"I have some work to take care of," Lucas said quietly, his tone steady, but there was a weight behind his words. They had just finished their dinner and was planning to retire to bed.
Bella looked up from her seat on the couch, Rachel already dozing off in her lap. "Now?"
He walked over and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I won't be long. Just something I need to finish."
Bella nodded slowly, sensing it was something he wouldn't explain, but trusting him anyway.
_____________________________________
The air was cold, thick with silence. Mark was already waiting outside the safe house. "He still hasn't talked."
Lucas stepped out of the car, removing his blazer and handing it to Mark. He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt as he walked in. "He will."
The door groaned open, revealing the man tied to a metal chair, bruised and bloodied—but still breathing, still smirking.
Lucas didn't speak at first. He just circled him once—slow, calculating steps.
Then, finally, "You followed her. Sent a hand to her house. Watched her. Who sent you?"
The man spat blood. "You're too late. She's already marked."
Lucas's jaw clenched. He moved closer—his voice calm but venomous.
"How many people know who I am?"
"Who else knows where I live?"
The man chuckled. "Doesn't matter. You can't stop what's coming."
Lucas didn't respond immediately. Instead, he reached down, picked up a wrench from the nearby table, and slammed it down—not on the man, but beside his foot, the noise echoing sharply.
"That was your last attempt to act brave," Lucas said coldly. "Next time, it's your jaw."
Mark stepped in. "Boss—"
Lucas raised a hand. "Not yet."
He crouched in front of the man, voice almost gentle. "You saw her. You know what kind of man it takes to protect something like that. You just tried to threaten what I'd die for. So now answer me before I reach out to those people, you can die for."
There was a moment of silence… then the stalker cracked.
"I don't know the real name. I was given photos and money. Instructions came through a burner line. Just said to 'rattle the girl.' Said you'd come out if she felt unsafe."
Lucas straightened slowly. "And you thought a severed hand would just rattle her?"
The man swallowed. "They said not to kill her… just scare her. I swear. I didn't even know you were—"
Crack!
Lucas's fist connected with his jaw—not enough to kill. Just enough to make a point.
He looked to Mark. "He won't talk further. Take him out."
Mark raised a brow. "You sure?"
Lucas turned away, already rolling down his sleeves.
As Mark dragged the man away, Lucas gave one last order, "Clean this place. No trace. Make it look like he was never here. We don't leave messages with blood—we leave them with silence."
He stared out the window, his phone in hand. Bella might be worried about him—but he didn't call Bella.
Not yet.
She didn't need to know what monsters he kept in the dark.
He scrolled to her photo with Rachel earlier that day—Rachel's eyes closed, Bella laughing, cookie crumbs everywhere.
Lucas exhaled slowly.
"Let them come," he muttered under his breath, eyes cold.
"I'll kill every last one of them."
_____________________________________
The house was quiet when Lucas returned. The lights in the living room had been dimmed, the air still carrying the faint scent of vanilla and cookies. He opened the door as softly as possible, expecting silence—maybe the low hum of the fridge and the soft rhythm of night.
Instead, he was surprised to see Bella on the couch.
She was curled under a throw blanket, her arms crossed, eyes a little drowsy, but unmistakably awake.
Lucas paused at the door, concern flaring briefly in his expression.
"Why are you still awake?" he asked, his tone lower and gentler than usual. "It's late. You should be sleeping."
Bella looked up at him and blinked a little, as though pretending she hadn't just dozed off waiting. She stretched slowly, feigning casual.
"I wasn't sure if you had taken the house key."
Lucas stared at her for a beat longer.
There were only three keys to the house.
Two were still hanging neatly on the hook near the door.
That meant he had the third in his pocket.
He knew. And she knew that he knew. But he didn't press her.
Instead, his gaze softened, and he simply replied, "I did."
Bella nodded with a small smile, already rising to her feet. "Well… still. Just in case."
Lucas chuckled faintly under his breath, stepping aside so she could pass. "Of course."
The lights were dimmed. Rachel was fast asleep in her own room, and the stillness of night returned around them.
Lucas changed quickly, watching Bella from the corner of his eye. She moved quietly through her bedtime routine, then slipped under the covers, turning her back to him at first.
He slid into bed a moment later. The silence lingered—but not uncomfortably.
Then, without a word, Bella shifted, rolling back toward him and resting her head gently on his chest, her hand sliding instinctively around his torso. Her legs curled slightly around his, like she had done the last few nights.
Lucas let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. His arm came around her shoulders, holding her to him without question.
"You were waiting for me," he murmured against her hair.
She didn't answer. Not directly. But her hold on him tightened just a little.
She told him it was the key. That she was just making sure he wouldn't get locked out. But that wasn't true. The truth was… she couldn't sleep without him anymore.
It had only been a short time, but his presence had quietly woven itself into her nights—the calm rhythm of his breath, the warmth of his chest, the way his arms wrapped around her like she was something to protect.
'How strange,' she thought. 'That something as absurd as a fake Halloween hand… could lead to this.'
It had scared her—shaken her even—but it had also pulled them closer. It made her trust him. It made him stay.
She smiled faintly against his shirt, closing her eyes. Her fingers toyed with the fabric at his waist.
Lucas glanced down. "You're not sleeping."
She murmured, voice soft and low, "Just thinking."
"About?"
Bella didn't answer. But she whispered, "Thank you for being this caring."
Lucas tilted his head toward her and kissed her temple gently. "I always will."