CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

The moment Adam flicked his fingers, his men lunged.

Reid didn’t hesitate—he shoved me aside, sending me stumbling against the bar. My hands grasped at the counter, my vision swimming from the alcohol, but I forced myself to focus. 

The first attacker swung for Reid’s jaw. Reid ducked, sharp and controlled, and drove his fist into the guy’s ribs. A sickening crack echoed through the now-silent club. The man staggered back, gasping for air, but Reid didn’t stop—he pivoted and slammed his elbow into the next attacker’s throat, dropping him instantly.

Another man rushed from behind, but Reid twisted, caught his wrist, and drove a knee into his stomach. The man crumpled with a grunt, but Reid didn’t spare him a glance before turning to the next threat.

Adam stood smirking, watching it all unfold.

A chair scraped from behind me as another man charged for Reid with a broken bottle. Reid was faster. He sidestepped, letting the man fall forward before grabbing him by the neck and, with a sickening snap, sent him collapsing to the floor.

More men closed in. Five, maybe six.

I fought to shake off the drunken haze, my body sluggish, my heart pounding. I grabbed the nearest object—a bottle from the bar—and hurled it at one of them. It shattered against his shoulder. He barely flinched, but it was enough of a distraction.

Reid seized the opening. He grabbed the closest attacker by the front of his suit and shoved him into the others. Bodies tangled, curses flew, and in that split second of chaos, he turned to me.

“Can you stand?”

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I could.

“Then run.”

I hesitated.

“Now!”

I turned, forcing my legs to move, pushing through the fog in my head. But I didn’t make it far.

Something cold and sharp pressed against my throat.

“That’s enough.”

Reid froze mid-motion, his chest rising and falling heavily. Blood smeared his knuckles, his stance still ready to fight, but his eyes—those sharp, stormy eyes—were locked on me.

“Let her go,” Reid said, his voice like ice.

Adam only smiled, pressing the blade a little harder. Not enough to cut but enough to remind me he could.

“Now, why would I do that?” He nodded to one of his men, who landed a brutal punch to Reid’s gut.

Reid buckled, collapsing to his knees, coughing as he clutched his stomach.

“Adam, Please,” I begged.

He laughed, a low, throaty sound. “To think you actually tried to play me. Not only did you lie about being alone, but with him—of all people.” he leaned in, his breath brushing my ear. “Don’t worry, love, I won't hurt you. Just enjoy the show.”

Another nod. The man who had struck Reid yanked him up, and another punch followed. Then another. I closed my eyes, unable to watch, but I could still hear it—the grunts of pain, the sickening thuds of fists meeting flesh.

No one moved. The entire club watched in eerie silence.

“That’s what you get for acting tough,” Adam chuckled. He shook me slightly, forcing me to watch as his men continued to pummel Reid.

Reid tried to block the blows, but there were too many of them. Blood dripped from his mouth. I wanted to intervene, to do something, but the cold steel at my throat kept me still.

Just as I opened my mouth to plead again, Adam gestured, and his men stepped back.

“Now that we’re all acquainted, I have a few questions.”

Reid spat blood. “Go to hell.”

One of the men raised a hand to strike him—then froze. A hole appeared in the center of his forehead, followed by the deafening crack of a gunshot. He dropped to his knees, life snuffed out of him before he hit the ground.

Bile rose in my throat. I expected screams, chaos—but instead, the room held its breath. Silence weighed heavily, thick with fear.

Adam’s hand trembled against my throat. His men stood paralyzed, their faces pale. The only person unaffected was Reid, who straightened, wiping his bloody nose with the back of his hand.

“It’s about time you showed up.” he muttered, his gaze shifting beyond the crowd.

I followed his line of sight, careful not to move too much against the blade.

A deep, familiar voice cut through the tension. “There’s something called a phone, Reid. If you missed me so much, you could have called instead of causing a ruckus at my bar.

A cold chill ran up my spine.

Klaus.

The crowd parted, and he strode forward, two men in neatly pressed suits flanking him.

“Well, It’s more fun this way,” Reid said, stretching his arms in mock amusement.

Klaus cast a disapproving glance over him before turning his attention to Adam. “I’m torn on what’s worse—the audacity you had to hit my son in his own bar, or the fact that I'm standing right in front of you and you haven’t the decency to lower the knife.” 

He stopped between us, his piercing gaze flickering briefly to me. I held my breath, trying to seem like nothing more than a terrified bystander. Reid closed his eyes for a brief moment—his silent way of telling me to stay calm.

Klaus didn’t acknowledge me further. His focus remained on Adam, his expression unreadable.

Adam finally lowered his trembling hand. “S-Sorry.”

Klaus ignored him, strolling toward the bar. The bartender immediately passed him a glass. He took a sip, entirely at ease despite the bodies littering the floor.

“Reid, come sit. We have things to discuss.”

Reid hesitated before casting me a wary glance, then joined his father by the bar.

‘“Young lady,” Klaus said, his tone polite yet firm. “I’m afraid I’ll be stealing my son for a while. One of my men will ensure you get home safely.”

A bodyguard stepped behind me. I flinched.

I didn’t want to leave without Reid, but I knew better than to argue. I turned and started toward the exit. The crowd had thinned as if everyone feared staying too long in Klaus’s presence.

Glancing over my shoulder, I caught Reid watching me, his face was impassive. Klaus, however, remained focused on his drink.

“Unless you’re hardcore,” someone murmured behind me, “I’d advise you not to turn around again.”

I didn’t need to.

Adam’s face had gone ghostly white. So had his men. 

Even before the gunfire erupted behind me, I already knew their fate.