Happy Together

One by One

His fingers tightened around the steering wheel as the memories of his past began to surface—his old unit, their missions, and the brutal efficiency they’d prided themselves on. He hadn’t felt this alive in years. The anger wasn’t just his usual simmering fury; it was sharp, focused, and filled with purpose.

The thought of his old comrades brought a dark, gleeful grin to his face. They were scattered now, their lives carved out of chaos and violence. But Lucius knew they could be rallied. They owed him, and even if they didn’t, he knew exactly how to persuade them. The gears in his mind were turning as quickly as the car’s engine.

“This is going to be good,” he muttered under his breath, his voice a mix of anticipation and malice.

As he sped down the H3, the mountains loomed on either side of him, their lush greenery contrasting sharply with the dark thoughts spiraling in his mind. The plan was forming. He didn’t just want to scare Victoria’s ex—he wanted to annihilate any chance of him ever hurting anyone again. This wouldn’t be just a warning; it would be a message.

His foot pressed harder on the gas pedal, the car responding with a guttural roar. The speed and the music heightened his adrenaline, his mind racing with ideas. A reunion with his old unit wasn’t just a means to an end; it was a gift to himself. The thrill of working with them again, of executing a plan with precision and chaos, was exhilarating.

And then there was Victoria. The thought of her brought a flicker of something softer, though no less intense. She deserved safety, freedom, and peace. But more than that, she deserved someone willing to go to the darkest lengths to ensure those things for her. Lucius wasn’t just doing this for revenge; he was doing it for her, for them. And he already knew what her Christmas present would be—a world without the shadow of her past haunting her.

As the car approached the exit for Mililani, Lucius’s grin widened. The wheels were already in motion, and he was just getting started.

“Time to make a call,” he said, pulling his phone from the console. With one hand on the wheel, he scrolled through his contacts until he found the name he was looking for.

He hit the call button, the sound of the ringing blending with the final notes of the song.

“Hello?” a gruff British voice answered on the other end.

“It’s me,” Lucius said, his voice dripping with confidence. “It's time for us to serve the Shepard. And trust me, you’re going to love it.”

There was a pause, then a low chuckle. “Well, well Mr. Wolf. Didn’t think I’d hear from you again mate. What’s the target?”

Lucius’s grin turned predatory. “We’re taking out some trash. I’ll send you the details. Get our battle buddy ready.”

The call ended, and Lucius tossed the phone onto the passenger seat. The game was officially in play, and he couldn’t wait to see it unfold.

For Victoria, he thought to himself. For us.

Victoria stood behind the counter at the coffee shop, her fingers working instinctively as she poured espresso shots and steamed milk. The festive buzz of the holiday shoppers filled the air around her, but her mind was miles away. She hadn’t stopped thinking about the morning—or, more specifically, about Lucius.

The memory of his voice saying “Good morning, beautiful” sent a chill down her spine. It wasn’t Alistair’s warmth or awkward sweetness; it was something else entirely. Dark, commanding, and oddly comforting. A part of her hated herself for finding solace in him, in Lucius.

She shook her head, trying to snap herself out of it as she handed a customer their coffee. “Have a great day!” she said automatically, plastering on a polite smile.

As she turned back to the register, her coworker Manny nudged her lightly. “You okay, Victoria? You’ve been zoning out all morning.”

Victoria blinked, startled out of her thoughts. “Yeah, sorry. Just didn’t sleep much last night,” she replied, forcing a sheepish grin.

Manny raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical but not prying. “We are in the middle of the Christmas rush girl. No time for daydreaming!”

Victoria nodded and got back to work, but the distraction in her mind didn’t fade. She thought back to everything Lucius had said at breakfast, the way he’d promised no one would ever hurt her again. It wasn’t just what he’d said; it was how he’d said it. She believed him, and that terrified her.

She moved to the espresso machine, grinding fresh beans as her thoughts churned. Could she really trust Lucius? He wasn’t Alistair, and she knew that. He was dangerous in ways that were both alarming and strangely magnetic. Yet, for all his darkness, there was something about him that made her feel… safe. Like a warm blanket of darkness.

But safety came with a cost, didn’t it?

Her mind wandered to the night before, to the mugging and the way Lucius had intervened. It had been brutal, and yet, she couldn’t deny the relief she’d felt when it was over. He’d protected her without hesitation. And this morning, he’d cooked her breakfast as if he were just another person—someone normal, someone kind.

Victoria sighed, leaning against the counter as a lull in customers gave her a brief moment to breathe. What did it say about her that she felt drawn to him? To both of them? Alistair was sweet and caring, the kind of man who made her laugh and feel loved. But Lucius... Lucius was something else entirely. He was power, danger, and control wrapped in a package that somehow made her feel untouchable.

She shook her head again, frustrated with herself. This wasn’t something she could untangle in the middle of her shift.

By the time lunch rolled around, she was still caught in the same mental loop. Manny took over the register, letting Victoria take her break. She grabbed her sandwich and sat at a small table in the back room, scrolling through her phone absentmindedly. Her thumb hovered over Alistair’s name in her contacts.

Was it even Alistair she wanted to talk to? Or was it Lucius?

The thought made her stomach twist.

“Get a grip, Victoria,” she muttered to herself, setting her phone down and biting into her sandwich.