Chapter 2. Take me with you

After a brief moment of hesitation, the door flew open, and a man glared at me solemnly. His brows furrowed, instantly making me uneasy. 

"Who are you? Why did you break into my house? And why did you run from your husband?" His voice grew louder, each word sharp and accusing, his gaze fixed on me like he could see through me.

Panic washed over me. I took a shaky step toward him, my breath heavy. "Shhh... Please, don’t shout. He might hear us and come back. I can’t take it anymore." My entire body trembled, silently praying that he would understand.

But he remained stoic, crossing his arms over his chest, studying me like he was trying to read my mind. "Speak. You're in my house. You owe me answers."

"Please, just let me stay here... and don’t tell him if you see him again. I promise I’ll be gone soon. I just need a place to hide. I’m not a thief, and I’m not a stripper." My voice wavered as I tried to make him believe me.

His expression shifted, something I couldn’t quite read, darkening his stare until his eyes fell on my shoulder. Then, I heard him mutter under his breath, "Shit, you're bleeding."

Instinctively, my hand flew to my shoulder, touching the wound that had started to bleed again. Fear clouded my thoughts—what if he used this against me? What if he locked me up like my husband did every day?

Before I could run, he grabbed my arm and led me to the sofa. "Sit down."

"I-I’m sorry. I should go now. Sorry for intruding," I stammered, trying to get up.

But he stopped me, already holding a towel I hadn’t noticed. He pressed sterile gauze against my wound, gently wiping away the dried blood. "Relax. I'm not going to hurt you."

His words made me pause. He was intimidating, but his care was oddly comforting. Maybe I was just desperate for any hint of safety, but his presence felt soothing despite the circumstances.

"Thank you." I managed a small smile.

"No need to thank me." He continued cleaning my wound.

"But... you saved me from my husband," I said, my heart swelling with gratitude.

"You're safer with him," He replied, his tone cold, not even glancing at me.

"No! You don’t understand. I’ve tried so many times to escape. Every day, I live in fear. This is the first time I’ve felt free because of you."

His sharp gaze met mine again, and I momentarily wondered who he really was. He seemed more than just a man. I waited for him to respond, but he said nothing, the silence stretching between us. 

I wanted to trust him, but logic screamed not to. Never in my life have I felt this secure. Never in my life have I met someone like him who’s willing to be bothered to give me some aid. It’s funny how this cruel fate brought Blaine into my life so quickly, but all he did was treat me like trash. But the stranger who was supposed to ignore me was here, helping me while ensuring I was safe.

"Stop staring at me.” His deep voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"I’m sorry," I murmured, embarrassed that I had been staring at his handsome face for too long.

More silence passed until he stood, towering over me. "Stay put. You need rest."

"Yeah, I will. Thanks," I said, trying to smile.

He walked to a closet, and to my surprise, he removed his coat and shirt, revealing his sculpted torso adorned with a tattoo of a black dragon coiled around his arms. Scars and marks littered his body, evidence of a harsh past.

I quickly looked away, embarrassed to be caught staring.

"Why did you run away from him?" He asked, putting on a fresh set of clothes. "Your bruises, wounds, and scratches... is he the one who caused them?"

I hesitated, then admitted, “Y-Yes.”

"You should leave him," He said, his tone flat as he adjusted his shirt in the mirror.

"I did. I'm here now, right? And you saved me.” I locked my gaze in his direction.

He veered around and faced me. "You can’t stay here. I have work tonight, and you won’t see me tomorrow. I’m not someone you should rely on."

Anxiety gripped me at his words. "Please, just let me stay for tonight. I don’t have anywhere else to go." Tears threatened to spill as I begged.

He looked away, his hands in his pockets. "I can send you somewhere safe, but you can’t stay here."

"No! I don’t want to go anywhere else. Just take me with you," I pleaded, my voice shaking.

"You don’t know what you're asking for, woman.” His gaze turned hard.

He spun around and was about to walk, but I apologetically grabbed his arm, yearning for his consent. But his following action floored me. He turned around and pinned me against the wall, his face inches from mine. I tried not to flinch at the feel of his hot breath against my face, so close that our breaths intermingled. "You don't want to die. You don't want your beautiful face scratched up by different hawks."

"What do you mean?"

I waited for his explanation, but all that came out was his manly, addictive scent. It had me captivated, enthralled even. This is wrong, but I can't help it!

Before either of us could move, a loud gunfire reverberated through the air, and a bullet passed through the glass window, hitting a flower pot on the bedside table. He let go of me and turned around, eyes blazing with fury. "Damn it, they're here."

"What? Who’s here?" I asked, terrified.

He returned to the closet, grabbed the hood, and handed it to me. "Put this on. We’re leaving."

"Where are we going? What’s going on?" I asked, feeling panic rise inside me.

He ignored my question, instead fixing me with a fierce stare that made me shrink back, unsettled by the intensity. But just as quickly, his expression softened. "You wanted to come with me earlier, didn’t you? Well, now you’ll see what my world is like."

"But not like this—"

I didn’t get the chance to finish. He pulled me close, his right hand gently cradling the back of my head as he whispered, "Don't move."

Effortlessly, he drew his gun from his left side and fired at the window. Glass shards exploded everywhere. I stood there, stunned, while he smirked. His dangerous gaze somehow mesmerized me. It was so intoxicating it nearly made my heart melt. 

"I'm Courtney Siegel. Now you know my name, in case we split up..."

My heart raced at the sound of his name, and before I knew it, I was craving more time with him. "C-Can we not?"