The city lights glowed faintly against the evening sky as Lucia Rossi stepped out of the hotel lobby, her heels clicking softly against the polished stone. Her breath hung in the cold air as she scanned the street, looking for her driver parked by the curb. Business dinners at the La Rosa Hotel were common for her father’s associates, but tonight she’d been there on her own, running a secret errand without her father's knowledge on behalf of the her company's growth.

Lucia was dressed impeccably, as always.She wore a flowing, knee-length black dress that hugged her waist and flared gently at the hips, the color accentuating her fair skin and chestnut hair. The fabric shimmered softly under the fading sunlight, and the neckline, adorned with delicate lace, gave her an elegant yet youthful appearance. Her long, chestnut hair cascaded in soft waves down her back, framing her heart-shaped face and drawing attention to her bright green eyes, which sparkled.

Lucia pulled her coat tighter as she descended the steps, catching sight of their family’s sleek black car. Her driver, Marco, gave a polite nod from the car, but as Lucia took a step forward, her eyes caught the faintest flash of movement in the shadows near the stairwell. Before she could react, two men appeared, their faces concealed beneath dark caps.

“Miss Rossi,” one of them sneered, holding a glinting knife aimed directly at her.

The world seemed to move in slow motion. Lucia tried to step back, but the man lunged forward. Instinct took over, and she twisted just in time, feeling the sharp edge of the blade graze her arm instead of her chest. Pain shot through her, but she barely had time to process it as she stumbled backward, losing her balance on the steps.

Her body struck each stone step as she fell. She hit the bottom with a sickening thud, the impact jarring through her body. Pain exploded in her side, but her mind was foggy, unable to process the sensation. Darkness washed over her, and as she faded into unconsciousness, she thought she heard the frantic calls of people around her, the frantic footsteps echoing in her mind like a haunting

********

When Lucia finally awoke, the sterile smell of antiseptic filled her nostrils, and the bright white light of the hospital room hurt her eyes. The rhythmic beeping of machines filled the silence, grounding her in the moment. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision, but it remained foggy, shadows dancing along the edges of her consciousness. Her head pounded, and a dull ache radiated from her arm and ribs. She winced, trying to sit up.

Before she could gather her bearings, her father who was sitting in the couch rushed to her immediately. Giovanni Rossi’s face was a mixture of relief and fury, his eyes scanning her injuries as if silently assessing the damage.

“ Lucia, my love,” he said, his voice softer than she’d expected. He moved to her side, his strong hand resting on hers.

“I’m... I’m okay, Papà. This could have happened to anyone,” she managed, though her body protested with every movement. Her mind flashed back to the attack, the sound of the men’s footsteps and the cold gleam of the blade which had a weird design.

“ Whoever did this will pay,” Giovanni growled, anger simmering just below the surface. He took a steadying breath. “I’m assigning you fifteen bodyguards—effective immediately. You’re not to leave without them. If you hadn't gone out unprotected nothing like this would have happened.”

Lucia’s eyes widened. “Fifteen bodyguards? Papà, I don’t need an army.”

He shook his head, unmoved by her protest. “After what happened, you will not take chances. My enemies will have to go through all of them to reach you.”

As Lucia opened her mouth to argue, her father held up a hand, and for a moment, his hardened expression softened.

“Fine. Once you’re out of the hospital, we’ll revisit the number.,” he said. “But I won’t allow anyone to hurt you again, sweetheart. ”

Before she could respond, the door opened, and Sophia rushed in with Elena close behind. The two women exchanged a worried glance before Sophia hurried to Lucia’s side, clutching her hand with relief.

“Luci, are you alright?” Sophia asked, her voice thick with worry.

“I’m fine,” Lucia assured her, though she could see the fear in Sophia’s eyes. Elena gave her a small, comforting smile, her usual calm presence offering Lucia some comfort.

As Giovanni straightened to leave, his phone buzzed. His expression hardened as he glanced at the screen.

“I have to go,” he said, giving Lucia a parting look. “Something just came up sweetheart. I'm afraid I have to leave. Stay with her,” he instructed Sophia and Elena. “I’ll return when I can.”

He planted a kiss on her forehead as he gently rubbed her shoulder. He broke away and said softly while looking into her bright green eyes. " Be safe and get some rest. "

" Yes Papà. Better get going or else you'll be late. Don't worry ,I'll be fine ", Lucia spoke with a bright smile.

With a nod to each of them, he strode out, leaving Lucia with her friends. As the door closed behind him, she felt a strange sense of vulnerability, an unfamiliar feeling in her usually controlled life.

“What happened?” Elena asked gently, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I... I was attacked outside the hotel,” Lucia said, a shiver running through her. “It happened so fast. I didn’t even see their faces clearly. They just… came out of nowhere.”

Sophia’s face turned pale, her grip tightening. “This is exactly why you need protection, Luci. I think you should listen to your father on this. You really scared us. ”

Lucia sighed, her mind still reeling from the encounter. She had never felt so exposed, so defenceless. Perhaps her father was right—perhaps she would need all the protection she could get in the days to come.

She couldn’t shake the memory of the knife, the dark intentions in her attackers’ eyes. She was her father’s daughter, after all, and being a Rossi meant danger was always lurking nearby.