She who must not be harmed.

"You’re insane if you think you can leave," Luna whispered sharply.

Nirvana ignored her. Every second wasted was another second Adrian had to hurt her father. She needed out. Now.

Luna exhaled in frustration, glancing at the door where RAyNe’s men stood. "They don’t leave their post."

"Then distract them." Nirvana’s voice was low, desperate.

Luna hesitated, then sighed. "This is suicide." But she turned and opened the door anyway. "She’s asking for something to eat. I’ll take care of it, but you two need to give me a minute."

One of the men sighed, annoyed. "Fine. Hurry up."

As Luna stepped out, Nirvana moved. Pain shot through her ribs as she slid out of bed, her hospital gown brushing against her skin. The beeping machines around her made her nerves prickle…too loud. Too risky.

She staggered to the window. Pulled the curtain aside. Fire escape.

Her heart pounded. She pushed the window open, ice-cold night air rushing in.

A hand clamped around her wrist.

Her breath caught.

She spun, ready to claw and fight, but froze. Prince Zayd.

His dark eyes flickered with understanding, concern. "You can’t do this."

"Let me go." She struggled, but his grip was firm, unyielding.

"You’re in no shape to run. And where do you think you’re going? RAyNe’s men will hunt you down before you take ten steps."

"I need to see my father," she gritted out. "Adrian…he’s going to hurt him."

Zayd’s jaw clenched. "You’re not thinking straight."

"Get out of my way."

"No."

Fury ignited in her. "You don’t get to tell me what to do. You don’t get to…"

Footsteps. Shit.

Zayd reacted first. He grabbed her waist and pulled her against him, spinning them behind the curtain just as the door swung open.

One of RAyNe’s men stepped in, eyes scanning the room.

Nirvana held her breath, heart slamming against her ribs. If he saw the open window…

The man’s gaze narrowed.

Zayd tightened his hold on her, his lips brushing her ear. "Stay still."

She trembled. Not from fear. From something else.

The guard stepped further in, scanning, suspicious.

Nirvana’s fingers curled against Zayd’s shirt.

Then…his phone buzzed. Loud.

Shit.

The guard’s head snapped in their direction. His eyes locked onto the window. The curtain.

And then..he moved.

Zayd shoved Nirvana behind him.

"What the fuck is going on in here?"

The guard’s sharp voice cut through the tense air. His suspicious gaze locked onto the window, then flickered to the shifting shadow behind the curtain. Too late.

Zayd struck first.

A swift jab to the throat. The guard choked, staggering back, but before he could react, Zayd spun and landed a brutal kick to his ribs, sending him crashing into the machines beside the bed.

Nirvana barely had time to breathe before the second man stormed in.

Zayd moved fast. He grabbed the guy’s wrist mid-punch, twisted hard, and the sickening crack of bone filled the air. The man screamed.

"Shut the fuck up," Zayd growled before driving his knee into the guy’s stomach. The guard collapsed.

Nirvana stared, wide-eyed, heart slamming.

"Come on." Zayd grabbed her wrist, yanking her toward the door.

She hesitated, glancing at the unconscious men. "They’ll…"

"They won’t be a problem for a while. Move."

They darted down the hallway, past nurses who barely had time to register them before they were gone. Out the back. Through the parking lot. Zayd’s black sports car was waiting.

"Get in," he ordered.

Nirvana slid in, breathless. Zayd hit the gas, tires screeching as they sped off into the night.

.PRISON.

The place was cold, sterile, and it smelled of metal and despair.

Nirvana gripped the phone tightly, staring at her father through the scratched glass of the visitation booth.

Her father…her strong, proud father…looked like a ghost of himself. Bruises marred his face, his knuckles swollen. His once-powerful shoulders slumped under the weight of what Adrian had done.

Her throat tightened. "Dad..."

A weary smile touched his lips. "Nirvana."

Tears blurred her vision. "I'm so sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," he said gently.

"Yes, I do!" She choked. "If I hadn’t…if I hadn’t given Adrian my shares, he wouldn’t have been able to do this. He wouldn’t have had the power to destroy us, to throw you in here, to…" Her voice cracked. "I was so stupid."

Her father exhaled, shaking his head. "You had a good heart. You trusted someone you loved. That’s not a crime, Nirvana."

"But it ruined us!" Her fists clenched. "It ruined everything."

He studied her for a long moment. Then, in a voice softer than she expected, he said, "I’m still proud of you."

That broke her.

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she clutched the phone, trembling.

Her father’s expression darkened. "Did Adrian hurt you?"

Nirvana looked away. The answer was obvious.

