Lucian’s POV
The line went dead.
Ethan’s last words hung in the air like smoke after a gunshot,"That baby is mine."
I stared at the phone in Aria’s hand,the screen was still glowing with his na.
I felt it rising—the sa black, boiling thing that had taken over in the hotel room when I saw Ethan’s hands on her. Only this ti it was worse. This ti he wasn’t just touching her.
He was threatening our child.
My vision narrowed. I was so furious that I led my hand into the wall causing Aria to flinch in shock.
"Lucian," Aria said softly. "Breathe."
I couldn’t.
I threw the phone which hit the wall with a crack and shattered. Its pieces skittered across the marble.
Aria flinched again.
I turned to her. "He’s not touching our child."
"I know," she whispered. "We’ll fight him legally. We have proof—"
"Proof?" I laughed. "Proof didn’t stop him from leaking the pregnancy. It didn’t stop him from calling you tonight and neither does proof an anything when he’s already in the public’s head. They will believe him like they always do."
She stepped closer. "Then we make them believe us."
I shook my head. "No. I’m done waiting for lawyers. I’m done letting him breathe the sa air as you and our baby."
"Lucian—" Her voice cracked. "Don’t do this. You just got out of jail. You can’t—"
I was already moving.
I grabbed my coat from the rack and yanked the door open.
"Lucian, stop!"
I didn’t.
The elevator doors were closing when she reached them. She slamd her hand against the button, but I was already gone.
Downstairs the garage was quiet. My driver jumped when I appeared.
"Keys," I said.
"Sir, you’re not supposed to—"
"Keys."
He handed them over.
I slid into the driver’s seat of the black Range Rover. The engine roared and tires squealed as I shot out of the garage and into the night in search of the monster threatening my family.
I knew where he’d be.
Ethan always went to the sa rooftop bar after a win,the one overlooking the Thas. It was more like his gloating spot. If he thought he’d won tonight, that’s where he’d be.
I found his car first.
A Black rcedes parked crooked in the valet lane. His engine was still running.
I pulled up behind it and blocked him in.
As I got out,the rain hit my face like needles.
Ethan stepped out of the bar entrance, laughing at sothing his bodyguard said. He had bandages on his face which was ho to a smug grin visible even from across the street.
When he saw the grin died.
I crossed the road in three strides.
He backed up. "Voss"
I grabbed him by the shoulder,spun him around and slamd him against the side of his car.
"You threatened my child and my wife," I said. "You think I’ll let you take them from ?"
Ethan’s eyes widened. "Get your hands off—"
I leaned,the rain dripping from my hair onto his face.
"Say one more word about my family," I whispered, "and I will end you right here and now. And I promise you, I won’t stop until there’s nothing left to bury."
His bodyguard lunged.
I didn’t even look as my elbow caught him in the throat. He dropped, choking.
Ethan tried to twist away unsuccessfully ,I slamd him back against the car again.
"You don’t touch what’s mine," I said. "Ever again."
Sirens wailed in the distance but I didn’t care
Police cars screeched to a stop and officers jumped out with their guns drawn.
"Hands up! Step away from the vehicle!"
I didn’t move.
Ethan smirked through the blood on his lip. "You just made my case for , Voss."
Hands grabbed from behind. The cold tal handcuffs snapped around my wrists.
I let them pull back.
But I never took my eyes off Ethan.
"Enjoy your freedom while it lasts," I said. "Because when I’m done, you’ll wish you’d stayed in that hospital bed."
They shoved into the back of the squad car while the office at the edge slamd the door shut.
I leaned my head back against the seat and closed my eyes.I’d broken my promise to her again. I just hope that I won’t lose her to my uncontrollable rage.
The station was the sa cold and fluorescent hell as before. They processed quickly—assault, battery, threatening behavior. My lawyer was already waiting.
After a lot of back and forth between my lawyer and the officers in addition to a confirmation from Ethan that he won’t be pressing charges,they let out two hours later with a warning.
The rain had stopped but the street was wet and shining under the streetlights.
My driver opened the car door , I slid into the backseat and we made our way ho
Aria stood in the living room when I got in. Her arms were crossed,her eyes red and swollen .It was obvious that she’d been crying for a while non-stop
She didn’t speak at first. She just looked at my bruised knuckles, wet coat and the exhaustion carved into every line of my face.
"You went after him," she said quietly.
I nodded.
"You promised no more violence."
"I know."
She stepped closer. "You got arrested again. Because of this—" She touched her stomach. "Because of us."
I looked down. "I couldn’t let him threaten our child."
"Our child," she echoed. The words still sounded foreign on her tongue.
She walked to , stopping only a few inches away.
"Why do you always destroy things with your temper?" she asked. Her voice broke on the last word.
I t her eyes. "Because I don’t know how to protect without breaking sothing."
She searched my face.
"I can’t lose you," I said. "I can’t lose this baby. I can’t lose the only thing that ever made want to be better."
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
I reached up and brushed them away with my thumb.
In that instant a confession I’d hidden away, unable to accept nor profess slipped out of my mouth. "I love you, Aria".
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