Chapter 24: Lines You Shouldn’t Cross

Allison didn’t stop walking until she reached her room.

The door shut behind her with a quiet click.

And then—

She exhaled.

Not shaky.

Not weak.

Just... controlled release.

Simone was right behind her.

Silent for exactly three seconds.

Then—

"Okay," Simone said, dropping her bag onto the nearest chair. "We need to unpack everything because what the hell was that?!"

Allison let out a breath that almost turned into a laugh.

"He grabbed me."

"I saw that. I also saw you verbally end his bloodline."

Allison turned, leaning back against the dresser.

"He needed to hear it."

Simone crossed her arms. "No, he needed to be arrested. You chose psychological warfare. I respect it."

A pause.

Then Simone stepped closer, her tone shifting just slightly.

"...are you okay?"

That question hit differently.

Not because Allison didn’t know the answer—

But because Simone actually meant it.

Allison held her gaze.

Then nodded.

"I’m not hurt," she said. "I’m just... done."

Simone studied her.

Then smirked.

"Oh, I can tell," she said. "You’ve got that look."

"What look?"

"The one that says you’re about to ruin someone’s life in a way that’s legally impressive."

That pulled a small smile from Allison.

"Good," Simone added. "Because if you weren’t, I’d be worried."

Allison walked toward the window, arms folding loosely.

"He thought I’d fold," she said quietly. "Like before."

Simone scoffed. "That man clearly doesn’t know who he married."

Allison’s expression hardened slightly.

"He never knew me."

A beat.

Then—

Simone tilted her head.

"...so," she said slowly, "we’re also not going to talk about the fact that you’re living with him now?"

Allison didn’t turn.

"I’m not living with him."

"You’re in his house. That’s living-adjacent."

"He offered help."

"And you accepted."

A pause.

Simone’s smile turned knowing.

"...and?"

Allison sighed.

"Simone—"

"Nope. Don’t Simone me. Is he dangerous or hot?"

Allison turned.

"...both."

Simone clutched her chest. "Oh, we’re in trouble."

⸻

Downstairs

The moment Allison disappeared upstairs—

The temperature in the room dropped.

Lucian didn’t sit.

Didn’t relax.

He just stood there, hands in his pockets, gaze fixed on Theo like he was calculating something very specific.

Theo leaned back in his chair.

Casual.

Too casual.

"You’re staring," Theo said.

Lucian didn’t respond.

"Should I be flattered?" Theo added.

"That depends," Lucian said calmly, "on how honest you plan to be."

Theo smiled faintly. "About?"

"You."

A beat.

Elias leaned back, already entertained.

"Oh, this is my favorite part."

Theo glanced at him. "You’re enjoying this too much."

"Always."

Lucian stepped forward.

Slow.

Measured.

"You knew who she was before today."

Not a question.

A statement.

Theo didn’t answer immediately.

That was answer enough.

Lucian’s jaw tightened slightly.

"How long?"

Theo tilted his head.

"Why does that matter?" ℯℯ𝑙.

"It matters because you’re here now."

"And?"

"And you don’t insert yourself into things you don’t already understand."

Theo’s smile faded.

Not completely.

Just enough.

"You’re overestimating this," he said lightly.

"No," Lucian replied. "I’m not."

Silence stretched.

Then—

Theo exhaled softly, sitting forward now.

"I knew of her," he said.

Lucian’s eyes narrowed. "That’s not the same thing."

Theo’s gaze flicked briefly toward the stairs.

Then back.

"No," he admitted. "It’s not."

Elias let out a low whistle. "Oh, he’s serious."

Lucian didn’t look away.

"What do you want from her?"

There it was.

Direct.

Clean.

Theo didn’t even hesitate.

"...I haven’t decided yet."

Wrong answer.

Lucian’s expression went cold.

"Decide carefully," he said quietly.

Theo held his gaze.

Unmoved.

"I always do."

⸻

Lucian turned away first.

Not because he was done—

But because he had something else to handle.

He pulled out his phone.

Dialed.

The line picked up on the second ring.

"Adrian."

⸻

Adrian Croft

Adrian Croft did not like surprises.

He tolerated them.

Managed them.

Destroyed them when necessary.

But he did not like them.

So when Lucian’s name lit up his phone—

Adrian answered immediately.

"Lucian."

"Anthony approached Allison today."

Silence.

Not confusion.

Not hesitation.

Silence that sharpened.

"...explain."

Lucian’s voice didn’t change.

"He grabbed her in public. Tried to force a conversation."

That was it.

That was all it took.

Something cold settled behind Adrian’s eyes.

"Is she hurt?"

"No."

A pause.

Then—

"She handled it."

That almost made Adrian smile.

Almost.

"Of course she did," he said.

But beneath that—

Fury.

Controlled.

Precise.

Building.

"He touched her," Adrian said, more to himself than anyone else.

Lucian didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t soften it.

Because he understood exactly what that meant.

Adrian stood slowly, adjusting his cufflinks.

"Where is he now?"

Lucian’s tone remained even. "Still in the city. Reputation unstable."

Adrian let out a quiet breath.

Not calming.

Centering.

"Good," he said.

A pause.

Then—

"I gave them a chance to walk away clean."

That was the warning.

The line.

Anthony had crossed it.

"I assume you’ll handle your side," Adrian continued.

Lucian’s eyes flicked briefly toward the stairs.

"Yes."

"Good."

Adrian’s voice dropped slightly.

Cold.

Final.

"Because I don’t repeat myself when it comes to my daughter."

A beat.

Then—

"I dare a man to put his hands on her again while I’m breathing."

The line went quiet.

Lucian didn’t respond immediately.

Didn’t need to.

Because they both understood what came next.

Adrian ended the call.

⸻

Adrian — Continued

The moment the line disconnected—

Adrian moved.

"Get me everything on Morrison," he said, already walking. "Financials. Investors. Any leverage we haven’t used."

A voice responded immediately from the other end.

"Yes, sir."

"And find out who’s still backing him after last night."

"Understood."

Adrian stopped near the window, overlooking the city.

His reflection stared back at him.

Calm.

Controlled.

Dangerous.

"They thought she was alone," he said quietly.

Behind him, another voice spoke—

Susanna.

"She never was."

Adrian’s jaw tightened slightly.

"No," he agreed. "But now they’re going to feel it."

He turned.

Decisive.

"Prepare the jet," he said. "We’re not waiting."

Susanna raised a brow. "You’re going back?"

Adrian’s expression didn’t change.

"They touched my daughter."

That was it.

That was the answer.

⸻

Back Upstairs

Allison sat on the edge of the bed as Simone continued talking—

But something in her chest shifted.

Subtle.

Unexplainable.

Like the calm before something bigger.

Simone paused mid-sentence.

"...why do I feel like someone’s about to get destroyed again?"

Allison looked up slowly.

"...because they are."