Chapter Eighteen

Sophia stiffens, her gaze following Lucas's. She had not  noticed anything unusual, but she trusts his instincts. She can feel the atmosphere in the room shift, becoming heavier. Jeff, oblivious to the change, is still focused on himself.

"Shadow, relax. No one's stupid enough to mess with Matteo's son. Besides, we are in one of the safest places in the city." Jeff boastfully mumbled full of confidence.

Lucas's jaw tightens, but he says nothing. His eyes flick to Sophia, catching her gaze once again. There's a silent understanding between them, a wordless exchange of tension and unease. Sophia's pulse quickens as she realizes how much more she trusts him than the arrogant man sitting in front of her.

Suddenly, a loud crash comes from the front of the restaurant. The doors fly open, and a group of men in dark clothing rushes in, their eyes wild with aggression. One of them pulls out a weapon, his gaze fixed on Jeff.

The thug Leader blurted out "This is payback for what your father did!

Panic erupts in the restaurant, but Lucas is already moving. He steps in front of Sophia and Jeff, his body blocking them as he draws his gun with practiced speed. His voice is calm, authoritative. 

"Get down." Lucas shouted in a commanding voice. 

Sophia's heart races as she ducks behind the table, her eyes wide with fear and adrenaline. Jeff, startled, stumbles backward, his defiance attitude gone in an instant.

"What the hell is going on?" Jeff blurted out with a panick voice.

Lucas doesn't respond. He fires a warning shot into the air, his eyes never leaving the thugs as they charge forward. The sound echoes through the restaurant, silencing the chaos for a brief moment.

Lucas shouting to the thugs "Back off. You don't want this fight! We all know how it ends!" 

The thug leader furiously lashed out. "Hey Shadow, how about you Walk away unharmed. And let us give the old man a pay back. Because if you asked me, I will say you'll loose these fight."

"I think you just ran out of time. Now I run the show." Shadow blurted, flying towards them.

 One of them lunges forward, and Lucas meets him head on, disarming him with a swift, brutal motion. Before engaging the other two, bringing them down. The rest of the gang hesitates, unsure whether to continue or flee. Sophia watches, breathless, as Lucas moves with deadly precision, his focus razor sharp. He's not just a bodyguard; he's a force of nature.

As the fight intensifies, Sophia's eyes remain locked on Lucas. Watching every movement he makes, every calculated strike it's like watching a storm unfold. And in the midst of the chaos, she feels something she hasn't felt in a long time 'safety'. 

The restaurant is quiet now. The thugs have been subdued, their weapons confiscated, and they lie groaning on the floor. Jeff is visibly shaken, his usual arrogance completely shattered as he clutches his jacket, his face pale. 

Sophia remains crouched behind the table, her heart pounding in her chest. Lucas stands tall, his gun still in hand, his eyes scanning the room for any remaining threats.

Jeff voice trembling "That.. that was insane! What the hell just happened?" 

Lucas slides his gun back into its holster, his expression unreadable. 

He calmly intoned. "Rival gang. They were looking for payback against your father. You're lucky we were prepared."

Sophia rises slowly from her hiding spot, her legs shaky but her gaze fixed on Lucas. There's something different in the way she looks at him now something deeper, more complicated. He saved her again, and this time, it wasn't just physical. It was the way he stood between her and the danger without hesitation. 

Sophia smirked with cold voice, her eyes never leaving Lucas "You saved us."

Lucas turns to her, his expression softening just for a moment. Their eyes meet, and the connection between them deepens. It's not just gratitude that fills Sophia now; it's something more, something she can't quite name.

Lucas quietly says. "It's my job to keep you save." 

Sophia takes a step closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "No, it's more than that. Isn't it?" 

Before Lucas can respond, Jeff cuts him off with his voice raised, his anger rising in frustration. "You should have handled that sooner, Shadow! What kind of bodyguard lets it get this far!

Lucas's face hardens, his patience with Jeff's arrogance wearing thin. He remains silent, his focus still on Sophia, who seems to be the only one not panicking in the aftermath.

Lucas firmly addressing Jeff without breaking eye contact with Sophia "The threat was neutralized. You're safe. That's all that matters."

Jeff opens his mouth to retort but catches the look in Lucas's eyes. Something about the quiet strength in Lucas's demeanor silences him, and he grudgingly lets the matter.