Chapter 56

My pulse pounded in my ears, a frantic rhythm that matched the frantic beating of my own heart as I hid in my nest. The soft fabrics and plush cushions should have been a comfort, but all I could focus on was the deafening chaos that was going on downstairs.

I heard the commotion first—raised voices, the sharp crack of gunfire, and then the unmistakable roar of Axel’s motorcycle. Harlen’s voice, low and lethal, cut through the chaos, a glaring difference from the soothing murmur I was used to. “Darcy, stay here,” he commanded, his eyes meeting mine with an intensity that brooked no argument.

The world outside our sanctuary had found us, and with it, the harsh reality of my father’s reach. He had sent men to drag me back to a life I had fought so hard to escape, their intentions clear in the cruel twist of their lips and the calculating glint in their eyes.

But they hadn’t counted on Axel and Harlen. My alphas, my protectors, moved with a deadly grace that was as terrifying as it was awe-inspiring. Axel’s knuckles were white where they gripped the handlebars of his bike, his face set in a mask of grim determination. Harlen, meanwhile, was a shadow among shadows, his movements fluid and silent as he approached the would-be kidnappers.

Gunfire erupted once more, the sound ricocheting off the walls of our home. I watched, helpless and terrified, as Axel revved his engine and charged straight into the fray, his bike a gleaming missile of chrome and fury. The men scattered, their formation broken by the unexpected onslaught.

Harlen, on the other hand, was a ghost, appearing behind one of the attackers with a speed that was almost inhuman. His hand shot out, wrapping around the man’s throat in an iron grip. The crunch of bone was audible even over the din of battle, and the man fell to the ground, his neck twisted at an unnatural angle.

Axel was a whirlwind of motion, his fists connecting with flesh and bone with sickening thuds. Each punch he threw was a testament to his strength, his loyalty, and his unwavering determination to keep me safe.

The kidnappers fought back with desperate ferocity, their guns and knives glinting cruelly under the harsh sunlight. But my alphas were a force to be reckoned with, their every move a brutal dance of survival.

I saw Harlen grab one of the men, his fingers digging into the man’s shoulder with bruising force. The kidnapper cried out in pain, his face contorted in a grimace of agony. Harlen’s other hand reached for the knife at his belt, the blade gleaming wickedly as he drew it across the man’s throat in a swift, merciless arc.

Blood sprayed in a crimson arc, painting the ground in a grotesque tableau of violence. The man’s eyes widened in shock, his hands clutching at his ravaged throat in a futile attempt to stem the tide of his lifeblood.

The fight was over as quickly as it had begun, the ground littered with the bodies of those who had dared to come between me and my pack. Axel’s chest heaved with exertion, his skin slick with sweat and flecks of blood. Harlen stood among the carnage, his expression one of cold resolve.

“Darcy,” Axel called out, his voice rough but laced with concern. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, my throat too tight to speak. I was more than okay—I was alive, and I was free, thanks to the two men who had risked everything to protect me.

Harlen approached me, his touch gentle as he cupped my face in his hands. “We won’t let him take you from us,” he promised, his gaze fierce and unwavering. “You’re ours, Darcy, and we will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

I stood there, feeling like a ragdoll that had been tossed around, as Pietro’s hands roamed over my body with a desperation that was almost palpable. His touch was gentle, but the growl that rumbled in his chest was anything but. It was a primal sound, one that spoke of a need so deep it bordered on feral.

“Darcy,” he murmured, his voice strained as he inspected me for any sign of injury. “Did they hurt you? Tell me you’re okay.”

I let him fuss over me, knowing it was as much for his peace of mind as it was for mine. “I’m okay, Pietro,” I reassured him, my voice steady despite the adrenaline that still coursed through my veins. “They didn’t touch me.”

No sooner had the words left my lips than Jin burst into the room, his eyes wild with worry. The car outside still whined in protest, its door left ajar in his haste to reach me. “Darcy!” he exclaimed, his gaze sweeping over me as he rushed to my side. “Are you alright?”

I met his frantic gaze with a small, reassuring smile. “I’m fine, Jin. Really.”

Harlen and Axel watched the exchange, their eyes never straying far from me. I locked eyes with each of them in turn, a silent promise that I was indeed unharmed.

Pietro’s jaw clenched, and his eyes flashed with a dangerous spark as he pulled out his phone and dialed a number with more force than necessary. “There’s a hit on Sean McCarthy,” he barked into the receiver, his voice echoing through the room. “I want it done today. No mistakes.”

A shiver ran down my spine at his words. My father, the man who had once seemed invincible to me, was now the target of a hit ordered by my alpha—my pack. The world was a topsy-turvy place, and I was still trying to find my footing in it.

Pietro ended the call and turned back to me, his expression softening as he dropped to his knees before me. “Darcy,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, “I’m sorry I didn’t do this sooner. I should have protected you from him a long time ago.”

I was taken aback by the raw vulnerability in his eyes. This was the leader of the Bratva, a man who commanded respect and fear in equal measure, kneeling before me in a moment of pure contrition.

“Pietro,” I began, but he cut me off with a gentle shake of his head.

“No, let me finish,” he insisted. “I’ve failed you in so many ways, but I promise you this—I will spend the rest of my life making sure you never have to fear again.”

Jin stepped closer, his hand reaching out to rest on Pietro’s shoulder in a silent show of support. “We all will,” he added, his gaze meeting mine with unwavering certainty.

Axel and Harlen nodded their agreement, their presence a comforting reminder that I was no longer alone in this world.

I felt a surge of emotion well up within me—gratitude, affection, and a fierce sense of belonging. These men, these alphas, were mine. And I was theirs.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “All of you. I don’t know where I’d be without you.”

Pietro rose to his feet, pulling me into a tight embrace. “You’ll never have to find out,” he said, his voice rumbling against my ear. “You’re our omega, Darcy. Our heart. We will always protect you.”

Pietro’s arms were a steel band around me, but it was a comfort, not a restraint. I knew that whatever happened, these men would keep me safe.