Luka's POV

It was just half past eleven when I got back home. The moon was bright and full in the night sky, surrounded by an explosion of glowing white stars.

The neighbourhood was quiet at this time of night, making the drive home a peaceful one. The porch lights lit up almost instantly as I pulled into the long-winded driveway of my large family home and turned off the engine, casting a vibrant, golden glow across the front yard.

A heavy sigh left my lips as I leaned back against the car seat, gazing out at the luxury mansion in front of me. It was the house I grew up in over the last twenty years, a place that never truly felt like a home.

I got out of my car and slammed the door shut. I glanced up at the ashen sky—towards the glittering moon and explosion of stars, my back leaning against the car, feeling the icy wind kiss my cheeks. I was welcomed by the ringing nighttime silence, crickets chirping and the cold wind howling, nature's white noise embracing me like a mother's lullaby.

Nighttime has always been my favourite time of day to exist—the death of daytime, when the world was asleep and silence blanketed the earth in a warm embrace. When darkness swallowed light.

It was the only time of day when I could finally breathe again from the chokehold that my hellish life caged me in, the chaos dying off for just a little while. I remember my older brother Kian used to be afraid of the dark. He would often wake up in the middle of the night screaming, waking both me and my mother up, terrified of what lurked in the dark. Most nights, my mom would have to sleep in his room, just so that he could make it through the night without a panic attack.

But me? I had never been afraid. Because no matter how terrifying the dark was, there were worse monsters that prowled in daylight.

I shook my head at the memory and pushed off my car, heading towards the front door, starting to feel numb all over from the cold. I walked up the front porch and unlocked the door, stepping inside.

"Mom? I'm home," I called out into the spacious main foyer, a gust of warm air hitting me.

"In the kitchen, sweets," Mom called back out seconds later. After I kicked off my shoes and hung up my coat in the closet, I walked out of the main foyer and headed to the kitchen.

I passed through the tall archway to my left, leading into our open-concept living space. I pulled my phone out of my pocket as it began vibrating, slowing down my pace, a text message flashing on my lock screen.

Preston King
Wtf, you left without saying goodbye to me?

I rolled my eyes at the message Preston left me, a grin tugging my lips.

Luka Whitfield
I said goodbye to you earlier before Elijah's game

Preston King
So?
You could have said it again after dropping him home, you ass
My heart is broken
Shattered
There's blood everywhere

Luka Whitfield
You're so dramatic
Want me to kiss it better?

Preston King
Kisses and chocolate cake, please and thanks

Luka Whitfield
Fine, I'll bring you some the next time I'm over

Preston King
♥︎ ily

I shook my head, a soft chuckle escaping me as I shut my phone off, sliding it back into my pocket. When I reached the kitchen and glanced up, that smile quickly vanished from my face when I saw Mom, emptying the dishwasher and putting a few plates away into the cupboards above her head, and beside her, was the last person that I wanted to see tonight.

"Hey sweetheart, how was the game?" Mom asked, greeting me with a warm smile on her face. As quick as her question came, it left my brain, leaving an icy chill up my spine. My words got caught in my throat, heart rate jolting in my chest, gaze elsewhere.

"Where have you been, son?" Dad's deep voice reached my ears. Every bone in my body froze as I met his gaze, his cold steel eyes staring right into me.

He stood next to Mom by the kitchen counter, a glass of red wine in his hands. He was dressed in one of his expensive three-piece suits, looking as put together and as intimidating as he did in all those news articles that people wrote about him.

Except that for everyone else, the power radiating off him was breathtakingly memorable in the best way. For me, it made me want to crawl out of my skin.

"I was out," I finally managed to say, a hint of bitterness in my tone.

"On a school night?" Dad raised a brow at me. "It's almost midnight. You're supposed to be studying, not out partying with your friends."

"I wasn't partying," I scoffed, "I'm not a kid anymore, I can go out as I please without you breathing down my back."

A thick silence settled over us. I licked my lips, a chill twirling up my spine as he took a sip of his wine, and set the glass down on the marble counter. His actions, calm and collected, put me on edge.

"Adult or not, you live under my roof. And as long as I'm the one putting you through art school, you'll do as I say." Dad spoke. His voice was firm and steady, but I could pick up the threatening tone. "You're not allowed to go out this weekend, you'll stay home and work on your projects. Do you understand me?"

I nodded my head slowly, not bothering to reply. Dad watched me for a moment longer, staring me down, until he nodded curtly, deciding that he was satisfied with my response.

"Good," He pushed off the counter and reached into his breast pocket, pulling out a cigarette and a lighter.

I dug my nails into the palm of my hands. My eyes followed the cigarette, watching carefully as he stuck the unlit cigarette between his lips, proceeding to light it up.

The stench of smoke filled the kitchen as he pinched the cigarette between his fingers and exhaled, blowing smoke in my direction. I held my breath, fighting back a flinch. He excused himself as he walked towards the patio doors, stepping out into the cold night air, and sliding the large glass door shut behind him.

As soon as he was gone, I spun around and stormed out. Mom called out to me frantically, but in that moment, I needed to get out of that kitchen.

I hurried out of the kitchen and back to the main foyer. I stormed up the curved staircase and down the hallway, and when I reached my bedroom, I slammed the door shut behind me.