CHAPTER TWELVE

UNEXPECTED VULNERABILITY


“Retreat” Marco shouted to his men and they began to pull back , covering their escape with smoke grenades.

Lucas watched as Marco and his men vanished, his anger and frustration boiling point, “We’ll find him”, he vowed.

Lucas and his men trudged back to the mansion. The confrontation with Marco had left its mark; bruises, cuts and lingering anger that hung over them.

Lucas’s arm throbbed from the bullet graze, but his focus remained sharp, eyes scanning the surroundings as they approached the mansion.

As they entered the Grand foyer, Lucas paused, his mind racing with thoughts of revenge and strategy . He dismissed his men with a nod,each one retreating to clean up and tend to their wounds.

Lucas headed towards his room needing a moment to gather himself and tend injury.

………🌵

Olivia paced her room, she had noticed Lucas and his men were back, she was thirsty, and decided to go to the kitchen to get a glass of water. She had no idea where the kitchen was, but she felt she could find her way.

As she walked she stumbled upon a door slightly ajar. Curiously, she peeked inside and saw a room that was unlike any she had seen before. The walls were lined with bookshelves filled with leather bound volumes, and the large bed in the center was unmade. She stepped inside , marveling at the masculine yet refined decor.

Suddenly she heard a voice behind her, “I thought I asked you to stay in your room”, she turned to see Lucas,sitting at the edge of the bed, his voice cold and authoritative. His shirt unbuttoned and his arm bandaged but bleeding through the makeshift dressing, His dark eyes met hers, filled with a mix of surprise and pain.


“I….I’m sorry I didn't mean to intrude”, Olivia stammered, taking aback. She was wearing a simple yet elegant gown that clung her curves.

Lucas gaze softened slightly, and he shook his head, “It's fine, what are you doing here?”

“I was looking for the kitchen , I didn't know this was your room” She replied her gaze never leaving Lucas injury.

Lucas shook his head, “And does my door look like a kitchen door?”

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude”, She noticed the blood seeping on his arm and insectively moved closer, “You’re hurt, can I help you with that?”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical , “You want to help me?”.

“Yes”, she said, more firmly, “I can't just walk away when you are hurt”.

He stared at her for a long moment before nodding, “Fine, there's a first aid kit in the drawer”.

Olivia retrieved the kit and sat beside him on the bed, inhaling his cologne , As she cleaned the wound carefully wrapped a bandage on his arm, her fingers brushed against his skin, sending her shiver down his spine. Her touch was gentle, and he felt a strange sense of comfort.

“How did this happen?” , she asked , trying to make a conversation.

“Marco”, Lucas replied,his voice tight, “He launched an attack on one of our operations, things got messy”.

She nodded, focusing on cleaning the wound. “Does it hurt”.

“It's nothing, I can't handle”, he said, his tone softer than usual.

As she worked, they fell into an uneasy silence, Lucas could feel the tension between them.

Lucas watched her intently , his usual stern expression softened by the pain and unusual intimacy in the moment.

Lucas couldn't help but notice the way her hair fell in soft waves around her face, her eyes filled with concentration and the gentle curves of her lips. At that moment he realized how extremely beautiful She was.

Olivia, focused on her task, initially, she didn't notice Lucas' gaze. When she finally looked up, his eyes locked with hers, and for a moment the world outside ceased to exist.

“Thank you”, Lucas said gently, breaking the silence.

Olivia smiled softly, “You’re welcome, Try to keep this clean and avoid using your arm too much”.

Lucas chuckled lightly , a rare sound that made Olivia's heart skip a beat, “Easier said than done in my line of work”.

Olivia observed him for a moment, “You have to rest”, she said quietly, “The wound needs time to heal”.

Lucas chuckled again, “This can't be compared to number of scars I have on my body, this is manageable”, he paused, and studied Olivia's face for a moment, “You care too much”, he muttered, “In my world that's dangerous”.

“I’m beginning to understand that”, Olivia replied, “but caring is what makes us human”.

Lucas looked away, his jaw tightening, “Caring makes you weak”.

“Or it makes you strong”, Olivia countered , “Stronger than you know”.

Their eyes locked for a moment , Olivia felt a connection , a bond that went beyond their circumstances. She could see the man behind the mask, the one who struggled with the weight of his responsibilities.

Lucas broke the silence, “You think, you can handle this world?It's not just about finding the traitor, it's about surviving every single day”.

Olivia met his gaze, her eyes unwavering, “I don't have a choice, you made sure of that”.

Lucas's expression hardened, “And don't forget it”, he repeated, but his voice lacked its usual edge.

Olivia took a deep breath, “I’ve seen things ,Lucas. I know more than you think. But there's a line, even for you. Why do you do it?, why do you stay in this world?”

Lucas’s eyes flickered with an emotion she couldn't quite placd, “You wouldn't understand”.

“Try me”, Olivia insisted , her voice softer now, almost pleading .

Lucas looked away, the hard lines of his face softening slightly, “I do what I have to, for my family, for my survival , there’s no escaping once you're in”.

Olivia placed a gentle hand on his, Lucas glanced at the hands she placed on his, and glanced back to her face, “You’re not alone in this Lucas,You don't have to be”.

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of unspoken words, hanging between them. The outside world fading into irrelevance as they shared the rare moments of vulnerability.

“Rest”, Olivia finally said, her voice barely above a whisper, “You need it”.

Lucas didn't respond, but he didn't pull away either. He watched as Olivia stood and quietly left the room, closing the door softly behind her. For the first time in a long while he felt a glimmer of something he thought he had lost forever.