intrepidity

Chapter 16

Aiden grabbed him by the collar, yanking him forward until they were nearly nose to nose. His voice dropped into a whisper, but somehow, it was more terrifying than his shouts.

"She does not belong to anyone. And if you so much as breathe in her direction, I will gut your entire bloodline."

The promise in his tone was absolute.

Final.

No empty threats.

Just a certainty that death would come swift and merciless.

Emilio's entire body trembled.

Aiden let the silence stretch, let the weight of his words settle into the pathetic man's bones before he finally—finally—released him with a shove. Emilio stumbled back, gasping for breath, his forehead slick with sweat.

The room was still silent.

No one knew what to do.

No one dared to do anything.

Aiden turned to his brothers. "Get him out of my sight."

Roman and Marcus grabbed Emilio by the arms, dragging him out of the warehouse like a piece of trash. Elias followed, sending Aiden one last look before leaving him alone in the dimly lit room.

Aiden exhaled, slow and controlled. His hands still shook. Not from fear. Not from adrenaline.

From rage.

The only reason Emilio was still breathing was because Aiden had decided his death should come later.

No one spoke about Aurora that way. No one.

-

The house was quiet when he stepped inside.

Aiden rolled his shoulders, the remnants of tension still lingering. He didn't regret anything that happened at the meeting. If anything, he wished he had done more. Much more.

But for now, all that mattered was that he was home.

He toed off his shoes, loosened his tie, and made his way toward his study, only to pause when he noticed a small figure curled up on the couch.

Aurora.

She was awake.

Her big green eyes blinked up at him, glossy with sleep, but there was something in them—something uncertain. She was curled beneath a thick blanket, Thumper tucked into her arms, her lower lip worried between her teeth.

Aiden's chest ached.

She had been waiting for him.

"...You're home," she murmured, voice small.

Aiden swallowed. "Indeed."

She hesitated, glancing down at her bunny before whispering, "I had a nightmare."

That was all she needed to say.

Aiden sighed softly, shrugging off his suit jacket before kneeling in front of the couch. He reached out, brushing a few strands of dark brown hair from her face. "What about?"

Aurora didn't answer.

But he already knew.

He could see it in the way her fingers clenched around Thumper. In the way she wouldn't meet his gaze.

Aiden felt something ugly claw at his chest.

It wasn't enough. What he had done tonight, what he had threatened—it wasn't enough. He should've done worse. Should've made Emilio pay for even thinking of her that way.

But right now, Aurora didn't need a capo. She didn't need the man who could make entire families disappear overnight.

She needed her big brother.

So Aiden forced down the rage, forced his muscles to unwind, and softened his voice. "Lay down with me?"

She hesitated. Just for a moment. Then, without a word, she shifted, making room for him. Aiden slid onto the couch beside her, pulling her into his arms. She curled up against him, her face tucked into his chest, her breath warm against his shirt.

Aiden exhaled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

Aurora sighed sleepily. "I missed you."

His throat tightened.

"...Missed you too, princess."

author's note - i acc planned to put this as a later chapter but it was requested i couldn't say no :0

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