A Dance with Danger

Chapter Twenty-Three

>>Tiberius POV<<

Valencio stood silently beside me, his presence as unwavering as always, the subtle tension in his posture betraying his awareness of the storm that was brewing inside me.

My gaze swept over the guards, the ones who had been on night shift, scattered about the foyer like a bunch of errant children. They knew better than to meet my eyes, their heads slightly lowered, probably hoping the silence would be enough to hide their failure.

My fingers curled around the handle of the dagger, its weight familiar, comforting, as I absentmindedly twisted it between my fingers. The cold metal felt sharper tonight, almost like a reflection of the rage simmering beneath my calm exterior.

"I got news from my fiancée that she saw someone." My voice was low, measured, but every word carried an undeniable edge. I was pissed. No, I was furious. My guards had failed, and I couldn't stand the thought of what could've happened if I hadn't been there.

One of the guards shuffled nervously under my gaze. He had the audacity to fidget, his gaze darting toward the others for some sort of reassurance. I didn't wait for anyone to speak, because the moment I did, the entire room would feel the weight of my anger.

"My fiancée could have been hurt in the process," I continued, my voice hardening with each passing second. The words felt like fire on my tongue, a mixture of fury and a deep, biting disappointment. I took a slow step forward, and the room seemed to shrink in response.

Valencio's eyes were sharp, his attention entirely on me, though he was wise enough to remain silent. He knew what I needed without asking, standing like a sentinel by my side, anticipating my next move.

The guards exchanged uneasy glances, but none of them dared to speak, none of them dared to defy the weight of my silence. Then, finally, one of the younger ones-Amo, I believe his name was-gathered enough courage to open his mouth.

"D-Don we-"

Before he could finish the sentence, I let the dagger fly from my fingertips with a swift, practiced motion, burying the blade into his side. The sound of metal sinking into flesh was almost drowned by the horrific scream that followed. His body twisted in agony, and he crumpled to the ground in a heap of blood and shock.

The rest of the guards froze, their faces drained of color as they stared at their fallen comrade. I stood there, my breath steady, my chest rising and falling with a calmness that contrasted with the chaos my actions had just caused. But inside, the storm had only intensified.

"Someone came onto my property!" I shouted, my voice ringing through the marble foyer, echoing off the high ceilings. I took a step toward the remaining guards, my presence closing in like a predator on the hunt. "Do you understand what that means?"

The remaining guards trembled, unable to find their voice as their eyes flicked between each other, the realization dawning on them just how dire the situation was. None of them dared move, none of them even looked at the body of their fallen comrade.

"I don't care about excuses, or if you thought you were doing your job!" I continued, my anger boiling over. "You're meant to protect what's mine, to protect her, and now-now someone breached the damn perimeter!" I growled, fists clenched at my sides, a low simmering fury threatening to overtake my calm composure.

"I won't let this slide. My fiancée said she saw someone. That means someone was close enough to my house to make it inside, to put her in danger." The words left my mouth like poison, each syllable colder than the last. My eyes burned with a quiet rage as I looked at the remaining guards. "You failed. You failed her. And that's something I don't tolerate."

One of the older guards, one who had been with me for years, cleared his throat carefully. "Sir... we've checked the perimeter. There's no sign of anyone-"

"I don't care about what you've checked!" I snapped, my voice low and venomous. The guard took a step back, his face pale. "If I find out that you're lying to me, there will be consequences far worse than this."

I took another step forward, feeling the weight of my words, the weight of authority, crash over the remaining guards. They stood frozen, their faces betraying the fear they weren't allowed to show.

And yet, despite the power I held over them, there was something else, something darker that lingered in my chest. This wasn't just about a breach in security. This was about her. The thought of anything happening to her, of her being hurt, of her being alone in that mansion, terrified me in ways I couldn't fully explain. She was my responsibility, my future, and nothing-not even my guards-could take that from me.

I turned to Valencio, whose face was a mask of quiet understanding. He knew this wasn't just about discipline or punishment. There was a deeper, more personal stake in this. "Valencio," I murmured, my voice steady again, "I want a full sweep of the entire property. Get everyone out there. If there's someone still here, I want them found. Now."

"Understood," Valencio responded, his eyes narrowing. He knew the importance of the situation. There was no room for failure.

I turned my attention back to the guards, and my voice became even colder. "You'll be on high alert from now on. No more mistakes. If anyone steps foot on my property again, I want them found before they can even think about getting close to the house. Are we clear?"

The remaining guards nodded quickly, fear evident in their eyes. I took one last look at Don's lifeless body on the floor, then turned on my heel, signaling to Valencio to follow.

But just before I stepped out of the foyer, I paused and turned my gaze back to the room. "And if anyone else breaches my walls... they won't be so lucky," I said, my voice soft yet filled with lethal promise. With that, I walked away, knowing that my actions tonight had only just begun to set a darker, more dangerous course in motion.

Someone had dared to threaten what was mine, and they would regret it.