Safety

Rose’s POV

The atmosphere felt different lately..peaceful in a way I hadn’t experienced for a long time. It had been a few days since Marylin left Luther’s apartment, and honestly, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. The place finally felt like home… or at least something close to it. I could breathe, laugh, and not worry about someone glaring at me from the other side of the table.

That morning, I was in the dining area having breakfast…toast, eggs, and a cup of coffee. The sun slipped through the large glass windows, painting warm gold across the marble floor. I had my hair tied in a messy bun and wore one of Luther’s shirts that almost reached my knees. It still smelled like him..dark, musky, and somehow comforting.

I had just taken a sip of my coffee when I heard footsteps descending the stairs. My eyes lifted, and there he was.Luther Lombardi, my complicated man, dressed in dark sweatpants and a black shirt that hugged his body perfectly. His hair was slightly damp, like he’d just gotten out of the shower, and there was a small smirk on his lips that made my heart skip.

“Good morning,” I greeted softly.

He stopped midway down the stairs, his eyes briefly roaming over me before replying, “Morning, sweetheart. You sleep well?”

“Yeah,” I said, smiling faintly. “It’s peaceful without someone throwing hateful looks at me.”

He chuckled lowly and came closer, pulling out a chair to sit across from me. “I told you, Marylin wouldn’t be staying here long. She needed to leave.”

“Well, I appreciate that,” I said honestly. “I can finally enjoy my coffee without feeling like someone’s plotting my murder.”

He laughed under his breath, and I couldn’t help but smile wider. There was something about his laughter…it was rare, but when it happened, it made me forget every dark thing about his world.

Luther reached for an apple from the fruit bowl and took a bite, his gaze never leaving me. “You seem relaxed. I like that.”

“I guess I am,” I admitted. “It’s been… nice here. Quiet.”

He leaned back in his chair, studying me with those intense eyes that always seemed to see through everything. “Good. Because I was thinking, it’s time we break that peace a little.”

My brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

He wiped his hand with a napkin, standing slowly. “You and I have an activity today.”

“Activity?” I repeated, blinking in confusion. “What kind of activity?”

Luther smirked, walking behind me and placing his hands gently on my shoulders. “Something useful. I noticed the defense kit you got for yourself a while ago.”

I nodded. “Yeah… that was just for safety. I never really used it.”

“That’s the problem,” he said. “You have the tools but not the skill. And you’re with someone like me, Rose. You need to know how to defend yourself.”

I turned around to face him, eyes wide. “You’re talking about learning to fight, aren’t you?”

“Fight, shoot, protect yourself,” he replied firmly. “This isn’t me trying to scare you. It’s me being realistic. You’ve seen enough to know my life isn’t normal. And if you’re going to stay in it… you need to be prepared.”

I stared at him, unsure what to say. My stomach twisted in nervous knots. “Luther… I’m not a fighter. I’m not built for that.”

“You don’t have to be built for it,” he said, crouching to meet my eyes. “You just need to learn. I’m not expecting you to turn into a killer. But if someone ever tries to hurt you, I want you to know how to handle it. To fight back.”

His voice was steady, serious. The way he said it made my chest tighten.

“I don’t want to see you helpless,” he added quietly. “Not in this world.”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. I understood what he meant. I had seen danger before..when Vicenzo’s men stormed that night, when I was dragged into the chaos, when Luther had to fight to keep me safe. I remembered the fear, the shaking in my bones.

He stood up again, giving me a moment to think. “I’ll give you time to decide. It’s your choice. But remember..it’s for your own good.”

He was about to head back upstairs when I suddenly stood, almost knocking over my chair.

“Wait!” I called.

He paused and turned to me.

I took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”

A flicker of surprise crossed his face. “You sure?”

I nodded firmly. “Yes. Besides, it wouldn’t be bad knowing how to take care of my own ass.”

That earned me a small grin from him, the kind that said he was both proud and amused. “That’s my girl,” he said softly. “Finish your coffee. We’ll start in an hour.”

An hour later, we were at the training space in the basement…a large, open room Luther had converted into a private gym and shooting range. The moment I stepped inside, I felt my nerves spike. The walls were lined with weapons: handguns, rifles, knives. There were punching bags, mats, and targets set up in neat rows.

“This looks… intimidating,” I muttered, trying to sound casual.

Luther glanced at me, smirking. “You’ll get used to it.”

He handed me a pair of gloves and said, “We’ll start easy. No guns yet. Just basic self-defense.”

I slipped them on, the leather feeling strange against my skin. “Okay… so what do I do?”

He stepped close, his tone playful. “First rule…don’t be scared to hit me.”

I blinked. “Hit you?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Try to land a punch.”

I laughed nervously. “I can’t just hit you, Luther.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You sure? You’ve been mad at me enough times.”

That made me roll my eyes. “That’s different.”

“Then pretend I said something annoying,” he teased.

I sighed and threw a light punch toward his chest, which he caught easily with one hand. “That’s weak,” he said, smiling. “Come on, Rose. You can do better.”

I tried again, harder this time, and he blocked it again..effortlessly.

“Use your body,” he said, circling me. “Not just your hand. Step forward, twist your hips. Don’t be afraid of contact.”

I followed his instructions, threw another punch, and this time it actually made him grunt slightly.

“There you go,” he said approvingly. “That’s a start.”

I couldn’t help but smile a little. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” he admitted, his eyes glinting. “It’s not every day I get to train my woman.”

“Your woman?” I repeated, smirking.

He leaned closer, his breath brushing my ear. “You’re mine, aren’t you?”

I felt heat rush to my cheeks. “You’re insufferable.”

“And you love it,” he murmured.

Before I could respond, he swept his leg slightly, and in a blink, I lost balance and fell backward—but before I hit the floor, his arm wrapped around my waist, steadying me.

“Lesson two,” he said, his voice low. “Always keep your guard up.”

I was pressed against his chest, heart racing, eyes locked on his. For a moment, training was the last thing on my mind.

“Are you trying to teach me self-defense or seduce me?” I whispered.

“Why not both?” he said with a smirk before letting me go.

I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re impossible.”

We spent the next hour going through basic moves..how to dodge, how to break free from a grab, how to block. I stumbled a few times, groaned in frustration, but he was patient, always right there correcting my stance, guiding my hands.

“Good,” he said as I finally managed to flip his hand off my wrist. “See? You’re getting it.”

I was panting slightly, wiping sweat from my forehead. “Barely.”

He stepped closer again, gently brushing his thumb across my cheek. “You’re stronger than you think, Rose.”

Something in the way he said it made my heart ache. It wasn’t just about fighting…he meant everything.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

“That’s enough for today,” he said again, turning toward the door.

I watched him go, my heart still racing. Something about the way he stopped himself made me wonder what he was holding back.

And that was when I realized…this wasn’t just about learning to fight.

It was about survival… in every sense of the word.

But what I didn’t know then was that this training… would come in handy much sooner than either of us expected.