The penthouse felt too quiet after Darius left.
Lily stood near the door for a long moment, staring at it as if he might suddenly return. But the hallway outside remained silent.
She sighed softly and locked the door like he told her to.
"Don't open it for anyone except my guards."
His words echoed in her mind.
Lily walked slowly back into the living room. The huge penthouse suddenly felt far too big for just one person.
She tried to distract herself by turning on the television, but she wasn't really watching it. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Darius.
Where was he going?
What kind of dangerous business did he deal with every night?
And why did it feel like something terrible was about to happen?
After a while, Lily gave up on the television and walked toward the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of water, hoping it would calm her nerves.
But just as she lifted the glass to her lips—
Knock.
The sound froze her in place.
Someone was at the door.
Her heart immediately started beating faster.
Darius's warning flashed in her mind.
She slowly walked toward the door.
"Who is it?" she asked cautiously.
A deep voice answered from the other side.
"Security, ma'am."
Lily frowned.
She had never heard that voice before.
"Which one?" she asked.
There was a brief pause.
Then the voice replied again.
"Mr. Romano asked us to check on you."
Something about it didn't feel right.
Lily stepped closer to the door but didn't unlock it.
"I'm fine," she said.
"You can go."
Another pause.
Then the voice spoke again, slightly more impatient.
"Please open the door so we can confirm."
Lily's grip tightened on the handle.
"No."
The silence on the other side suddenly became heavy.
Then another voice whispered something she couldn't hear clearly.
Lily's stomach dropped.
Something was very wrong.
She stepped away from the door immediately.
Just then—
BANG!
The door shook violently as something slammed against it.
Lily gasped and stumbled backward.
Another loud crash followed.
BANG!
"They're breaking the door!" she whispered in panic.
Her heart raced as fear flooded her body.
Darius's enemies.
They had found her.
Lily looked around desperately for somewhere to hide, but the penthouse was too open.
Another heavy slam hit the door.
The lock wouldn't hold for long.
Her hands trembled as she pulled out her phone.
She quickly dialed the only number she knew.
Darius.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
Then he answered.
"What is it?" his calm voice said.
"Darius—" Lily's voice shook.
"They're here."
Silence filled the line for half a second.
"Who?"
"Men at the door. They're trying to break in."
On the other side of the call, Darius's tone changed instantly.
"Listen to me carefully," he said sharply.
"Go to my bedroom."
Lily ran toward the hallway.
"Hurry," he continued.
"There's a hidden panic room behind the closet."
She pushed open the bedroom door.
"Inside the closet," he said. "Press the panel on the right wall."
Another loud crash echoed through the penthouse.
The door in the living room finally broke open.
Lily heard footsteps.
Male voices.
"They're inside!" she whispered.
"Move faster," Darius ordered.
Lily ran into the closet and felt along the wall desperately.
Then her fingers found a small metal panel.
She pressed it.
A section of the wall slid open silently.
A hidden room.
Lily rushed inside just as footsteps approached the bedroom.
The door closed behind her automatically.
She leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.
On the phone, Darius's voice was dangerously calm.
"Stay there."
"What about you?"
"I'm coming."
The line went dead.
Across the city, Darius Romano's car screeched to a stop.
His men sitting in the front seats looked nervous.
"Boss?" one of them asked.
Darius's eyes were colder than ice.
"Turn the car around."
"But the meeting—"
"It's over."
The driver immediately obeyed.
The black car sped through the streets like a bullet.
Darius pulled out his phone and called another number.
"Marco."
"Yes, boss?"
"Get every man we have to the penthouse."
"What's wrong?"
"They touched her."
There was a dangerous silence.
Then Marco said quietly,
"I understand."
Darius ended the call.
His jaw tightened.
Someone had just made the worst mistake of their life.
Back in the penthouse, the intruders searched the rooms.
Lily could hear them through the walls of the hidden room.
"Where is she?" one man growled.
"She was here," another voice said.
"Search everywhere."
Lily covered her mouth to keep herself from making a sound.
Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure they could hear it.
The bedroom door opened.
Footsteps entered the room.
"She's not here!"
"She has to be," the leader said.
"Romano keeps her here."
Another man kicked something across the room.
"Find her!"
Lily squeezed her eyes shut.
Please hurry, Darius.
Minutes felt like hours.
Then suddenly—
Gunshots exploded outside.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The men inside the penthouse cursed.
"What the hell?!"
"Romano's men!"
More gunshots echoed through the apartment.
Chaos erupted.
Lily's breathing became shallow as she listened.
Footsteps ran through the hallway.
Furniture crashed.
More shouting.
Then the front door burst open again.
But this time—
A voice filled the room like thunder.
"Where is she?"
Darius.
The apartment fell silent for a moment.
Then one of the intruders laughed nervously.
"Well… if it isn't the devil himself."
Lily's heart pounded harder.
Darius sounded furious.
"You came into my home," he said coldly.
"And thought you would walk out alive?"
A gunshot rang out.
Someone screamed.
Another shot followed.
More chaos.
Lily trembled in the hidden room as the sounds of the fight continued.
Then finally…
Silence.
Heavy footsteps approached the bedroom.
The closet door opened.
Lily held her breath.
A moment later, the hidden wall slid open.
Darius stood there.
His shirt was slightly torn, and there was blood on his knuckles.
But his eyes softened the moment he saw her.
"Lily."
Relief flooded her chest.
"You're okay," she whispered.
Darius stepped inside the hidden room.
"Did they touch you?"
"No."
His shoulders relaxed slightly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Lily suddenly threw her arms around him.
Darius froze in surprise.
"I was so scared," she admitted quietly.
Slowly, he placed a hand on her back.
"They won't come near you again."
"But they knew where I was."
Darius's expression darkened again.
"Yes."
"And that means someone told them."
Lily pulled back slightly.
"You mean… there's a traitor?"
Darius nodded slowly.
"And when I find out who it is…"
His voice became dangerously calm.
"They'll wish they had never been born."
Lily looked up at him.
For the first time since meeting him, she fully understood something.
Darius Romano was not just dangerous.
He was ruthless.
And anyone who threatened the woman under his protection…
Would pay the ultimate price.