Safe Between Monsters

CHAPTER 8

WINTER POV

The air outside felt different.

Heavier.

Like something was waiting.

I stepped out onto the front steps slowly, my eyes immediately going to the street beyond the gates. The broken door behind us had been temporarily sealed, but the damage still lingered—splintered wood, cracked marble, the faint smell of gunpowder.

A reminder.

Marcus had been here.

And he wasn’t done.

“Stay close,” Dante said, his voice low behind me.

I didn’t argue this time.

Kai moved ahead of us, already scanning the perimeter like he was hunting something. Luca stayed near me, not touching—but close enough that I could feel his presence like a second shadow.

“Where?” I asked quietly.

Luca nodded toward the long driveway that curved out toward the main road. “Two streets down. Security tracked the vehicle from the cameras before Marcus entered.”

“So they were watching,” I said.

“Yeah,” Kai muttered. “And they’re still watching.”

That sent a chill down my spine.

We reached the gates.

Two black SUVs idled nearby—Moretti security. Men stood alert, hands near weapons, eyes sharp.

Dante spoke briefly to one of them, his tone all business now.

“Any movement?”

“No, sir. Car hasn’t moved.”

“Heat signatures?”

“Two inside. Driver and passenger.”

My stomach dropped.

Two.

Marcus hadn’t just come alone.

He’d come prepared.

“Stay here,” Dante said, turning to me.

I crossed my arms. “No.”

His eyes snapped to mine.

“Winter—”

“I said no.” My voice shook slightly, but I held his gaze. “You want me to stop being a liability? Then stop treating me like one.”

Kai huffed out a quiet laugh. “She’s got a point.”

Dante didn’t look amused.

Luca stepped in smoothly. “She stays behind us. Not out of sight.”

Dante hesitated.

Then gave a sharp nod. “Fine. But you don’t move unless I tell you to.”

Not ideal.

But better than being sent inside.

“I won’t,” I said.

(That was a lie. We all knew it.)

We moved down the street.

Every step felt too loud. Too exposed.

My senses were on overdrive—every shadow, every parked car, every flicker of movement made my heart spike.

Then I saw it.

A dark sedan parked just far enough away to look normal.

But nothing about this was normal.

“That’s it,” Kai murmured.

Dante slowed. “Positions.”

It happened so naturally it almost scared me.

Kai moved to the left side of the street.

Luca to the right.

Dante stayed directly in front of me.

A formation.

A shield.

My pulse pounded.

“What if they have a gun too?” I whispered.

“Then we move faster,” Kai replied.

Comforting.

Very comforting.

Dante took a step forward.

“Stay,” he ordered.

This time…

I listened.

He approached the car slowly.

Controlled.

Dominant.

The driver’s side window rolled down halfway.

A man I didn’t recognize leaned out—mid-thirties, rough-looking, scar across his chin.

Not Marcus.

Something in my chest twisted.

“Wrong house,” the man said casually.

Dante didn’t stop walking. “I don’t think so.”

The passenger door opened.

Another man stepped out.

Bigger.

Meaner.

His eyes flicked toward me for half a second—

And smiled.

My stomach dropped.

“They know you,” Luca murmured behind me.

“Of course they do,” Kai muttered. “Marcus doesn’t work alone.”

The big one cracked his neck. “Boss said you’d be trouble.”

Boss.

Marcus.

“You picked the wrong place to park,” Dante said calmly.

The driver laughed. “And you picked the wrong girl to protect.”

Before I could even process that—

Everything exploded.

The passenger lunged.

Kai met him halfway with a brutal punch that echoed down the street. The man staggered back, but didn’t fall.

The driver reached into the car—

Gun.

“DANTE—!” I screamed.

But he was already moving.

Faster than I’d ever seen.

He grabbed the car door and slammed it into the man’s arm just as the gun came up. The weapon fired—but the shot went wide, shattering a nearby window.

Chaos.

Pure chaos.

“Get down!” Luca grabbed my arm and pulled me behind a parked SUV.

My heart was racing so fast I couldn’t breathe.

