7. Lily
Lily
I stumble through the haven’s front doors, still buzzed and unsteady. My skin feels sticky with dried sweat, my hair damp at the nape of my neck, and I’m achingly aware of the evidence of what Raphael and I did, slick clinging between my thighs despite the paper towels.
Mari keeps a steadying hand on my elbow as my eyes adjust to the haven’s soft lighting.
The scene before me makes my stomach drop—two Beta police officers stand near the front desk with Savannah, the receptionist who welcomed me yesterday.
But it’s Leo and Alaric’s presence that makes my pulse spike.
Leo’s usually cheerful face is tight with worry, and Alaric’s composed mask has cracked, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.
My heart thunders. I want nothing more than to slip away and shower off the club’s chaos, but the tension in the air freezes me in place. Savannah waves us over, her professional smile strained.
As we approach, both Leo and Alaric’s nostrils flare.
Heat floods my face. Even with the suppressants, they must catch traces of arousal and Raphael’s scent on me.
Leo’s lips part, confusion and something darker—jealousy?—flickering across his features.
Alaric’s jaw tightens, his bourbon scent sharp with concern.
Before anyone can comment on my disheveled state, one of the officers clears his throat. “Miss Bennett? We need to speak with you.”
I blink twice, pulse roaring in my ears. “Sure.” My gaze darts to Leo and Alaric, who hover nearby protectively.
Savannah steps forward, her voice trembling. “I’m so sorry, Lily. There was… a security hack tonight. And it looks like only your file was accessed.”
My stomach plummets. “Only mine?” The words come out strangled.
No. No, no, no.
The officers guide me to a quiet corner, away from concerned eyes. One of them speaks, his tone carefully measured. “This kind of breach is serious. We’ll be investigating. Do you have any idea who might want to access your information?”
I swallow hard, my throat tight. The name sits heavy on my tongue, bitter as ash. “…Yeah. I do.”
“Damian McKoy,” I force out, each syllable like glass in my mouth. “He’s my ex. He’s rich, powerful. If anyone’s looking for me, it’s him.” Speaking his name rips open wounds I thought were starting to close.
The officer’s eyes narrow. “Damian…” He lets the name hang there. “Has he contacted you recently? Any threats, messages, unusual activity?”
I shake my head, wrapping my arms around myself. The paper towels shift uncomfortably in my underwear. “No. Nothing. I thought I covered my tracks.” My voice cracks, and I hate how weak I sound.
“Can you tell us more about him?”
“His last name’s McKoy,” I say flatly. “As in The McKoy Trust.”
Recognition flashes in their eyes, their postures subtly shifting.
I look away, jaw tight. “He gets what he wants. Always.”
The first officer exhales slowly. “Someone with that kind of money could hire a team for this. That would explain the hack—it’s not a simple firewall to breach. But he’d need to know exactly where to look.”
My stomach twists. “How would he even know to check the haven’s system?”
They exchange glances heavy with meaning. “That’s what we need to find out.”
More questions follow. They promise to investigate, but their words barely penetrate the icy fear crystallizing in my veins. Tonight’s reckless freedom feels like a lifetime ago.
“Stay inside the haven for now,” the first officer advises, closing his notepad. “Any changes, no matter how small, you tell us immediately.”
“We’ll be in touch,” adds the other.
I nod numbly, watching them leave.
***
The haven’s ventilation hums too loud in my ears. The lobby suddenly feels too vast and exposed. My skin prickles with awareness, every shadow a potential threat. That giddy high from the club seems like a distant dream now.
I run.
Lights blur past as I flee toward my room, needing more walls between me and the world. The panic claws up my throat, turning each breath shallow and sharp.
Then—footsteps behind me. Heavy. Fast. Getting closer.
Terror spikes through me—
“Lily, wait!”
Leo’s voice, pitched with uncharacteristic urgency. I barely process it before his fingers wrap around my wrist, steadying my trembling hands as I fumble with the door.
I whirl on him, composure shattering. Tears burn my eyes, blurring his worried face. “It’s him,” I choke out. “I know it. He’ll never let me go. Ever.”
The words spill out before I can hold them back. My breath hitches on a sob as everything crashes down at once.
