BOUND TO THE BLOODLINE

Amina Lawson knew walking home at 10:47 p.m. was a terrible idea, but the last bus had left without her, and she didn’t have enough money for a ride. Her scholarship stipend wasn’t coming in until next week, and exams had drained her more than she wanted to admit. So she walked. Fast. Head down, pepper spray tight in her hand. The street behind Club Velluto was unusually silent tonight. Lagos was never quiet—never still—but tonight the air felt strange, heavy… almost frozen. Amina’s steps slowed. Something didn’t feel right. She turned the corner—and froze. Two men stood under a flickering streetlight. One was on his knees, hands tied behind his back. The other stood over him, speaking low and calm… too calm. Amina’s heart began pounding. Walk away, her brain whispered. Run. But before she could move, the kneeling man spat blood and cursed. And the standing man—tall, dark hair, sharp jaw—lifted a gun. “No—” Amina whispered. BANG. The man dropped. Lifeless. Amina’s scream lodged in her throat. She stumbled backward, but her shoe scraped against gravel—too loud. The killer’s head snapped toward her. Their eyes locked. Grey. Cold. Deadly. Amina’s blood turned to ice. “Hey!” he shouted. “Stop!” She didn’t think. She ran. Her bag slammed against her hip as she sprinted down the alley, lungs burning, legs shaking. Footsteps thundered behind her—fast, confident, hunting her down like she was nothing more than prey. “Come back here!” his voice echoed. Tears blurred her vision. This couldn’t be happening. She had school tomorrow. She had assignments due. She had a life—simple, boring, peaceful. I can’t die tonight. A car engine roared nearby. Amina turned sharply—and crashed into a solid chest. A hand clamped over her mouth. She struggled, kicking wildly. “Keep quiet,” a deep voice commanded, low and controlled. “If you want to live, don’t move.” She froze. The man holding her wasn’t the killer. His grip was strong but not hurting. His scent—clean, smoky—filled her nose. His presence wasn’t violent… it was protective. Still terrifying, but different. The killer’s footsteps grew louder. “She ran this way!” he shouted. The man holding her pulled her behind a parked black SUV, shielding her completely with his body. He leaned dangerously close, lips near her ear. “Stay still.” The killer appeared at the end of the street, breathing hard, gun in hand. Amina trembled. The stranger’s arm tightened around her waist, grounding her. Matteo—she would later learn his name—cursed loudly. “She saw my face,” Matteo growled. “Luca will kill me if she gets away.” Amina didn’t understand what that meant, but the man protecting her went rigid, like Matteo’s words hit him personally. After a tense moment, Matteo spat on the ground and stormed off. Silence returned. Amina finally dared to breathe. The stranger slowly removed his hand from her mouth. “Are you hurt?” “N-No…” she stuttered. “Who are you? Why did you—why did he—?” “Not here.” His voice was deep, smooth, and absolutely firm. “It’s not safe.” He opened the SUV door. “Get in.” Amina stepped back. “No. I’m not getting in your car.” “If Matteo finds you,” the stranger said calmly, “he will finish what he started. Tonight.” Her stomach dropped. “So what—you're kidnapping me?” A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I’m saving your life.” “I don’t even know you!” He met her eyes—and something in his gaze softened just a fraction. “My name is Luca Rossi,” he said. “And if you want to live until morning, you’ll get in the car.” Amina stared at him. Dark hair. Grey eyes. Broad shoulders. A face that looked carved from danger itself. He didn’t look like a hero. But he didn’t look like a liar either. Her phone buzzed weakly—1% battery. Matteo’s voice echoed in her memory. The gunshot replayed in her ears. Amina swallowed hard. “Why… why would you help me?” Luca held her gaze. “Because I don’t kill innocent people,” he said quietly. “And my cousin does.” Her breath hitched. “Cousin?” He nodded. Matteo. The killer. Amina felt the world tilt. “Get in,” Luca repeated, softer this time. And against every instinct she had… against every fear… against every trembling nerve in her body… She climbed into the SUV. Luca shut the door behind her. Her fate was sealed.