While Lili was drifting into a peaceful, food-induced sleep, the atmosphere at Luca's house was much louder. Luca unlocked his front door, still thinking about the plan he had made with Lili. He felt good about helping her, but as soon as he stepped into the living room, he froze.
Standing by the window, silhouetted against the city lights, was a tall figure.
"You're late, little brother," a deep, smooth voice echoed through the room.
Luca's eyes widened in sheer shock. "Leo? What are you doing here? You weren't supposed to be back for months!"
His older brother, Leo, turned around with a sl
"Change of plans," Leo said, tossing a leather jacket onto the sofa. "The city missed me. Or maybe I just missed causing a little trouble."
Luca laughed and gave his brother a quick hug, thrilled to have him back. He had always looked up to Leo, though his brother was always the mysterious one in the family.
"You're just in time," Luca said, thinking of the drama at the college. "Things are getting interesting around here."
Leo raised an eyebrow, his handsome face twisting into a curious grin. "Is that so? Tell me everything."
As they sat down to catch up, Luca had no idea that bringing his best friend and his brother into the same world was about to change everything.Leo sat back in the leather armchair, swirling a glass of water as he listened to Luca recount the events of the day. Luca talked about the crowded lecture hall, the group of bullies, and the girl named Lili who had looked so lost until he stepped in.The living room was quiet, save for the low hum of the city outside and the rhythmic ticking of a vintage clock on the mantle. Luca sat on the edge of the sofa, his hands moving animatedly as he recounted the events of the day. He told his brother about the new girl, Lili, and the way those upperclassmen had tried to break her spirit in the middle of a crowded lecture hall.
Leo sat across from him, draped over an armchair with an effortless grace that made even a simple seated position look like a power move. He listened in silence, his dark eyes fixed on Luca. He wasn't just hearing the words; he was analyzing them.
"So, you're playing the knight in shining armor for this 'Lili'?" Leo asked, his voice a deep, resonant velvet.
Usually, Leo didn't care much for campus drama. At 26 years old, Leo was worlds away from college life. As the CEO of his own rising tech firm and the eldest son of the family, his life was defined by boardrooms, high-stakes investments, and expensive suits. He was brilliant—the kind of man who could read a person in seconds—and he was every girl's dream. He was known for being a true gentleman, kind and composed, but there was a shadow to him. He could be cold and cruel if anyone dared to hurt his family or what belonged to him.
"So, this Lili," Leo said, his voice deep and smooth. "She's the one you're 'protecting' tomorrow?"
"She's different, Leo," Luca insisted. "She's new to the city. She doesn't have anyone else."
Leo leaned forward, a spark of genuine interest flickering in his dark eyes. He found it rare for his brother to care this much about a stranger. "A girl with no one in a city this big. InterestinLeo walked toward his room, but his mind stayed on the story. He pictured a girl standing alone in a sea of strangers, refusing to cry. He respected that. But more than that, he felt a strange, magnetic pull toward the idea of her—a curiosity he couldn't quite explain.
The Calm Before the Morning
That night, Leo stood on his balcony, looking out at the city he ruled. He thought about the bullies Luca had mentioned. In his world, people like that were gnats—easily crushed and forgotten.
He wondered if Lili knew what kind of storm was coming her way—not the storm of the bullies, but the storm of the brothers. Luca wanted to be her friend and her shield, but Leo? Leo didn't yet know what he wanted from her. All he knew was that if anyone laid a finger on her while he was watching, they would learn exactly why the city feared the eldest brother.