Chapter 4

Ethan watched them, Sera' s attention solely on Liam. Liam was now complaining about a spilled drink on his expensive shoe, and Sera was dabbing at it with a napkin, her brow furrowed with concern. Ethan was just a few feet away, ignored, a ghost at their private party. His own leg throbbed from an old injury, a dull ache that seemed to mirror the one in his chest.

A group of aggressive socialites, friends of Liam, swaggered over, drawn by the simmering tension. "Hey, Liam, who's your moody friend?" one of them slurred, eyeing Ethan with disdain.

"That's just Ethan," Liam said with a dismissive wave. "Pay him no mind. He's having a bit of a moment."

The socialites surrounded Ethan, their comments becoming more pointed, more insulting. "Heard you got shown up at the auction, Hayes." "Still living in Liam's shadow, huh?"

Ethan stood his ground, his jaw tight. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction of a reaction.

Sera finally looked up, her eyes scanning the situation. She moved, not towards Ethan, but to Liam' s side. "Liam, perhaps we should go. This is getting unpleasant."

"Oh, I'm just getting started," one of the socialites sneered, shoving Ethan lightly.

Before Ethan could react, chaos erupted.

From a private area of the club, a deep, menacing bark echoed, followed by screams. A massive Cane Corso, the club owner's prized show dog, notorious for its aggression, had broken free from its handler. It charged into the crowded room, eyes wild, teeth bared.

Panic ensued. People scrambled, tables overturned.

Sera' s instincts kicked in. She grabbed Liam, shoving him hard towards a nearby exit. "Get out, Liam! Now!"

The dog, disoriented by the noise and lights, fixated on the nearest large movement. Ethan.

He saw it coming, a blur of muscle and fury. He tried to move, but he was too slow, his leg still aching. The Cane Corso lunged, its powerful jaws clamping down on his right leg.

Searing pain shot through him, white-hot and blinding. He cried out, falling to the ground, the dog shaking its head, tearing at his flesh. He could hear his own screams, distant and strange.

Through a haze of agony, he saw Sera. She had pushed Liam to safety behind a reinforced door. Now, she turned back. Her face was a mask of cold fury. She drew a sleek, silver pistol from a hidden holster under her gown.

The dog was still on him, growling, ripping. Ethan felt his consciousness start to fade.

The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was Sera, standing over him, the gun aimed not at the dog' s head, but towards its body, ensuring a kill shot that wouldn't endanger anyone else with a ricochet. She fired.

The sound was deafening. The dog yelped, its grip loosening.

Then, nothing. Only the pain, and the image of Sera, protecting Liam first, then dealing with the threat to Ethan almost as an afterthought, her weapon a cold, metallic extension of her loyalty to his brother.