Leo doesn’t let go, his touch grounding me as I shake apart.
“Lily,” he says, softer now but urgent. “Who?”
I shake my head violently, choking on fear. “It’s him.”
“Who is ‘him’?” His grip shifts, gentle but firm.
“Damian,” I whisper, the name bitter as poison. “My ex.”
Leo stiffens, his scent sharpening with anger. “Are you sure it’s him?”
I nod frantically, fingers curling into his shirt like an anchor. “It was my file,” I choke out. “Just mine. No one else would—he always finds a way.”
“Did he hurt you?” His voice hardens.
The question knocks the air from my lungs.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out at first. The weight of it lodges in my throat, until I finally manage a nod.
Leo’s face darkens like a coastal storm. His jaw clenches. His nostrils flare. A growl builds in his chest, vibrating through where my hands clutch his shirt.
“He’s not going to hurt you again,” he snarls. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”
“You don’t understand,” I whisper, voice hollow. “People don’t tell him no. He always gets what he wants.”
“Not this time,” he says sharply. His fingers tighten around my wrist for just a second before letting go.
I blink up at him through tears, stunned. I expected pity, maybe disbelief. Not someone looking ready to tear the world apart to keep me safe.
Something primal suddenly crashes through my thoughts.
If I didn’t feel so disgusting right now, I’d probably tear his clothes off. But instead, I just stand there. Barely holding myself together, wondering how wrecked I must look.
Leo’s furious growl still lingers in the air when another scent reaches me—bourbon and sandalwood. Alaric. His normally composed features are tight as he approaches, green eyes sharp with concern.
“Lily,” he says, my name careful on his tongue. “Leo”
Leo exhales sharply, some tension easing from his shoulders. Alaric steps closer, his movements measured, controlled. But I catch the flash of anger in his eyes when he sees my tears, the way his fingers flex at his sides before he forces them still.
“I take it the security breach wasn’t just a coincidence,” he says softly. “You think he found you.”
Fresh tears threaten as I nod, remembering yesterday’s session.
“Lily,” Alaric murmurs, his rich voice grounding me. “Look at me.”
I meet his gaze and find steadiness in those green eyes. My racing heart starts to slow.
“Take a breath,” he instructs, inhaling deeply. “He’s not here. He hasn’t gotten to you. Your file was accessed, but right now, in this moment, you’re safe.”
My shoulders shake as some of the tension unwinds, but fear still clutches at my throat. “But he always finds a way. He has money, connections—I can’t—”
“You’re here,” Alaric cuts in, gentle but firm. His scent steadies me even as Leo’s protective anger still simmers nearby. “You have us. The police are already investigating.” He glances at Leo, who gives a sharp nod.
“That’s a start,” Alaric says simply.
“And if that’s not enough?” I whisper, the words barely audible. “You don’t know him like I do…”
Leo steps forward. “We won’t let him hurt you.” His voice is fierce, unwavering.
Alaric’s promise is quieter but just as unyielding. “We’ll keep you safe,” he says, voice low and certain. “We’ll double security, work with police, put every safeguard in place—whatever it takes.”
His green eyes darken as they move between Leo and me. “And if anyone comes for you…” His usually composed voice drops to something dangerous.
“We’ll stop him ourselves.”
***
The door clicks shut, and the silence wraps around me like a shroud. My legs want to give out, but the lingering scents of bourbon and vanilla keep me standing.
I kick off my shoes and stumble to the bathroom on shaky legs.
The mirror shows a stranger—makeup smeared like bruises, eyes red and swollen.
Just hours ago, I was pressed against Raphael in that dim club corridor, drunk on freedom and false courage. That girl feels so naive—clueless to the way her past was already reaching for her throat.
But something else burns beneath the fear. Leo and Alaric’s presence still lingers, anchoring me.
My body reacts on its own—nipples tightening, and a spark of heat flaring in my cunt.
For once, I don’t feel all alone.
Steam fills the bathroom as I crank the shower hot.
Tomorrow, I’ll handle the fallout.
Tonight, I just need to wash it all away—the fear, the exhaustion, and the remnants of my sins.