I peeked around the edge—

Kai and the bigger guy were trading blows like animals. No hesitation. No restraint.

Dante had the driver pinned against the car, disarming him with terrifying precision.

This wasn’t a fight.

This was control.

This was training.

“Stay here,” Luca said, stepping in front of me.

“I can’t just—”

“Yes, you can.” His voice was sharper now. “You’re not ready for this.”

That word again.

Not ready.

Something inside me snapped.

“I’m not helpless,” I said through clenched teeth.

“I didn’t say you were.”

“You didn’t have to.”

His jaw tightened.

Before he could respond—

The bigger man broke free from Kai and stumbled back—

Straight toward me.

Our eyes locked.

And I knew instantly—

He was coming for me.

“LUCA—!”

Too late.

He charged.

Everything slowed.

My body froze for half a second—

Then something Kai said earlier flashed in my mind.

Don’t think. React.

I moved.

Just as he reached for me, I stepped sideways and shoved hard against his momentum.

He stumbled—

Not enough.

His hand caught my arm, yanking me forward.

Pain shot through my shoulder.

“No—!”

I twisted, panicking—

Then I remembered something else.

Kai’s voice.

Use what you have.

My knee drove upward.

Hard.

Right between his legs.

The man choked, grip loosening instantly.

I didn’t hesitate.

I shoved him away and stumbled back just as Luca stepped in—

And dropped him with one clean, brutal hit to the jaw.

The man hit the ground and didn’t get back up.

Silence.

For a split second… everything stopped.

My chest heaved.

My hands shook violently.

But I was standing.

I did that.

“Winter—” Luca turned to me, eyes wide. “Are you—”

“I’m okay,” I breathed.

Across the street, Dante had the other man on the ground, face pressed into the pavement, gun kicked far out of reach.

Kai wiped blood from his lip, grinning like he’d just had fun.

“Damn,” he said, looking at me. “You learn fast.”

My legs nearly gave out.

I didn’t feel strong.

I felt like I was about to collapse.

Dante walked over, his expression dark—but his eyes scanning me carefully.

“Did he touch you?”

“Just—my arm,” I said, my voice unsteady.

His jaw tightened.

Luca gently lifted my arm, checking for damage. “It’s going to bruise.”

“I’m fine,” I repeated.

Kai stepped closer, his gaze intense now. “You weren’t fine five seconds ago.”

“I am now.”

He held my stare for a second—

Then nodded slowly.

Respect.

Real respect.

Dante exhaled quietly. “They weren’t just watching.”

“No,” Luca agreed. “They were waiting.”

“For what?” I asked.

Kai’s smile turned sharp again.

“For Marcus to soften us up.”

Dante looked back at the unconscious men, then at me.

“He’s testing our limits,” he said.

“And mine,” I added.

His gaze flicked to me.

Something shifted there.

Something new.

“You didn’t freeze,” he said.

“I almost did.”

“But you didn’t.”

Luca’s hand brushed mine lightly. “That matters.”

Kai smirked. “Next time, aim higher.”

I blinked. “Higher?”

He leaned in slightly. “Or I’ll teach you something more fun.”

“Focus,” Dante cut in, though there was a faint edge of something else in his tone.

Possessive.

Territorial.

Not now.

Not here.

Sirens sounded again in the distance.

More attention.

More problems.

Dante straightened. “We’re done here. Security will handle the rest.”

“But Marcus—” I started.

“Marcus sent them,” Luca said. “Which means he’s watching how we respond.”

Kai cracked his neck. “Good. I hope he enjoyed the show.”

I looked down at my shaking hands.

At the adrenaline still buzzing through my veins.

At the fact that—

I didn’t run.

I didn’t break.

I fought.

Dante stepped closer, his voice lower now.

“This is what it’s going to be like,” he said. “From now on.”

Danger.

Constant.

Real.

I met his eyes.

And for the first time…

I didn’t look away.

“Then teach me everything.”

A pause.

Then—

Kai grinned.

Luca’s eyes softened.

And Dante nodded once.

“Careful what you ask for, Winter.”

Too late for that.

I was already in it.