HIS BODYGUARD~ CHAPTER 1- THE CONTRACT

The rain came down in silver ropes, drenching the marble courtyard of the D’Arcavo estate

Thunder split the air in shuddering cracks, echoing through the hills like cannon fire

The iron gates stood open, smeared with blood from the earlier ambush

Three blacked-out SUVs sat riddled with bullet holes, smoke still curling from their hoods

Inside the manor, the atmosphere was even heavier than the storm

Lucien D’Arcavo stood in the hallway outside his office, wiping blood from his hands with a white silk handkerchief now ruined with red. He was in no mood for elegance tonight

Two of his most trusted men had died in the courtyard less than an hour ago. And the killers had vanished like ghosts

Daniel King (ML's Right Hand)

(Standing beside him) You lost control (Murmurs)

Daniel King (ML's Right Hand)

It won't look good to the other families

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Eyes cold) Then we make them forget (Walks in his office)

The room smelled of gunpowder and whiskey. A large map of the city was pinned to the wall, marked with red lines, pins, and circles—territories he controlled, and those he planned to consume

He poured a drink with a steady hand. The moment he swallowed, the door creaked open again.

Daniel King (ML's Right Hand)

(Walks inside with a figure behind him)

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Glances up lazily with the glass in his hand)

Black combat boots. Matte-black pants, weatherproof. Leather jacket zipped to the collar. Her hair tied back in a severe braid. No jewelry. No emotion

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Stares at her calmly yet with a mysterious cold aura)

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

[Her eyes....] (Frowns slightly)

Daniel King (ML's Right Hand)

(Clears his throat) Lucien. Rhea Virelis. The one you requested

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Arches a brow) This is Iron Vow? The infamous ex-Ghost?

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Steps closer, slowly circling her) You’re not what I expected

She said nothing, just kept quiet

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

Most bodyguards flinch, when I get close

Rhea Virelis (FL)

(Voice low and calm) Then you’ve had bad ones

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Smirks) But you’re small. And I don’t see a weapon

In a blink he felt the air shift, he didn't even see her move

His wrist twisted behind his back. The drink slipped from his fingers and shattered on the floor

Before he could react, she shoved him face-first against the wall with effortless strength

Rhea Virelis (FL)

(Mouth near his ear) I don’t need to carry weapons. I am one

Lucien stood frozen. Not in fear. In awe.

She let go. He turned slowly, rubbing his wrist. A bruise was already forming

Daniel King (ML's Right Hand)

(Tries not to smirk) Her terms are non-negotiable.

Daniel King (ML's Right Hand)

No surveillance. No questions about her past.

Daniel King (ML's Right Hand)

She picks her missions. You let her walk when she says she’s done

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Gaze lingers on her then he chuckles)

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

Fine. I respect a woman with boundaries

Rhea Virelis (FL)

(Tone cold) Don’t confuse boundaries for mercy

Rhea Virelis (FL)

I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to keep you alive—until I don’t have to

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

And if I decide I don’t need a guard? (Hands in his pocket)

Rhea Virelis (FL)

You hired me because you’ve run out of lives to lose

Silence

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Gives a small, an amused smile) You’re arrogant

Rhea Virelis (FL)

No, I’m undefeated

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

That night, the estate was silent. Guards rotated every ten minutes, floodlights cutting through the storm

Lucien sat in the war room, staring at the monitors

A dozen camera feeds blinked back at him, but his eyes tracked only one

Rhea

She was outside, Not in her room. Not inspecting the house.

But standing under the open sky at the edge of the cliff behind the estate, unmoving, rain soaking her to the bone

No umbrella. No coat. Just her. Like the storm couldn’t touch her

Daniel King (ML's Right Hand)

(Appears beside him) You shouldn’t watch her

Daniel King (ML's Right Hand)

She doesn’t like to be seen (He added)

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Lights a cigarette, eyes still fixed on the screen)

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

I don’t trust anyone I haven’t seen bleed

Daniel King (ML's Right Hand)

She’s not like your usual hires

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

No,She’s something else (Murmurs)

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

By morning, the storm had passed, Lucien stepped out onto the front balcony, sipping coffee, gaze distant

The sky was still gray, the ground muddy, the estate eerily quiet

Then he saw her

Rhea was already dressed and outside, sparring alone in the courtyard, moving through strikes like they were an extension of breath

Each jab, kick, pivot—measured, brutal, efficient

A few guards had gathered near the windows, pretending not to stare

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Watches her, bow arched, mildly amused)

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Mutters under his breath) Sharp as a blade… but dances like a storm

Daniel King (ML's Right Hand)

(Appears beside him, raises an eyebrow) Thinking of testing her?

Before Lucien could reply-

Gunfire cracked through the silence. A black SUV rammed through the lower gates, skidding wildly across the gravel

Five armed men spilled out, masked, aggressive, coordinated

Lucien didn’t run. He didn’t hide. He tossed his coffee aside, descended the marble stairs, and headed straight for the courtyard

Rhea was already moving

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

Showtime (Mutters with a smirk)

The first man raised his rifle. Rhea ducked under the muzzle, grabbed his vest, slammed him to the stone floor, and turned his own gun against him—two sharp shots, clean through the chest

The second attacker came from her left, rushing towards her

Rhea Virelis (FL)

Idiot (Says aloud)

Catching his arm mid-swing, snapping his elbow backward, and headbutting him viciously. He collapsed with a wheeze

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Leaning against the pillar) You’re wasting all the fun

But she didn't respond, The third man took aim at Rhea’s back. Lucien fired once. The man dropped

Their eyes met across the chaos. Brief. Electric

Rhea Virelis (FL)

Try to keep up (Darts to strike)

The fourth man lunged at Lucien. Rhea’s leg swept him off his feet midair, and Lucien planted a boot in his chest

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Laughs) You’re really trying to show me up

Rhea Virelis (FL)

You make it too easy

The fifth man backed up, panicked

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Raises his gun) You gonna run?

The man bolted

Rhea Virelis (FL)

(Raises an eyebrow) You missed him

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

I let him run. Sends a better message. (Lowers his gun)

Rhea Virelis (FL)

You’re soft

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Chuckles) And you're terrifying

They stood in the middle of the wreckage. Five down. No mercy

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Steps closer) You fight like a hurricane

Rhea Virelis (FL)

(Arches an eyebrow) And you get in the way like a drunk tourist

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Laughs—deep, utterly amused)

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

For someone who hates company,you make one hell of a dance partner

She didn’t smile. But her stance eased. Just slightly

The guards finally arrived—too late

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Waves them off) Clean them off (Turns to Rhea)

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

You’re not what I expected (Spoke quieter)

Rhea Virelis (FL)

No one ever is

Lucien D’Arcavo Delacroix (ML)

(Grin curves with intrigue) Next time, save me a target. I’m starting to enjoy this