“POV: Sofia”

Kylie’s voice cut through the haze in my head. “Oh my God!”

I still felt dizzy as Lucian carefully lowered me into her arms.

“Relax,” Lucian said, his tone casual and calm. “Found her behind the library. Almost cried herself to death.”

Kylie caught me in her arms, inhaling sharply, eyes wide. “Oh! Sophia”. Her voice came out almost like a cry.

Lucian gave a lazy smirk . “She’ll give you the full story when she’s up for it. Either way—she’s breathing.”

He looked at me one last time. “Later, pincher girl.”

He then turned, walked over and mounted his bike. Tossing on his leather jacket. He twirled the keys into the key hole.

The engine roared to life like thunder. Then he sped off.

For a moment, Kylie stood there, in stunned silence, still holding me. “That was Lucian freaking Black,” she whispered. “You… were just brought home by the hottest, most mysterious guy on campus.” she blinked as if lost in lustful daze.

I groaned weakly, about to slip off her hand.

“Come on,” she muttered. quickly pulling me back on,guiding me up the stairs and into our dorm room. She settled me gently into my bed, slowly pulling the covers over me.

“Rest. We’ll talk in the morning,” she said softly, brushing my hair from my face.

My eyes stuck to her silhouette as she paced the room, before my vision blurred.

••••••

By morning I woke up feeling my head ache and my eyes swollen from all the crying. My body ached like I’d been trampled. I groaned, gently rolling over to see Kylie sitting across me on her bed, sipping orange juice. Her last stare pinned me like her eyes had caught something.

“You’re awake. Goodness, finally! she said.

I blinked. “Can I have some water?”

She tossed a bottle at me. “Drink that. Then start talking.”

I gulped down half the bottle, then wiped my mouth gasping. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Kylie narrowed her eyes. “Because you stumbled into the dorm last night like a limp kitten,” Kylie said, “and Lucifer’s twin brought you here like some tattooed knight in black armor.”

I groaned, stretching back into bed.

“Spill. Now. Start from the beginning.” Kylie urged with so much excitement.

So, I started. Telling her how I’d showed up at the Student Union with coffee for Tyler. How he dumped me in front of everyone like I was some trash, how the entire campus watched and laughed as if I was a damn movie.

She sat so focused on each word spilling from my mouth.

“And then?” she prompted.

“I ran behind the library,” I said, my voice cracking. “Sat there, crying. Then the scent of weed hit me, stealing my breath for a moment - Just then, i heard someone move nearby. I looked up, for a moment my heart skipped, then I moved closer … to see him.” I said, my voice softening.

“Lucian.” she whispered.

“Yeah!” I nodded. “I didn’t even recognize him at first. My eyes were full of tears. I freaked out. And then he just stood there, smoking, making snarky comments like it was some soap opera he’d walked into.”

Kylie leaned forward. “And you’re saying he helped you… willingly?”

I nodded. “Well, at first he had mocked me. Calling me the pincher girl. Said I made the gossip page in five minutes. But when I tried to walk away and almost passed out. He caught me. Got me on his bike. Took my phone when we arrived here and dialed your number from my last call log.”

Kylie let out a low whistle. “That’s wild. That guy doesn’t even talk to people. And you—Sophia freaking Carter—somehow got a free ride on his motorcycle?”

“Ahh!” she screamed in massive excitement.

I gave a weak laugh. “Maybe because I ruined his smoke break.”

“Or maybe…” Kylie’s voice lowered, her expression thoughtful. “He’s not exactly what people say he is.”

**********************************************************************************************************************

“POV: Lucian”

My apartment looked like quiet chaos, my black leather jacket couched on the chair, filled ashtrays scattered across the room , records stacked by the player and red neon lights glowing behind my stocked liquor bar.

I lit a fresh joint and dropped onto the couch.

Playing some haunting instrumental loop. The beat from the speakers was grimy, pulsing low like a heartbeat.

Smoke curled around my head as I stared at the ceiling.

But my thoughts kept drifting.

To her.

Her tear-stained cheeks and trembling hands. I hadn’t planned on helping her. but somehow pity stuck in my chest like a nail and I managed to.

I scoffed at myself, took another drag.

I wasn’t supposed to care.

I don’t do damsels in distress. Especially not ones dumped in public by frat-boy cowards.

And yet….. I carried her home.

I took another drag, trying to shake the image of her clinging to me.

I reached for the volume, turning it up, but then—

The sharp sound of engines cut through the music. Loud and aggressive, echoing through my apartment.

I jerked up, turning down the music. Then quickly got to the window, slightly parting the blind, and slowly peeking through.

Four matte-black SUVs screeched to a stop in front of my building,

One by one, their doors opened in sync, and men in suits stepped out—tall, cold-faced, and deadly-looking. Each man moved like they’d been trained to kill in silence.

I closed back the window blinds, slowly backing away . My pulse kicked.

This wasn’t random. I thought.

I dropped the joint. The calm in me snapped.

I rushed over to the couch, quickly pulling out the silver case underneath and popped it open.

Withdrawing a pistol. Extra rounds and Burner phone.

I exhaled sharply, my mood shifting from laid-back to lethal.

Outside, each SUV's doors opened. Men all dressed in black fitted suits, stepped out of each SUV. Lastly, the guard standing beside the middle SUV pulled open the back door. An aged man stepped out, dressed in a charcoal Italian suit, his salt-and-pepper hair slicked back, a scar cutting through his right brow and rings inserted on every finger.

For a moment, my head spun in thought.

I thought I’d burned that bridge.

But it turns out, the fire just found its way back to me”

The sound of boots hit my pavement.