you. They knew when you’d be alone. That means betrayal.”

Her lips parted, but before she could respond, the heavy door to my home swung open.

Marylin was sitting there.

Still. Waiting. Her glass of whiskey refilled, her legs crossed like she owned the place. She looked at Rose, then back at me, and her face twisted into something venomous.

“What the actual hell, Luther?” she hissed, standing abruptly. Her eyes darted to Rose like knives. “WTF is she doing here?”

The tension in the room snapped instantly, thick enough to choke on.

Rose stiffened beside me, her hand clutching her wrist. She whispered, barely audible, “Maybe I should just go..”

I cut her off sharply. “No. You’re staying.”

Marylin’s laugh was humorless, sharp. “Unbelievable. Do you have any idea what you’re doing? Bringing her here? Into our house? Into my space?”

“Your space?” I stepped forward, my voice low but dangerous. “This is my house, Marylin. Don’t ever forget that.”

Her eyes widened at my tone, but she recovered quickly, smirking again. “So that’s it? You’re risking everything…for her? You’ve lost your mind.”

Rose shifted uncomfortably, her voice soft. “I… I don’t want to cause trouble. Maybe….”

“Rose.” I turned to her, gentler now. “You are not the problem here.”

Marylin scoffed, stepping closer. “Oh, she’s not the problem? Then what is she, Luther? A distraction? A weakness?”

My jaw clenched. “She’s under my protection.”

Marylin’s eyes burned. “You think the Contis, the Lombardis, anyone in this world will spare her just because you say so? She’s a liability, and you know it.”

The word liability made Rose flinch. I saw the hurt flicker across her face, and it ignited a rage in me I could barely control.

I took a step toward Marylin, my voice a growl. “Say that again.”

She crossed her arms, chin raised defiantly. “Liability.”

The air between us bristled.

Rose finally whispered, “Luther, please… don’t.”

I turned back to her, my anger softening instantly at the fear in her eyes. “I won’t let anyone hurt you,” I said, more to her than anyone else.

Marylin’s voice cut in, cold and mocking. “She doesn’t belong here. And deep down, you know it.”

I stared at Marylin, my patience unraveling. “Get out.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” I said, each word sharp. “Leave. Now.”

For the first time, Marylin faltered, her face flashing with shock. Then, slowly, she gathered herself, her lips curling into a cruel smile.

“Fine,” she said, snatching her purse. “But don’t come crawling back to me when she gets you killed.”

She brushed past Rose, her shoulder deliberately hitting hers as she stormed out.

The room fell silent.

Rose stood frozen, still holding her wrist, her eyes clouded with confusion and fear.

I exhaled slowly, finally turning to her. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

She shook her head. “I… I don’t even know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “All you need to know is that you’re safe here. With me.”

Her eyes met mine, uncertain but searching. “For how long, Luther? Until they come again? Until someone else betrays you?”

The question cut deep because I didn’t have an answer. But I forced myself to hold her gaze.

“For as long as it takes,” I said firmly. “I’ll protect you.