The rain had started coming down harder by the time Lily—Sea's best friend and self-appointed protector—arrived at the club. She had heard the rumors, the whispers about Sea's disappearance, and after getting one too many half-hearted texts from her, Lily had decided to take matters into her own hands. She knew Sea had been avoiding Bright, but when the messages stopped coming altogether, Lily didn't hesitate. Her friend wasn't going to get lost in whatever twisted game the mafia king was playing with her.
Lily wasn't scared of Bright, not at all. In fact, the idea of standing up to him kind of amused her. She'd known Sea's temper and her need to be independent for years, but this whole thing with Bright was something different—something that had made Sea change, and Lily wasn't going to sit by and let it happen without finding out what was going on.
As she made her way into the club, she could feel the pulsating beats of the music vibrating through the floor, the flashing lights making her eyes squint as she scanned the crowd. No sign of Sea, yet. So, she pushed through the crowd with purpose, confident in her mission.
It didn't take long for her to spot him—Bright's hulking figure looming in the distance, standing tall with that cold, intimidating presence that made everyone else take a step back. She knew he was trouble. But she wasn't intimidated. Not even a little.
The only thing standing between her and the man she was about to confront was one of his loyal bodyguards, a tall guy in a black suit who looked like he belonged more in a prison yard than a nightclub. He was glaring at her, sizing her up, and Lily, ever the confident force of nature, couldn't help but smirk.
"I'm looking for Sea," Lily said, not bothering with pleasantries. "And you're in my way."
The bodyguard didn't even blink, his arms crossed over his chest. "I don't think you want to do that."
Lily raised an eyebrow, her hands going to her hips. "Really? And why is that? You think I'm scared of you?"
The bodyguard stepped forward, his movements slow and deliberate, as though he were used to dealing with people who backed down at the slightest hint of intimidation. "This is mafia business. You don't get to barge in here and start asking questions."
Lily tilted her head, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips. "Mafia business, huh?" She stepped closer to him, tapping her chin in mock thought. "I'll tell you what—I'm in the mood for a little *fun*. You up for it, big guy?"
The bodyguard's face twitched slightly, but he didn't move, his stance still tense. "You think you're funny?"
Lily didn't answer right away. Instead, she took another step forward, closing the gap between them. "I don't *think* I'm funny," she said sweetly, "I know I am."
And with that, she planted a quick, hard kick to his shin, the sound of his grunt echoing in the dim lighting. The bodyguard faltered, more surprised than anything, and Lily took advantage of his momentary distraction to throw a punch straight to his stomach.
He stumbled back, and for the first time, a flicker of respect—or maybe disbelief—appeared in his eyes. "You're crazy," he muttered, clearly not expecting this kind of resistance from a woman.
Lily rolled her shoulders, grinning like she had just found the best new game. "I told you. I'm not scared of you."
The bodyguard's face hardened, and before he could react, Lily raised her hand, pointing to the side. "Wait, I think I hear someone calling you. Couldn't be Bright, could it?" she teased, mischief dancing in her eyes.
The man's gaze flicked away for the briefest moment, and that was all Lily needed. She stepped forward, her foot shooting out and tripping him up, sending him sprawling to the floor with a satisfying thud.
"Oh my god, I *didn't* think you were *that* slow," Lily mocked, standing over him triumphantly. "Do you want me to help you up? Or would you prefer to stay down and get a nice nap?"
The bodyguard groaned, glaring up at her, but before he could respond, Lily heard the sound of footsteps approaching. She turned to see Bright walking toward them with that calm, collected stride that always made her feel like she was the one with the target on her back. She smirked at him, folding her arms as she looked him up and down.
"Bright," she greeted, like she was meeting an old friend. "I have to say, your bodyguard is not as tough as he looks. Or maybe it's just me being *really* good at this."
Bright didn't look surprised, though he did glance down at his fallen bodyguard, who was now struggling to stand up, his face a mixture of annoyance and respect. He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Lily, right? I've heard about you."
Lily grinned, shrugging nonchalantly. "And I've heard about you. Though I expected someone a little more... *intimidating*."
Bright's lips quirked up at the corners. "Funny, I'm usually the one who's making people feel small. But I have to say, you've surprised me. I didn't think anyone could make Max look like a fool."
Lily smirked, giving Max a pointed look as he finally managed to straighten up, rubbing his bruised stomach. "Well, it's a gift," she said, winking. "Not everyone can get up close and personal with *giants* and make them feel like the size of ants."
Bright's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, intrigued by her boldness. "I didn't realize Sea had such a... *colorful* friend."
"Don't get any ideas," Lily shot back, taking a step closer to him. "I'm here for her. Not to entertain you."
Bright chuckled lowly, his demeanor unshaken. "Fair enough. But Sea isn't here. And I'm not sure you're going to get through me, no matter how *fun* you're making it look."
Lily tilted her head, sizing him up with a grin. "I'm not here to fight you, Bright. I'm here to make sure Sea doesn't end up lost in your twisted games. She's not your property, and you can't control her."
There was a brief, pregnant silence between them, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Bright's eyes flickered with something, a mix of irritation and amusement, but he didn't respond immediately. Instead, he just stared at her, taking in her boldness, her spirit.
"You're a lot like her," Bright said, his voice quiet but with a dangerous edge.
Lily raised an eyebrow. "I'm *nothing* like Sea. But I sure as hell know how to make people listen."
Bright smirked. "I'll give you that. But you'll have to do more than that if you want to keep her away from me."
Lily leaned in, her tone playful yet deadly serious. "Trust me, Bright. You don't want to mess with me. But if you want to keep her, you might want to rethink your approach."
Bright's smile widened, but there was a flicker of something darker behind his eyes. "We'll see about that."
Lily's grin didn't falter as she turned to leave, but she couldn't resist tossing one last playful jab over her shoulder. "Oh, and Bright?"
He raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Next time, maybe don't hire *clowns* for security."
With that, Lily strutted off, leaving Bright to contemplate the challenge she had just thrown his way. Max, still recovering from the unexpected fight, shot a glare at his boss, but Bright's smirk only grew wider.
"I think she'll be trouble," Max muttered, wincing as he rubbed his side.
"You have no idea," Bright replied, a spark of amusement flickering in his eyes.