Chapter 14 #2
They went to the concession stand, then into the theatre, taking their seats right in the center. Perfect. The lights dimmed, the crowd settled, and Mia relaxed beside him. The enormous screen flickered to life, and she glanced sideways.
Luc’s face was calm in the silver light, but she caught the faintest curve of amusement at the corner of his mouth when he noticed her stare. He wasn’t here for the movie. He was here because she wanted him to be. That quiet, fragile realization made her smile.
The familiar thrum of the opening score filled the air.
Mia clutched the tub of popcorn Luc had bought, eating as the movie started.
He sat beside her, one arm stretched casually along the back of her chair, his focus fixed on the screen.
The story was slow but engaging; she couldn’t look away.
A few times, she glanced at him, wondering if he enjoyed himself.
The soft light painted his profile in silver and shadow—the hard line of his jaw, the faint curl of his lips.
So handsome… and he is mine.
The first massive dinosaur roared to life, and Mia jumped, popcorn scattering. “Oh!”
Luc chuckled. She teasingly nudged his shoulder. “Poor goat,” she whispered.
As the film went on, she watched him as much as the screen—the way his fingers tapped against his thigh, the subtle quirk of his mouth, the occasional flick of his gaze toward her.
During a tense scene, she startled again, instinctively reaching for his hand.
He didn’t pull away. His palm was warm, his grip steady, and for the rest of the film, her hand stayed in his.
When the credits rolled, Mia exhaled a soft sigh of pleasure.
Around them, people rose, chattering and stretching.
Luc studied her. “Well?”
A slow smile spread across her face. “We’re watching every single one. You're joining me, right?”
He closed the distance between them, his gaze intense. “Count on it.”
The cool night air hit her as they stepped from the cinema into the quiet parking lot. The city hummed with life. Mia slipped her arm through his as they walked toward the car, feeling strangely light. For the first time since entering his world, she wasn’t afraid.
Just alive.
Mia froze as Luc’s body shifted. Every line of him sharpened, his hand sliding almost imperceptibly toward her back. Her steps faltered. Her stomach dropped as she followed his gaze.
Two men emerged from the shadows—one with a knife, the other with a gun.
A small sound caught in her throat. Why was this happening?
“Don’t be afraid,” Luc murmured. “I’m here. Trust me.”
Her nod was barely perceptible.
“Evening,” one of them said, grin false as the shadows. “Nice watch.”
“Take it,” Luc said evenly.
“We want the wallet too,” the man with the gun added.
Luc removed his watch and wallet and tossed them at their feet. The man blinked, surprised by the lack of resistance, then greedily grabbed them. Bills spilled out.
“Over a thousand in cash,” the knife-wielder whistled, eyes flicking to Mia. “Give us what you have.”
“I-I don’t have any money,” she stammered.
His gaze lingered on the delicate chain around her neck. “That looks nice. Hand it over.”
Mia’s fingers flew protectively to the pendant. “Please… it belonged to my mother. I cannot give it.”
The man twirled the knife, metal glinting under the streetlight. “Don’t care. Take it off.”
Luc stepped forward. “Walk away now, and you leave with your lives.”
The men chuckled uneasily. One glanced at the other. The knife-wielder sneered. “He’s bluffing.”
Luc tilted his head, a faint, chilling smile tugging at his mouth.
The man with the knife swaggered forward, confidence dripping from every step.
Then the man lunged. Luc moved—a blur of motion, too fast, too precise.
One moment, the knife was raised; the next, Luc’s hand shot out, seizing the man’s wrist. Bone cracked as he twisted sharply, the blade clattering to the ground.
Before the attacker could even cry out, Luc drove his elbow into his ribs, yanked him close, and in a single, brutal sweep, slashed the knife across his throat.
The sound that followed was a wet, choking gurgle. Blood sprayed in a dark arc, glistening under the parking lot lights before the man collapsed, twitching, at Mia’s feet.
Her breath hitched. She hadn’t even noticed when Luc drew his knife.
The second man froze, eyes wide, then fired. The shot ripped through the night. Luc jerked, the impact tearing through his arm—but he didn’t falter. Luc moved like a storm, precise, deadly, unstoppable.
He pivoted, closing the distance, ripping the gun from the attacker’s grasp. His other hand clamped around the man’s neck. A sharp snap echoed. The second man went limp, collapsing to the asphalt.
Mia’s chest heaved. Her hands trembled. She hadn’t even seen the dagger until it was too late.
When the street finally fell silent, all she could feel was him—warm, alive, lethal, and impossibly hers.
Luc stood over them, chest rising steadily, his shirt dark where blood seeped from his arm.
The gun dangled loosely from his fingers.
His eyes—cold, unreadable—swept the parking lot before landing on Mia.
“Luc…” she whispered, voice trembling. “You’re hurt.”
“It’s nothing.” His tone was flat, calm, and more frightening than his violence.
For a heartbeat, the world was silent except for her ragged breathing and the distant hum of city traffic.
“Luc, we need to get you to the hosp—”
“No hospitals,” he cut her off. “My surgeon will see to it at home.”
He reached for her hand, steady despite the blood streaking his fingers. “Come.”
She let him guide her to the car, the metallic scent of blood mixing with gunpowder and asphalt. Inside, she sat frozen as he started the engine, one hand gripping the wheel, the other pressed against his chest.
“Call Tonio,” Luc ordered.
The AI connected immediately. His brother’s voice came through, steady and alert. Luc relayed the events with cold precision, instructing Tonio to have the scene cleared before police arrived—or to ensure any response was handled by their own men.
He ended the call and drove with the same unshakable composure as if nothing had happened. Mia’s chest tightened. He had killed two men as easily as breathing, and now he maneuvered through the streets with the same calm, calculated rhythm.
And yet… she felt it. The dark, bewildering certainty that inside his violent, merciless world, she had never felt safer.