Safe Between Monsters

Chapter 13

WINTER POV

The first punch sounded like a gunshot.

Dante’s fist collided with Marcus’s jaw, snapping his head to the side with brutal force. The crack echoed through the room, sharp and violent.

Marcus staggered—

But didn’t fall.

He laughed.

Actually laughed.

Blood spilled from his lip as he straightened slowly, eyes wild.

“That’s more like it,” he said.

Kai didn’t wait.

He slammed into Marcus from the side, driving him into the wall hard enough to shake the frame. Wood splintered. Glass rattled.

The house felt too small for this.

Too tight.

Too full of violence.

“Stay back,” Luca said firmly, his arm blocking me as I instinctively stepped forward.

“I can—”

“No.” His voice softened just a little. “Not this part.”

But I couldn’t look away.

I wouldn’t.

Marcus swung hard, catching Kai across the face. The impact snapped his head back—but Kai only grinned, wiping blood from his mouth like it meant nothing.

“Your turn?” Marcus taunted.

Dante grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the wall again.

Harder.

“Touch her again,” Dante said, voice low and deadly, “and I’ll break every bone in your body.”

Marcus’s eyes flicked to me.

Always me.

“That’s the plan,” he said.

Rage snapped something inside me.

“No!” I shouted.

All three of them froze for half a second.

Just enough.

Marcus twisted sharply, elbowing Dante in the ribs and breaking free. He lunged toward me—

Fast.

Too fast.

But this time—

I was ready.

I didn’t freeze.

I moved.

Just like Kai taught me.

I stepped to the side, grabbed his wrist—

Twisted.

Hard.

Marcus hissed as his balance shifted.

For a second—

I had him.

“I said stay away from me!” I shouted.

My voice shook—but my grip didn’t.

His eyes darkened.

Then—

He smiled.

“Good girl,” he murmured.

The words hit like poison.

My stomach twisted—

My grip faltered—

And that was all he needed.

He ripped his arm free and shoved me back hard.

I stumbled—

Hit the edge of the table—

Pain shot through my side—

“Winter!” Luca’s voice.

Marcus moved again—

But he didn’t reach me.

Kai tackled him from behind, slamming him to the ground with a snarl.

“Don’t,” Kai growled, fist slamming into Marcus’s face once—twice—again. “Touch. Her.”

Marcus laughed through the blood.

“You think she’s yours now?” he spat.

Dante grabbed him and dragged him up—

Then drove his fist into Marcus’s ribs.

Once.

Twice.

Again.

This wasn’t controlled anymore.

This wasn’t measured.

This was rage.

Pure.

Unfiltered.

“Dante,” Luca warned.

But Dante didn’t stop.

Marcus hit the floor again, gasping now, his earlier confidence cracking under the weight of three men who were done holding back.

“Say it again,” Dante said, voice cold. “Say she’s yours.”

Marcus coughed.

Then smiled.

“She always will be.”

That did it.

Dante snapped.

He grabbed Marcus by the throat and slammed him against the floor, his grip tightening—not enough to kill—

But enough to terrify.

Enough to dominate.

“Listen to me,” Dante said, each word sharp and controlled in a way that was more dangerous than shouting. “You lost her the moment you put your hands on her.”

Marcus’s breath hitched.

But his eyes—

Still locked on me.

“You think this changes anything?” he rasped. “She’s still broken. Still scared. Still—”

“Stop.”

My voice cut through everything.

Silence fell.

Even Dante stilled.

I stepped forward.

Ignoring Luca’s hand trying to stop me.

Ignoring the pain in my side.

Ignoring everything except—

Him.

Marcus.

“I’m not scared of you anymore,” I said.

My voice shook.

But I didn’t stop.

“You don’t control me.”

His eyes flickered.

“You don’t own me.”

Something cracked.

“You don’t get to decide who I am.”

My chest rose and fell sharply.

“And I’m never coming back to you.”

The words hung in the air.

Heavy.

Final.

Marcus stared at me.

Really stared this time.

Like he was seeing something new.

Something he didn’t understand.

And that—

That scared him.

I saw it.

Just for a second.

Then it was gone.

Replaced by something darker.

“You’ll regret that,” he said softly.

Dante’s grip tightened instantly.

“No,” he said.

“You will.”

Kai stepped closer, rolling his shoulders, eyes cold.

“This is getting repetitive.”

Luca moved beside me again, his presence steady, grounding.

“Police are almost here,” he said quietly.

Marcus stilled.

That changed things.

Not fear.

But calculation.

Always calculating.

Dante leaned closer to him, voice dropping to something almost… calm.

“If you ever come near her again,” he said, “I won’t stop next time.”

Marcus smiled faintly.

“You won’t have to.”

Dante’s eyes darkened.

Then—

He let go.

Just like that.

Marcus hit the floor hard, coughing.

Kai looked like he wanted to argue—

But didn’t.

Because they all knew.

This wasn’t over.

Marcus pushed himself up slowly, bloodied, bruised—

But still standing.

Still watching me.

Always me.

“Enjoy this,” he said quietly. “While it lasts.”

Sirens wailed outside.

Loud.

Close.

Marcus glanced toward the door.

Then back at me.

One last look.

“You’ll come back,” he said.

I didn’t respond.

Didn’t move.

Didn’t break.

Something in his expression shifted again.

Then—

He turned.

And walked out.

Just like that.

The house went quiet again.

Too quiet.

My legs gave out.

I barely registered it before strong arms caught me.

Luca.

“Hey,” he murmured softly. “I’ve got you.”

My body was shaking now.

Not during the fight.

Not when he touched me.

Now.

Now it hit.

Kai wiped blood from his mouth, pacing once like he needed to burn off the leftover adrenaline.

Dante stood still.

Completely still.

Staring at the door Marcus had just walked through.

Like he was already planning the next move.

The final move.

“Are you hurt?” Luca asked gently.

I shook my head.

“I’m okay.”

It was true.

Somehow…

I was.

Kai looked at me then, something like respect in his eyes now.

“You fought him.”

“I didn’t freeze,” I said quietly.

Dante finally turned.

His gaze found mine.

And for a second—

Everything else faded.

“You didn’t,” he agreed.

Something passed between us.

Not control.

Not fear.

Something else.

Something stronger.

But in the back of my mind…

Marcus’s words echoed.

You’ll come back.

I knew he believed it.

I knew he wasn’t done.

And now…

Neither were we.