Chapter Three
1384 Words
Luna
Quiet fell just like that, after the last shot cracked through air.
Dark quiet filled the hall. The air stopped moving. Nothing broke the stillness. A hush held every corner tight.
Heavy.
Terrifying.
Faster than a startled deer, her pulse roared inside her ears. Quiet thoughts vanished under its rush.
A shape shifted fast across his frame, sudden and quiet. There he remained, planted before her, elbow bent just enough to hold her at bay. Speed rewired his stance - no warning.
Now he shook, eyes wide, voice tight - nothing like that cool smirk before.
Fear sat sharp in his eyes today.
Truly dangerous.
A low moan slipped out as he lay there, blood spreading beneath him. From his lips, shaky but clear: it was the west entrance where they’d broken in
Frozen still, Noah's face stayed blank.
“Who?”
“We don’t know yet.”
A guard caught Noah’s eye. He told the man to seal off the club
“Yes, boss.”
“No one leaves.”
Luna’s stomach dropped.
No one leaves?
Footsteps pounded along the hall as guards shouted into their radios. From far off came screams - sharp, sudden - from a woman or maybe more than one.
This was real.
Not rumors.
Not gossip.
Just like the nightmares folks whispered about - that’s who Noah De Luca was.
She stayed next to him, caught without a way out.
His eyes met hers after a long pause.
Slowly, his gaze moved across her features, like searching for any sign of harm.
“Are you hurt?”
It felt strange - how steady his voice seemed when speaking to her, compared to how it wavered while talking about shots fired.
Luna shot back a sharp no without pause.
Down went his eyes, landing on her trembling fingers.
“You’re scared.”
“Well…” she laughed nervously, “people are literally shooting at your club.”
A shadow passed over his features.
Almost amusement.
“You’re handling it better than most.”
“Should I feel proud?”
“No.”
A shiver ran down her spine, somehow tied to his words. The manner of his speech brought goosebumps rising without warning. His voice carried a weight that pulled cold through her veins. How he spoke sent an uninvited tremor along her arms. A quiet dread followed each syllable he shaped.
A pair of guards hauled off the wounded man as a third moved toward Noah, slow and watchful.
“The situation’s contained.”
Contained.
It wasn’t rare - this played out often.
Noah nodded once. “Find out who leaked tonight’s meeting.”
He paused before speaking. What about those who saw it?
Luna’s breath caught.
Witnesses?
His eyes moved to her, inch by inch.
It was like the walls moved closer all at once.
Too small.
One breath she was certain - this could be how it ends.
His gaze eased, just a little.
Out you go, he said to the guard.
A flicker of shock crossed his face before he moved without delay.
Luna looked at Noah once they found themselves by themselves. The quiet stretched between them like a thread pulled too tight.
“What did he mean by witnesses?”
A quiet flick of his wrist straightened the fabric, even with red marks just steps away.
“You saw something you shouldn’t have.”
A cold shiver ran along her back.
“That’s not my fault.”
“No,” he said, voice quiet. Not like that at all
What unsettled her wasn’t noise, but how still his words became. A hush that pressed closer than any yell ever could.
Luna moved back slowly. She took care with each step.
“I should go home.”
“No.”
Out of nowhere, the reply showed up fast.
Not aggressive.
Certain.
Frowning slightly, she said, "Pardon?"
“It isn’t safe.”
“For who?”
His eyes darkened.
“For anyone near me tonight.”
Her chance to leave started with that moment. What came next depended on whether she listened.
Luna folded her arms tight, voice firm. I will not stay behind. A quiet defiance hung in the air
For a while, Noah just watched her. Then silence settled between them.
Out of nowhere, a odd thing happened next.
He smiled.
Not warmly.
Not kindly.
That grin - likely the one predators gave right before they caught their meal.
“That takes real courage,” he murmured, voice soft.”.
“I’m not brave. I’m tired.”
A spark lit up inside his gaze just then.
Interest.
Again.
Right away, Luna saw it - words already out, a quiet wish they hadn’t been.
Noah stepped closer.
Too close.
“You know,” he murmured, “most people can’t even look me in the eye when they speak.”
“Well, congratulations?”
He let out a quiet chuckle.
Somehow, this hurt more than when he shouted.
It hit her then, what it meant. A cold truth took hold inside. That instant changed everything she knew.
Noah liked when she challenged him.
“Oh, this is trouble,” she whispered softly.
“What is?”
“You.”
A small stretch crept across his lips.
Definitely bad.
A sound came from Noah’s coat. While still watching her, he pulled it out and spoke into the device.
“Yes.”
Silence.
After that, a chill spread across every part of his face.
“Who touched her?”
Luna blinked.
What?
For a few moments, Noah stayed silent, ears tuned. Then he broke the quiet with words.
“Break his hand.”
Her eyes widened.
“What?!”
Calmness settled over Noah as the call finished. The screen darkened after he tapped away the connection.
Luna stared at him in disbelief. “You can’t just tell people to break someone’s hand!”
“He grabbed you earlier.”
Her mind scrambled.
“The one in politics?” she said, pausing between words.
Noah said nothing.
That said it all.
Breathing sharp, she felt it rise - a tangle of dread and doubt settling low. A quiet tremor stayed, caught between heartbeat and breath.
“You had someone watching me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Down went his eyes, just for a moment, landing on the bright red shoes she wore. Then they climbed back up, settling on her expression once more.
“Because men stare at things they want.”
Her stomach twisted the moment those words left his mouth.
“That’s creepy.”
“I know.”
No shame.
No apology.
Just honesty.
Luna moved back once more.
Noah noticed immediately.
A shadow passed through his face. His look shifted without a sound. For a moment, silence took hold of everything around him.
Not anger.
Possession.
What scared her most was how it made her feel.
“You should be afraid of me,” he said softly.
The words weren’t threatening.
They sounded disappointed.
Luna swallowed hard. “Are you trying to scare me?”
“No.” His eyes locked onto hers. “I’m trying to warn you.”
Just as her mouth began to open, a second guard stepped into view.
“Boss, the car is ready.”
He gave a single nod, then turned his gaze toward Luna again.
“You’re coming with me.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I barely know you!”
“You’ll know enough soon.”
Her pulse quickened.
Her gut twisted, certain stepping into Noah De Luca’s car spelled trouble. Not a single part of her felt calm about it.
Yet beyond the entrance stood armed men.
Inside the club was Noah.
And somehow…
These days, it felt impossible to tell what posed a greater threat.
He moved near again, just once more, softening his words.
“Luna.”
Her name, when he said it, seemed too close for comfort.
“If someone wanted to kill you tonight…” he said quietly, “I’m the only reason they haven’t.”
Her breath caught.
His fingertips just barely touched her wrist.
Gentle.
Possessive.
Terrifying.
Yet something about it felt unclear to her -
Luna stayed too long in that moment. She moved slow when she should have run.
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