His jaw tightened. His battered hand curled into a fist. "That bastard…"

"Dad." Her voice was firm, steady. A decision had settled in her bones. A choice she hadn't even realized she’d made until this moment.

She sat straighter, wiped her tears, and inhaled.

"I’m done being a pawn," she said. "I’m done being controlled."

Her father frowned. "Nirvana…"

"I let Adrian manipulate me. I let him take everything from me. Never again."

Something shifted in her eyes. A fire. A storm brewing deep inside.

"I'm going to take back what’s mine. I’m going to make Adrian pay for what he’s done. Every last bit of it."

She met her father’s gaze, her voice like steel.

"I’ll burn Adrian to the fucking ground."

Her father stared at her, his lips parting slightly in surprise. Then, after a long beat…he smiled.

A slow, proud, knowing smile.

"That’s my girl."

Nirvana exhaled, shoulders squaring.

"Don’t worry, Dad. I promise I’ll get you out of here. I’ll get justice for us."

A guard stepped in. "Time’s up."

Nirvana stood, her father watching her like he was seeing her for the first time.

She turned to leave, stepping out into the cold night, Zayd waiting for her near the car.

"You good?" he asked, watching her carefully.

Nirvana lifted her chin. "I’ve never been better."

Zayd gave her a slow once-over, then nodded. "Then let’s get to work."

As they walked to the car, neither noticed the dark SUV parked across the street.

Inside, a pair of sharp, icy eyes watched Nirvana.

And a phone screen lit up.

"She’s making moves. What do you want us to do?"

A deep voice on the other end answered.

"Bring her back. Now."

"Take her."

The moment the cold order came, Nirvana felt hands grab her, yanking her backward before she could react. She screamed, thrashing, but the grip on her arms was iron-clad.

"No…Zayd!"

Zayd barely had time to turn before a fist collided with his jaw, sending him stumbling into the side of his car. More of RAyNe’s men swarmed him. The first blow landed hard against his ribs. Then another. And another.

"Let me go!" Nirvana kicked, her nails clawing at the hands restraining her.

The phone in the main enforcer's hand lit up, and a chillingly familiar voice came through.

"I warned you, Nirvana."

RAyNe’s voice was smooth, casual, dripping with amusement.

The men forced Nirvana down onto her knees, holding her arms back as they turned the phone screen toward her. RAyNe was there. Watching. Controlling. Owning.

"I told you I was going to do worse than I did at the auction if he came close to you again, didn't I?"

Her stomach twisted as she saw the sick pleasure in his dark eyes.

"RAyNe, please! Stop it!" she begged as another brutal punch sent Zayd crashing to the ground. He coughed violently, blood splattering onto the pavement.

RAyNe chuckled. "No, no, darling. Actions have consequences."

He leaned in slightly on the screen, his expression deadly. "Beat him until he can't walk."

"No!" Nirvana's scream tore through the night. "RAyNe, you bastard! Make them stop!"

Zayd tried to push himself up, but a heavy boot slammed into his back, crushing him against the asphalt.

"He was only trying to help me!" Nirvana sobbed, her voice breaking. "I'm begging you!"

One of RAyNe's men grabbed Zayd by the hair, forcing his bloody face up while another brought the phone closer so RAyNe could see his handiwork.

"I told you to stay away from my woman," RAyNe taunted.

Zayd spat out blood, a stubborn grin curving his busted lips. "She's not yours, St. Trinity."

The words were barely out before a fist drove into his stomach, knocking the air from his lungs.

RAyNe exhaled sharply, annoyed. "Fool. She's worthless. You can have any woman you want. You're wealthy, yet you keep chasing my property."

Nirvana’s stomach turned at the word. Property.

Zayd smirked despite the pain. "You're obsessed with something you can’t control. That must be hell for a man like you."

RAyNe's eyes darkened dangerously. "Enough."

The camera shifted, now facing Nirvana.

Her face was streaked with tears, her breath shuddering, eyes burning with hatred.

"He's that important to you, huh?" RAyNe mused, tilting his head slightly. "Wait till I return. I'll teach you a good lesson for letting other men touch you."

She glared at the screen, her voice trembling but firm. "I hate you. You have no heart."

And then…everything went black.

Her body sagged.

"Nirvana!"

The phone screen blurred as RAyNe’s expression twisted into something sharp and unreadable.

"Take her back to the hospital. Now!"

His voice was no longer taunting. It was furious.

"If anything happens to her," his voice dropped lower, lethal, "you’ll all fucking pay for it."

The screen went dark.

And Nirvana lay limp in their arms, unaware of the storm she had just unleashed.