Motorbikes.Big ones.
A group of them by Luca’s count, the distinctive growl rolling up the drive in a way that spoke of weight and power and most definitely implied speed.The windows vibrated faintly.Somewhere outside, gravel shifted under thick tires.
Kol’s head snapped up.“How the hell did they get through security?”
Luca was already moving, eyes going to the monitors.No alarms.No breaches.No forced entries.
He looked at Elias.
Elias smiled.
“I gave them nothing,” Elias said calmly.
Luca frowned.“I’m the only one with the access key.”
“You still are,” Elias replied.“There are no holes in your system.”
“That doesn’t explain—”
“They’re just very good at getting into places people do not want them to be,” Elias said mildly.
The engines cut.
Silence followed, thick and expectant.
Then the door opened.
Three men walked in.
They were bikers, and despite them not wearing any colors, there was no mistaking these men were together, bonded.They were all big men.Scarred.Bearded.Built thick through the shoulders and chest, the kind of muscle earned through years of hard use rather than mirrors.Their jackets were plain black, unmarked, heavy leather creased with wear.No patches.No insignia.
But they moved together.
The man in the center walked a pace ahead of the other two, the space parting around him without effort, and he held that same sense of authority as Elias.He was broad, taller than Luca by a fraction, his presence dense enough to bend attention.His eyes were sharp and assessing, missing nothing.
“Kaiser,” Elias said.
No introductions followed.
The other two remained silent, their gazes scanning the room, their stances loose but ready.They were a unit.Whatever they were, they were together.
Elias turned slightly.“This is Mara.”
Kaiser’s attention shifted to her, not lingering, not intrusive.
“We’ll protect you tonight,” Kaiser said.His voice was rough, worn smooth by sin and whiskey.“You have my word.”
Luca stepped forward.
The room tightened instantly.The two men flanking Kaiser shifted, hands flexing, weight coming forward.
Kaiser raised one hand.
They stilled.
He looked at Luca then, eyes level, measuring.Luca met his gaze without blinking, taking in the scars, the calm, the absence of bravado.This was a man who didn’t promise lightly.
Kaiser nodded once.“We’ll keep her safe.There are eight of us, and no one will get near her.”
