The docks were eerily quiet after the fight. Benjamin stood over Lucien's unconscious form, his chest heaving, fists still clenched. His body bore the marks of the battle—bruises forming on his knuckles and cuts stinging from the salt-laden air. But none of it mattered. For the moment, he'd silenced his enemy.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking the silence. Fishing it out with one hand, he glanced at the screen. Clara's name flashed across it, the sight both a comfort and a weight. He debated answering, knowing his voice would betray the turmoil of the night.
But it was Clara. He answered.
"Benjamin?" Her voice was soft, yet laced with worry. "Are you okay? It's late, and I hadn't heard from you."
"I'm fine," he said, his tone controlled. "Just handling some work."
There was a pause on her end. "Work?" she repeated, her skepticism evident. "You sound... off. Are you hurt?"
Benjamin closed his eyes briefly, willing the tension out of his voice. "I'm fine, Clara. Go to bed. I'll be home soon."
She didn't push further, but her silence spoke volumes. Benjamin ended the call with a sigh, slipping the phone back into his pocket. He glanced down at Lucien, his mind already racing with thoughts of what the man's cryptic words could mean.
---
Minutes later, Benjamin's enforcers arrived, their expressions grim as they took in the scene. One of them, Marcus, stepped forward.
"What do you want us to do with him?" Marcus asked, gesturing to Lucien.
"Take him to the warehouse," Benjamin ordered. His voice was cold, devoid of the softness reserved for Clara. "Keep him locked up and under constant watch. I'll deal with him later."
Marcus nodded, signaling for the others to lift Lucien's unconscious body. Benjamin turned away, heading toward his car. His mind replayed Lucien's taunts, each word carrying the weight of an unknown threat. He couldn't ignore it, not when Clara's safety might be at stake.
---
When Benjamin finally arrived home, the clock had edged past midnight. The mansion was quiet, its grand hallways dimly lit. As he stepped inside, the faint aroma of lavender reached him—a scent that always reminded him of Clara.
He found her in the living room, curled up on the couch with a blanket draped over her. Her eyes fluttered open as he approached, her face lighting up with a mixture of relief and concern.
"You're back," she murmured, sitting up.
"I told you not to wait up," he said, his voice softer than before.
She studied him, her gaze lingering on the cut above his eyebrow and the bruise forming on his jaw. "You're hurt."
"It's nothing," he assured her, but she was already reaching for the first-aid kit she'd kept nearby.
"Sit," she said firmly, pulling him down onto the couch.
Benjamin didn't argue, watching as Clara tended to his wounds. Her hands were gentle, her touch soothing despite the sting of antiseptic. He couldn't help but admire her—her quiet strength, her unwavering care for him even when he didn't deserve it.
"You don't have to do this," he said quietly.
She glanced at him, her expression softening. "You'd do the same for me."
---
For a while, they sat in silence, the tension of the night easing in her presence. Benjamin reached out, his hand covering hers as she worked.
"Thank you," he said, his voice low but sincere.
Clara met his gaze, her eyes searching his. "Benjamin... what's going on? You've been distant lately, and now this." She gestured to his injuries. "I know you're trying to protect me, but I can handle the truth."
He hesitated, torn between his instinct to shield her and the growing weight of his secrets. "There are things I can't tell you yet," he admitted. "Not because I don't trust you, but because I need to make sure you're safe."
Clara frowned, but she didn't press further. "Just promise me you'll be careful," she said softly. "I can't lose you."
"You won't," Benjamin said firmly. "I promise."
---
As Clara leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder, Benjamin allowed himself a rare moment of vulnerability. He wrapped an arm around her, holding her close.
But his mind was far from at ease. Lucien's words haunted him, and he knew this was just the beginning. Whoever was behind Lucien, whatever plans were in motion, they wouldn't stop until everything Benjamin held dear was destroyed.
His grip on Clara tightened slightly, as if to reassure himself that she was still here, still safe.
For now.
---