Empire of Nothing

It started normal.

Nova and Zane were sitting outside the library steps, sharing fries, arguing over which movie to watch that night. Jules and Troy had just left, and the air was golden with late-afternoon sun.

Peaceful.

Soft.

Until she heard the tires screech.

A black SUV. Parked sideways. Too fast. Too loud.

Four doors opened in sync.

And there they were.

All four of them.

Darian. Ryder. Ethan. Max.

They didn't speak.

Didn't yell.

Didn't need to.

Nova stood slowly, body tensing. "You can't be serious."

Ryder's voice was flat. "Get in the car."

Zane stood too, sliding slightly in front of her. "Woah. What's going on?"

Ethan's eyes were colder than usual. "This isn't a conversation."

Darian stepped forward and — without warning — took Nova by the wrist.

Not hard. Not cruel.

But final.

Like this was no longer up for discussion.

Nova yanked her arm back. "You don't get to decide—"

"You're coming home," Darian said, voice calm, dangerous. "Now."

Zane moved again. "You can't just take her—"

Ryder shoved him back. "Stay out of this."

Max added, "This is family business."

Nova stared at them. "Now you care? Now I'm your sister again?"

Ethan spoke low. "You're being watched. You're not safe."

"I was never safe with you!"

That made them flinch.

But Darian didn't budge.

"You can hate us later," he said. "But you're coming with us now."

Nova looked at Zane.

He didn't speak.

But his eyes said it all: I'll fight if you want me to.

Nova's heart pounded.

But in the end?

She let them pull her toward the car.

Not because they were right.

Not because she forgave them.

But because a storm was coming… and she needed to know why they suddenly cared.