Rescued by Darkness

Nico's Watch

Nico

Nico stood alone on the balcony outside his room, the city lights casting a dim glow across the landscape as he lit a cigarette, letting the first drag settle his nerves. He'd spent the last few hours ensuring their primary warehouses were locked down, every guard and worker checked and rechecked. But no matter how secure the operations seemed, there was an uneasiness simmering within him. Since Luciana had come into their lives, things felt different—more vulnerable, yet somehow more purposeful.

He took another drag, eyes narrowing as he thought about the growing tension with the other families. While Lorenzo had faced similar threats before, the stakes were different now. The Russian families had always been dangerous, but this was the first time Nico had felt that they were being directly challenged. And he knew his father; Lorenzo wouldn't let this stand. The fight wasn't just about business anymore. This was about Luciana.

He could still remember the first time he saw her—so small and fragile, cradled in his father's massive arms like the precious treasure she was. And despite the whirlwind of emotions her arrival had caused, she'd wrapped every one of them around her little finger, especially Lorenzo.

Nico heard a sound from the hallway, interrupting his thoughts. He turned to see his brothers—Xander, Leo, and the twins, Mason and Cassio—each lingering outside his room, looking just as wound up as he felt. Nico took one last drag, flicked the cigarette into the night, and turned to face them.

"We're moving forward with everything we talked about last night," Nico said, his voice low but firm. "Dad's handling the Russians, but we've got our own work to do. No one's getting close to Luciana, you understand me?"

The twins exchanged a glance. Cassio, the more outspoken of the two, folded his arms. "She's the only sister we'll ever have. Anyone who thinks they can mess with her will answer to us."

Leo, usually the calmest among them, spoke up. "What about the mole? If we don't find him soon, everything we're doing could get compromised."

Nico nodded, his jaw tightening. "I've got leads. I think it's someone who's been close to us—someone who thinks we're too focused on the family to notice their movements. They're wrong." His eyes darkened. "I'll make sure they know the price of betrayal."

Xander stepped forward, his gaze fierce. "We can't let up. Dad's given us his trust, and we're not letting anyone come near her."

Nico glanced at his brothers, feeling the weight of the unspoken promise they all shared. Luciana wasn't just their sister; she was their responsibility. Their protectiveness ran as deep as the loyalty they held for their father. It was clear to Nico that each of them would go to any length to keep her safe.

"I'm headed to the west district tonight to oversee the handoff with the Ravello group," Nico continued. "Xander, you're with me. Leo, I want you and the twins to keep an eye on our transport routes. Make sure no one we don't know gets within a mile of our property."

The plan laid out, they nodded in agreement, though tension was still thick between them. It was a strange feeling, this protectiveness that had woven itself through each of them since Luciana's arrival. The brothers had always been close, but now it felt like a deeper, more primal bond, as if they'd been given a piece of their souls to defend.

Hours later, Nico was in the west district, watching the transfer unfold with Xander by his side. Everything had gone smoothly until now, and Nico was on edge. The calm before the storm was never a good sign, and his instincts were finely tuned, thanks to years of his father's training.

Just then, a figure approached—a young man, barely out of his teens, with a nervous glint in his eyes. Nico recognized him as one of the junior guards who'd joined a few months back. As he stepped closer, Nico's gaze sharpened, sensing something off.