I danced and danced and danced, and for the first time since arriving in New York, I felt alive. The bass thumped through my veins, and the neon lights painted my world in hues of electric blue and fuchsia. Sweat glistened on my skin as I moved, my body losing itself to the rhythm of the music. Faces blurred around me, their laughter and shouts blending into the pulsating beats. For a moment, the weight of guilt and confusion lifted, replaced by the euphoria of the dance floor.

The crowded house was a stark contrast to the quiet, unfamiliar mansion I now called home. My three older brothers—Angelo, Killian, and Soren—were strangers to me still, bound by blood but separated by years and distance. Moving in with them after the fire that took my mother and stepfather had felt like stepping into a different universe. But tonight, none of that mattered.

A familiar song started, and I threw my hands up, spinning in the limited space I had. Laughter bubbled up from deep inside, a sound I hadn't heard from myself in weeks. A group of girls next to me cheered and joined in, creating an impromptu dance circle. I found myself in the center, my movements more expressive, more free than they had been in a long time.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a guy watching me. Tall, with dark hair and a smile that seemed to glimmer in the strobe lights. He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving mine, and soon he was dancing beside me, matching my steps. Something was odd in his presence, an easy dread that made me feel uneasy.

"Hey, I'm Dante," he shouted over the music, leaning in so I could hear.

"Alina!" I shouted back, nodding.

"First time here?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Yeah, just moved to the city!" I replied.

"Welcome to New York!" he said, raising an imaginary glass in a toast. "Let's make tonight unforgettable!"

We danced together for hours, time slipping away unnoticed. As the night wore on, the music slowed, and the crowd began to thin. Dante led me to a quieter corner, where we could talk without shouting.

"So, what brought you to the city?" he asked, his voice smooth but with an edge I hadn't noticed before.

I hesitated, the memory of the fire flickering in my mind. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but something held me back. What if he didn't understand? What if he judged me or worse, pitied me?

"Just needed a change," I said, forcing a smile.

"Running away from something?" he pressed, his tone turning almost predatory.

Before I could respond, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Damien, his face a mix of concern and determination.

"Hey, Alina, there you are! I've been looking for you," Damien said, his eyes flicking to Dante and then back to me. "Everything okay here?"

"Yeah, just talking," I said, relieved by Damian's presence.

"Why don't we get out of here? It's getting late," Damien suggested, ignoring Dante's annoyed glare.

I nodded, grateful for the out. "Yeah, sounds good."

Dante's smile faded, replaced by a look of irritation. "You sure you want to leave? We were just getting to know each other."

"I'm sure," I said firmly, stepping closer to Damian.

As we walked away, Damien leaned in and whispered, "You looked like you needed saving. That guy was giving me bad vibes."

"Thanks, Damien. You have no idea," I replied, feeling a mix of relief and gratitude. "I owe you one."

"Nah, we're friends. That's what friends do," he said with a reassuring smile.

As we stepped out into the cool night air, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. I never had friends that cared about me like Tabitha and Damien did. Between the love and affection I received from my brothers and the support and kindness from my friends, I felt wanted for the first time in my life.

"Hey, Alina," someone shouted and I snapped my head to where a man striding across the lawn, coming towards me. "We need to go. Now."

"Who are you?" I asked, staring at this dark haired man with dark eyes almost black that stared back at me.

"Rafe. Now, get in the car."

Rafe, my second bodyguard.

"Alina. Car. Now."

No wonder he liked to 'stay in the shadows,' as Christian had said. He was fucking rude.

I crossed my arms and shook my head, planting my feet in defiance. "No."

He grunted. "Get in the car, I won't tell you again, Alina." He ushered me into the backseat, slamming the door shut.

"Where's Christian?" I asked when he slid into the driver's seat, panic beginning to rise in my chest. Something must have happened. "Are my brothers okay?!"

Rafe didn't answer, speeding away from the party.
I noticed he drove in the opposite direction of home. I began to panic, my chest heaving and leaving me gasping for air. I heard Rafe swear in Italian, his eyes locking with mine in the rear view mirror.

