CHAPTER 374: THE NOT-SO-GREAT RESCUE OPERATION

The moment shattered like glass.

It began with a bang—an actual bang—followed by shouts echoing through the grand hall.

I turned toward the noise, heart leaping to my throat just as a group of black-clad men stormed through the massive double doors.

"What in the—?"

Before I could finish, they were already moving fast—tactical, efficient, armed with nothing but fury and strict orders. And at their lead?

"REN?! RAY?!"

My two brothers appeared like thunder—Ren in his signature leather jacket, jaw clenched, eyes blazing; Ray just behind him, sleeves rolled up like he was about to repaint the walls with someone’s face.

"Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me," I muttered, just as Ren barked—

"ON THE GROUND! NOW!"

Lyander didn’t even blink. He raised a brow with mild amusement, one hand lazily in his coat pocket, the other holding a coffee cup.

"Seriously?" he asked, completely unimpressed. "What is this, a family intervention or a B-grade action movie?"

Ray lunged first.

"BE GLAD YOU’RE A DE SANTIS!" he yelled, grabbing Lyander by the collar. "OR YOU’D BE DEAD FOR KIDNAPPING OUR SISTER!"

"I didn’t—ow, hey! Let go of the jacket—this is tailored!" Lyander grimaced as Ren joined in, both brothers practically wrestling him on the ground in their shared wrath.

"Ren! Ray! STOP!" I shouted, jumping between them before someone got drop-kicked into the fireplace. "What in the world are you two doing here?!"

"Uh, rescuing you?" Ray snapped, still holding a fistful of Lyander’s coat.

Ren pointed dramatically. "He abducted you! You vanished off the radar, Iraya! No calls, no signal, no texts—just poof! And then we find out you boarded a plane with this—this—Italian tuxedo-wearing Casanova!"

"Casanova?" Lyander echoed, offended. "That’s . . . actually not the worst thing I’ve been called."

"SHUT UP!" both brothers snapped in unison.

I sighed and ran a hand down my face. "Okay, listen, just . . . calm down, alright? Let him go."

"He kidnapped you!" Ren shouted.

"Did not," Lyander said.

"DID TOO!" Ray bellowed.

I raised my hands. "Can everyone just—stop! Freeze! Timeout!"

They all looked at me. Even the security team seemed frozen mid-apprehension.

I turned to Lyander slowly. He looked roughed up, collar wrinkled, hair a little tousled—but of course, somehow still annoyingly handsome. He gave me a lazy smirk.

"You tell them, babe."

My jaw dropped. "Excuse me?!"

"We’re on a date," Lyander said simply, unaware that he was still on the ground.

Ray dropped his hands. "A what?!"

Ren blinked like he’d just suffered whiplash. "Is that true?"

I stared at Lyander, barely suppressing the urge to hurl a throw pillow at his head. A date?!

He winked.

I turned back to my brothers and shrugged with exaggerated uncertainty. "Hmm . . . I don’t know. You did kind of kidnap me, didn’t you?"

The smile on his face disappeared. "Hoi, Iraya—"

"Oh hush," I said sweetly, before shooting him a death glare behind my smile. "Let’s just say it’s complicated."

Ray looked between us, flabbergasted. "Are we seriously witnessing a hostage defending her kidnapper right now?!"

"She’s not a hostage," Lyander said, rubbing his jaw. "She’s being romanced, thank you very much."

"Romanced?! You dragged her to the mountains with no signal!" Ren shouted.

"Exactly," I deadpanned. "A plush estate in the middle of nowhere with no cell service. Every girl’s dream."

Lyander gave me a side glance. "You were having fun."

"That’s beside the point!" Ray turned to me. "Iraya. You’re coming home. Now."

I crossed my arms. "No."

Their jaws dropped in sync.

Ren narrowed his eyes. "You mean to tell me . . . you’re staying with him?"

I hesitated.

The past days flashed through my mind—the snow, the skating, the late-night talks, the kisses that turned into something more. I thought about how I forgot to feel angry or scared. About how I forgot to leave.

"I mean . . . yes?" I offered weakly.

Ray made a noise like he was about to explode. "WHAT KIND OF STOCKHOLM SYNDROME FANTASY IS THIS?!"

Lyander grinned, smug as ever. "I’m charming. It’s a curse."

Ren looked at me with a mix of disbelief and betrayal. "You’re telling us this man—who took you, locked you in some frozen mansion, fed you expensive soup and designer coats—is your boyfriend now?!"

"I never said boyfriend," I corrected quickly. "Let’s not label things we haven’t even defined yet—"

"She said she loves me," Lyander added unhelpfully.

"I DID NOT—"

"She did. After, you know—" he made a vague gesture.

Both brothers gagged.

"WE’RE LEAVING!" Ray barked.

I stepped in front of them again. "No. I’m staying."

Ren looked wounded. "You’d choose him over us?"

I exhaled slowly. "No. I’m choosing me. For once. And right now, I want to figure out what this is . . . whatever it is." I glanced at Lyander, who, for once, looked serious.

"I’ll take care of her," he said quietly. "You have my word."

Ray squinted. "Your word means nothing to me unless it comes with handcuffs and a GPS tracker."

"Wouldn’t be the first time," Lyander muttered.

I elbowed him in the ribs. "NOT. HELPING."

Ren sighed, defeated. "Fine. But we’re not leaving you here. We’ll be staying here too. And if I so much as get a whiff of crying or emotional damage, I’m bringing the helicopter."

"You have a helicopter, too?" Lyander asked, genuinely impressed.

"We have plenty," Ray snapped.

Lyander looked at me with that infuriatingly smug grin. "Looks like you’re not just some regular woman after all."

"Of course not," Ren cut in, glaring at me like I was the problem. "She’s the only woman in our family."

Ray stepped forward, arms crossed like he was ready to go full bodyguard mode. "And in case you didn’t know, we’ve got ties with the Johnsons and the Fays. So if you ever make our sister cry—think twice. Then think a third time. Then run."

Lyander raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, but wisely said nothing.

Ren turned back to me and took my hand, his expression softening into something more brotherly. "Sister . . . out of all the men out there . . . why him? Are you seriously going out with this guy?"