Beneath His Protection

Chapter Three

Chapter Three – The Wolf's Warning

Serena had never felt the weight of her last name as she did now.

Lombardi.

The name echoed in her ears like a curse passed down through generations — one that had finally come to collect.

She sat in her father’s study, an untouched cup of tea cooling between her hands. Liam stood near the window, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the horizon like he could will the world to stay out.

"They left a symbol," she said finally. "A wolf. That’s not subtle."

Liam didn’t answer immediately. When he did, his voice was low.

"It’s a declaration."

"Of war?"

He turned to face her. "Of return."

She met his gaze. "They’re not here for Father."

"No."

Her throat tightened. "They’re here for me."

He didn’t nod. Didn’t confirm it. But he didn’t deny it either.

Outside, the wind picked up, rustling the hedges like whispers.

"Do you know who it was?" she asked. "The one who whistled?"

Liam’s jaw clenched. "No. But the whistle was a code. It means 'watching.' It’s old-school mafia. They’re taunting us."

"Why not just come in guns blazing?"

"Because they’re not ready yet. Or they want you scared. Fear is a weapon."

Serena set the tea down with a soft thud. "Well, it’s working."

A knock at the door interrupted them.

It was Marcus, one of her father’s oldest lieutenants.

He looked exhausted. Pale. A bruise forming under one eye.

"Sir," he addressed Liam, oddly enough. "We have a problem."

Liam stepped forward. "Talk."

"Security intercepted a package addressed to Serena. No return address."

Her stomach flipped.

Marcus handed Liam a small black box. No markings. No labels. Just her name in capital letters.

Liam opened it carefully.

Inside was a single item.

A chess piece.

The queen.

Broken in half.

Serena’s breath caught.

Marcus spoke again. "They left it at the gate. No camera caught the delivery."

Liam turned to Serena. "Go upstairs. Now."

She stood. "No."

His tone dropped. "Serena—"

"You’re not shutting me out. Not anymore. This is about me, right? So I stay."

Liam’s silence was consent.

Marcus hesitated. "There’s more. The outer cameras picked up movement around 4 a.m. A single figure, wearing a mask."

Serena looked to Liam. "The same person from last night?"

"Could be."

She took a breath. "What do we do?"

Liam stared at the broken queen. "We plan for the worst."

---

Later that day, Serena found herself in the training room — a place she hadn’t stepped into in years. Liam stood opposite her, holding two wooden sticks.

"Kali training?" she asked.

He nodded. "If someone comes for you, you need more than just a baseball bat."

She smirked. "You think I’m weak."

"I think you’re untrained. There’s a difference."

The training was brutal. Not because of the physicality — Serena had always been agile — but because of Liam’s silence. His eyes said more than his mouth ever did.

Every time their sticks clashed, she felt the tension. Not just from fear. From something else.

Something unspoken.

After an hour, breathless and sore, she dropped her stick.

"You’re enjoying this."

"No. I’m preparing you."

"You didn’t smile once."

"I don’t smile when people want you dead."

That shut her up. But only for a moment.

"Why do you care so much?" she asked softly.

He looked away. "Because I’ve failed before."

The room fell silent.

Then the alarm blared.

Red lights flashed.

Liam’s expression turned to stone. "Stay here."

"Liam—"

"Don’t move."

She watched him grab his gun and disappear.

Serena did not stay.

She ran after him.

---

Down the hall, the guards were shouting. She caught phrases:

"Perimeter breach!"

"South fence!"

"Multiple figures!"

Liam was already at the control room, shouting orders, scanning the screens.

"They're probing again," he said through clenched teeth. "Trying to find a weakness."

Then a voice crackled through the radio.

"We found a body."

Silence fell over the room.

Serena stepped closer. "Who?"

The guard’s voice returned. "It’s… Marcus."

Her legs almost gave out.

Liam caught her arm.

"He was just with us," she whispered.

"They sent a message," Liam muttered. "This is only the beginning."

Serena turned to him, eyes wide with terror and fury.

"Then let’s end it."

Liam met her gaze. "We will. But not like this."

---

They buried Marcus the next day.

The cemetery was quiet, distant from the city. Liam stood behind Serena, silent as ever, but she could feel his presence like a shadow.

Rain fell lightly.

A single white rose rested on the coffin.

Serena’s fingers trembled as she let it go.

He was the only man who treated her like a daughter when her father was too busy with blood and business.

Now he was gone.

Liam placed a hand on her shoulder.

She didn’t flinch.

"I’m not going to run," she whispered.

"Good."

She turned her head slightly. "But I want answers. And I want revenge."

He didn’t answer, but his hand lingered. Warm. Protective.

---

Back at the estate, Liam reviewed files. Serena stood behind him, arms crossed.

"That symbol," she said. "The wolf. It’s theirs?"

"The Lombardi family’s sign. Yes."

"But I thought they were wiped out."

Liam shook his head. "Some survived. Went underground. They’ve been rebuilding quietly."

She exhaled slowly. "So now they’re back. And I’m the prize."

He looked up at her. "You’re the last leverage they can use against your father. And if they can’t use you… they’ll destroy you."

---

The lights flickered.

Both of them froze.

"That’s not weather," Liam muttered. He reached for the emergency panel.

The entire east wing lost power.

He pulled his gun again. "Stay close."

This time, she didn’t argue.

They moved through the darkened halls, silent and alert.

A crash echoed from the second floor.

Liam pushed her behind him, moving fast.

They reached the guest wing — a window shattered, glass covering the floor.

"Motion sensors were cut," he said grimly.

Serena pointed. "Look."

On the bed: another chess piece.

This time, the knight.

Burned.

And beneath it… a photo of Serena sleeping, taken from inside her room.

She gasped.

Liam’s rage was quiet. Controlled.

He picked up the photo.

"They’ve been inside."

---

He doubled the guards. Called in reinforcements.

But Serena knew something had changed. She wasn’t just in danger.

She was being hunted.

And Liam…

He wasn’t just her protector anymore.

He was her shield. Her sword.

And the only man she trusted.

---

That night, she couldn't sleep.

Every shadow on the wall looked like a masked figure.

Every creak in the hallway felt like breath on her neck.

Finally, she slipped out of bed, wrapped herself in a robe, and went down to the kitchen. The soft hum of the refrigerator was oddly comforting.

She poured herself a glass of water, then froze.

Liam stood at the back door. Motionless. Watching the garden.

She joined him silently.

"You don’t sleep either?" she asked.

He didn’t look at her. "Sleep is a luxury we don’t have."

She stared at the moonlit trees. "Do you ever wish you had a different life?"

"Every day."

His honesty surprised her.

She risked a glance at him. "Who did you lose, Liam?"

This time, he met her eyes. "Someone I was supposed to protect."

The pain in his voice was raw. Deep.

She reached for his hand. Held it.

He didn’t pull away.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them wasn’t empty — it was full of unsaid truths, shared fears, and the beginnings of something else.