"Okay, I'm going to tell you the truth, because I know that being in this situation fuckin' sucks... Soren was shot, and it's not looking good."

I swallowed, knowing he was trying to calm me down, but the information that Soren had been shot made my eyes burn with unshed tears. No, no, he can't-

"Killian is working on him and if there's anyone that can save him, it's your brother," he said and I nodded, wanting to believe him. "Hey, take a breath. This isn't the first time Soren's been shot. Kid seems to have a streak of good luck."

The car sped through the darkened streets, the city lights blurring into streaks of color. My mind raced, my heart pounding erratically in my chest. The news that Soren had been shot hung over me like a dark cloud, suffocating me with its weight. Each breath felt like a struggle, my anxiety spiraling out of control.

My thoughts were a chaotic whirlpool, memories of Soren's laughter and the safety he represented clashing with the image of him lying injured, fighting for his life. The panic surged, a tidal wave of fear and helplessness. I felt like I was drowning, the car's confined space closing in around me.

"Alina, breathe," Rafe's voice cut through the noise in my head, firm but gentle. I looked up, meeting his eyes in the rearview mirror. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. Slowly."

I tried to focus on his words, on the calm steadiness in his voice. I inhaled shakily, drawing in a breath through my nose. The air felt thin, but I held it for a moment before exhaling slowly through my mouth. Rafe nodded, encouraging me to continue.

"That's it. Keep going. Focus on your breath," he said, his tone soothing.

I repeated the process, each breath a little steadier than the last. I concentrated on the rhythm, on the feeling of the air filling my lungs and then leaving my body. The panic still lurked beneath the surface, but with each measured breath, it receded a little more, its grip loosening.

Rafe kept talking, his voice a constant anchor in the storm of my thoughts. "Soren is strong, Alina. He's a fighter. Killian is with him, and they'll do everything they can. Right now, you need to stay calm for when we get there."

I nodded, my breathing gradually evening out. The overwhelming terror still loomed, but it no longer felt insurmountable. I wasn't alone in this; Rafe was here, and my brothers were fighting just as hard.

The car's hum became a background lullaby, and I closed my eyes, focusing entirely on the rhythm of my breath. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Each breath a tiny victory against the anxiety threatening to consume me.

Minutes passed, and the initial wave of panic ebbed, replaced by a fragile calm. My body still trembled, but the chaos in my mind had quieted, if only a little. I opened my eyes, glancing at Rafe. He gave me a reassuring nod.

"Better?" he asked.

I nodded again. "Better."

"Sorry I snapped at you."

I smirked. "I like Christian better, no offence."

He laughed, but coughed to cover it up. "That's fair. I am usually the one in the background, watching from afar. I don't usually develop personal relationships with my clients."

"That makes sense. How long have you worked for Angelo?"

"Seven years, though my family has worked for yours for decades."

"You ... lived in Italy, with my brothers?"

"Yes. I hear you're taking a trip to Italy during summer break. Have you ever been?"

I nodded. "Once, my mother had a business trip there when I was eleven. We didn't see much, though, she made me stay in the hotel ... I guess I know why, now."

Rafe hummed. "I can only imagine what you've experienced and how difficult and frustrating everything has been for you but know this - your brothers love you and they will do anything for you." I nodded, his words seeming to ring true. "We're pulling up to the clinic in two minutes. It's going to be ... chaotic and I need you to stay close to me, okay?"

I nodded again. "Okay. I understand."

Rafe sped up to the tall, modern clinic, where dozens of sleek black cars and SUVs lined the driveway. He killed the engine and glanced over his shoulder. "Remember, stay close."

He got out and opened my door, ushering me out. He wrapped an arm loosely around my back and guided me in through the glass doors of the private clinic where Killian worked. As we stepped inside, I noticed men in black suits roaming the halls, each armed with a machine gun. A chill ran down my spine as I realized this was no ordinary clinic—something far more dangerous and complex was unfolding around me. The sterile, fluorescent-lit environment contrasted sharply with the lethal aura of these men and it hit me that my brothers' world was much darker and more treacherous than I had ever imagined.

+++
Thank you for reading.
Will Soren be okay? 👀
- Charlie