Between Bullets and Breath

Chapter 3: Fire and Ice

Morning came gray and heavy, with clouds hanging low over the city. Inside the mansion, the halls were quiet except for the soft hum of rain against the glass.

Elara woke to the sound of voices, low at first, the sharp. She sat up, frowning. The noise came from the hallway.

When she opened her door, she saw them.

Lucien stood like a wall calm, hands behind his back, expression unreadable. Rafael was in front of him, sleeves rolled up, his voice rough with anger.

“I told you to stay out of my way,” Rafael snapped. “You don’t get to tell me how to do my job.”

Lucien’s tone was steady, quiet but it carried power. “Your job is to follow orders. Not start fights with the guards I assigned.”

Rafael stepped closer, eyes flashing. “You think you’re in charge here? You don’t give me orders, Vale. Not now,not ever.”

Lucien didn’t move. “Then perhaps next time you’ll think before pointing your gun at one of our men.”

“He reached for his weapon first.”

“Because you provoked him,” Lucien said simply.

Rafael laughed once, bitter. “You’re unbelievable. You act like you’re above all this, like you’re not just another man with blood on your hands.”

Lucien eyes hardened, the faintest chill in his voice. “At least i know when to use it.”

The silence between them felt electric. Every muscle in Rafael’s body was tight, ready to strike. Lucien didn’t flinch, didn’t even blink. He didn’t have to. His calm was its own kind of violence.

Before either could move, Elara spoke.

“Enough.”

Both men turned to her. She stood in the doorway, still in her robe, her hair slightly messy from sleep yet somehow, she still carried herself with quiet control.

“If you’re both done trying to kill each other before breakfast,” she said dryly, “I’d like to get through one day without the loud sound.”

Rafael smirked, but his tone softened when he looked at her. “Morning, princess. Sleep well? Don’t mind us, just a friendly argument.”

Lucien jaw tightened. “Friendly isn’t the word I’d use.”

Elara crossed her arms. You two were supposed to be protecting me, not testing who can shout louder.”

Rafael chuckled. “Trust me, if I shouted louder, the whole house would be awake.”

Lucien turned away, muttering, “unfortunately.”

That made Rafael grin wider. “What was that, Vale? Didn’t catch it?

“I wasn’t speaking to you.”

“Then maybe you should start. We’re partners now, remember?”

Lucien looked back at him,eyes cold. “Partners? No. I work with professionals, not problems.”

The word hit hard, and for a moment, even Rafael didn’t answer. Then he gave a slow dangerous smile. “Careful. Keep talking like that, and one day, I’ll stop pretending to respect you.”

Lucien didn’t blink. “Then stop pretending.”

Elara stepped forward, her voice sharper now. “Enough both of you.”

They fell silent. Even Rafael turned serious at her tone.

She looked at each of them in turn. “If you can’t work together, my father will find someone who can. And something tells me neither of you wants to lose his trust.

Lucien exhaled quietly. “Understood.”

Rafael rolled his tongue against his cheek, then nodded once.”fine. I”ll play nice.”

“Good,” Elara said, turning towards the stairs. “Then you can both join me for breakfast. I’d rather have company that doesn’t include loud voices and arguments.

Rafael grinned again. “Breakfast with you? Suddenly, the job doesn’t sound so bad.”

Lucien didn’t respond, but when he followed her, his gaze stayed on her back of Rafael’s neck cold, watchful.

The dining room was large and bright, filled with smell of coffee and toast. Elara sat at the head of the table, while the two men took seats across from each other like enemies forced into a truce neither wanted.

Rafael leaned back in his chair, tossing a sugar cube into his coffee . “So, Vale, what’s your plan for today? Another list of boring rules?”

Lucien stirred his coffee without looking up. “Keeping you quiet would be a good start.”

Elara sighed softly. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you two enjoy this.”

Rafael chuckled. “Enjoy fighting him? Not exactly.

Lucien’s tone stayed calm. “If you focused more on the job and less on your ego, we might get through this alive.”

Rafael leaned forward, voice low. “Maybe if you pulled that stick out of your”

“Rafael,” Elara interrupted before he could finish.

He stopped, then smirked again. “Right. Breakfast. My bad.”

Lucien shook his head, almost in disbelief. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re predictable,” Rafael shot back.

Elara set her cup down, her patience thinning. “If you two can’t stop fighting for one morning. I’ll start assigning rules myself.”

That made both men pause.

Lucien looked at her. “What kind of rules?”

Her smile was calm, too calm. “The kind that makes you listen.”

For a moment, neither men spoke. Then Rafael laughed softly. “You know..she might be the only one here who scares me.”

Lucien’s gaze flicked to Elara then back to Rafael. “Then maybe you should start listening to her.”

Rafael grinned. “Maybe I should.”