Safe Between Monsters

CHAPTER 12

WINTER POV

The silence felt wrong.

Not peaceful.

Not calm.

Wrong.

I sat on my bed, staring at the door like it might open on its own. The house was still secured—guards outside, cameras, everything in place.

But Marcus had gotten in before.

And now…

Now he was angry.

I checked my phone again.

Nothing.

No new messages.

That somehow made it worse.

Too quiet.

Too still.

My leg bounced nervously as I tried to focus on anything else. A book. My thoughts. Breathing.

It didn’t work.

Because in the back of my mind, one thing kept repeating—

He’s watching.

A soft sound echoed down the hallway.

My entire body froze.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Measured.

Not rushed.

Not panicked.

Deliberate.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

Security?

It had to be.

Right?

I stood slowly, moving toward the door.

“Hello?” I called out.

No answer.

The footsteps stopped.

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Every instinct in my body screamed at me to lock the door.

To hide.

To stay still.

But something else—

Something new—

Pushed back.

Don’t freeze.

I swallowed hard.

And stepped into the hallway.

Empty.

Too empty.

The lights flickered faintly overhead, casting long shadows across the floor.

“Security?” I tried again.

Still nothing.

My pulse was racing now.

This wasn’t normal.

This wasn’t—

A crash echoed from downstairs.

I flinched violently.

That wasn’t subtle.

That wasn’t careful.

That was a distraction.

My breath caught.

“No…”

My feet moved before my brain could catch up.

Down the stairs.

Fast.

Too fast.

I rounded the corner into the living room—

And stopped cold.

The back door was open.

Wide open.

Wind pushed the curtains inward, making them ripple like ghosts.

Security wouldn’t leave that open.

They wouldn’t—

A hand clamped over my mouth.

I screamed—but it came out muffled.

“Miss me?”

My blood turned to ice.

Marcus.

He dragged me back hard against his chest, his grip tight, unyielding, familiar in the worst way.

“Don’t,” he murmured near my ear. “Don’t make this harder.”

My heart was pounding so violently I thought I might pass out.

Move.

Do something.

His arm tightened around me as I struggled.

“I gave you a chance,” he said softly. “You didn’t listen.”

I bit down.

Hard.

He hissed as my teeth sank into his hand.

For a split second—

His grip loosened.

I twisted sharply, elbowing back with everything I had.

My elbow connected with his ribs.

Not enough.

But enough to break free.

I stumbled forward, gasping, spinning around—

And there he was.

Marcus.

Closer than ever.

His eyes dark.

Focused.

Hungry.

“You’re getting bold,” he said, almost impressed.

My chest heaved.

“Stay away from me.”

He smiled.

Like I’d just said something cute.

“I tried that,” he said. “Didn’t like it.”

My eyes darted around.

No guards.

No movement.

“They’re not coming,” he added, reading me too easily. “They’re… occupied.”

My stomach dropped.

“No.”

“Yes.”

Panic clawed up my throat.

Dante.

Kai.

Luca—

“What did you do?” I demanded.

Marcus tilted his head slightly.

“Nothing they can’t handle,” he said casually. “Yet.”

Rage flared through the fear.

“You’re insane.”

“And you’re still mine.”

“No,” I snapped.

His eyes darkened instantly.

“I told you,” I continued, my voice shaking but louder now, “I’m not coming back.”

Silence.

Then—

He moved.

Fast.

Too fast.

I barely had time to react before he grabbed my arm and yanked me toward him again.

Pain shot through my shoulder.

“Enough,” he said, voice low now. Dangerous. “We’re leaving.”

“No—!”

I fought.

Kicked.

Struggled.

Everything I had.

But he was stronger.

Always stronger.

“Stop fighting me,” he snapped.

“Never!”

He dragged me toward the open back door.

Cold air rushed in.

Freedom.

Or something worse.

My heart pounded wildly.

Think.

Think.

Use what you have.

Kai’s voice.

Luca’s.

Dante’s.

All at once.

I shifted my weight suddenly, dropping low instead of pulling back.

Marcus stumbled slightly, thrown off balance.

I twisted hard, trying to break his grip—

He tightened it instantly.

“Still predictable,” he muttered.

But I wasn’t done.

My foot slammed down on his.

Hard.

He cursed under his breath.

I didn’t wait.

I ripped my arm free just enough—

And ran.

Upstairs.

Not outside.

Not into the open.

Somewhere tighter.

Somewhere I could—

A hand grabbed my hair.

Pain exploded across my scalp as I was yanked backward.

I screamed.

“Wrong direction,” Marcus said coldly.

Tears burned my eyes—but I didn’t stop fighting.

I kicked back wildly, connecting with his knee.

He grunted—

Loosened—

Just enough.

I twisted again, slipping from his grip and stumbling forward—

Right into someone.

Strong arms caught me.

For half a second—

Panic surged—

Then—

“Easy.”

Dante.

Relief hit so hard it almost dropped me.

He steadied me quickly, pushing me behind him in one smooth motion.

“You okay?” he asked without looking back.

“Yes,” I breathed.

Barely.

But yes.

Marcus froze.

For the first time since he entered—

He froze.

Then slowly…

He smiled.

“I was wondering how long it would take you.”

Dante didn’t move.

Didn’t react.

But I felt it.

The shift.

The cold.

“You picked the wrong night,” Dante said quietly.

Marcus laughed softly. “Did I?”

Footsteps thundered behind us.

Kai.

Luca.

Both of them looked like they’d just walked out of a war.

Bruised.

Breathing hard.

Angry.

Very angry.

“You okay?” Luca asked, his eyes scanning me quickly.

“I’m fine,” I said, though my voice shook.

Kai cracked his neck slowly, eyes locked on Marcus.

“You just don’t learn, do you?”

Marcus’s gaze flicked between them.

Calculating.

Still confident.

“You think this changes anything?” he asked.

Dante took a step forward.

And this time—

There was no restraint.

“No,” he said.

“It ends it.”

The tension snapped.

Marcus moved first—

But so did Dante.

They collided with brutal force, the impact echoing through the house. Kai joined instantly, driving a punch into Marcus’s side.

Luca stayed in front of me.

A shield.

Again.

But this time…

I didn’t just stand there.

I watched.

I understood.

This wasn’t just a fight anymore.

This was war.

And Marcus—

Had just walked straight into it.