CH.45

Killian ended the call with a flick of his thumb and slid his phone back into the inner pocket of his impeccably tailored suit jacket.

He turned his attention to the two figures approaching him, his sharp gaze missing nothing as he took in every detail with the scrutinizing eyes of a predator evaluating its prey.

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips – a smile that held a hint of mischief.

As Jenkins opened the rear door of the luxury sedan, revealing Serena, Killian's smile broadened into a genuine beam of excitement and anticipation, lighting up his chiseled features with an almost feral gleam.

His eyes drank her in hungrily, devouring every inch of her delicate beauty as if committing her to memory.

Serena felt her mind whirling in a dizzying vortex the instant her eyes landed on Killian for the first time.

A flurry of questions and uncertainties raced through her thoughts like a hurricane, threatening to sweep her away in their turbulence. Was this the mysterious husband she had so unwittingly bound herself to when she signed that fateful contract? The powerful figure who had orchestrated her miraculous escape from the harrowing nightmare of jail?

Her gaze swept over the elegant man seated in the luxurious black car, drinking in his undeniable good looks from head to toe with a mixture of trepidation and reluctant appreciation.

Very handsome indeed, with piercing grey eyes that seemed to hold a thousand untold mysteries and secrets, and a jawline so exquisitely chiseled, it could have been sculpted from marble by a master artisan.

There was an almost otherworldly aura of danger and power that clung to him like a second skin, both alluring and deeply unsettling.

Noticing her unabashed scrutiny, Killian's smile widened into a wolfish grin with a hint of amusement and something darker dancing in the depths of his eyes. "I can guess what's running through that pretty little head of yours," he purred smoothly in a voice rich and velvety like aged whiskey rolling off his tongue in a sultry caress. "You're wondering if I'm the lucky man who gets to call you his wife."

He let out a low chuckle, the sound seeming to reverberate through Serena's very bones and sending an involuntary shiver racing down her spine. "I'm flattered you find me attractive, darling. But I'm afraid I'm not deserving of such an intimate appraisal."

A roguish grin played across his lips. His teeth flashed like those of a predator catching the scent of its prey. "I'm not your husband, but you'll meet him soon enough."

His tone was laced with charm and seductive promise yet carried an undercurrent of mischief and playful jest that left Serena feeling both intrigued and slightly unnerved, as though she were a moth being lured towards a deadly flame.

A blush of mingled embarrassment and relief swept across her exquisite features, staining her cheeks a becoming shade of rosy, pink.

"I...I see," Serena stammered a breathless whisper as she suddenly felt vulnerable and self-conscious under the weight of Killian's penetrating stare.

Killian chuckled softly. He got out of the automobile with a graceful and effortless gait.

"Killian," he introduced himself formally, extending a hand towards the flustered Serena with studied nonchalance, as though he were greeting an old friend rather than a woman he had just met. "A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."

"Since it appears you are already familiar with me, I suppose introductions are unnecessary on my part," Serena replied, her tone carefully composed despite the turmoil churning within her as she eyed his proffered hand warily.

Killian simply inclined his head in acknowledgment. He ushered her into the car with the trained gallantry of a true gentleman which was a shocking contrast to the predatory undercurrent that appeared to lurk just beyond his urbane exterior.

Jenkins cleared his throat at last.

He had been standing by, silently observing the charged interaction between Killian and Serena with a swirl of conflicting emotions roiling within him like a storm at sea. It was difficult – nope, it was impossible to reconcile this sophisticated, charismatic figure with the cold-blooded killer who had so callously slaughtered his driver mere hours ago without batting an eye.

The memory of that brutal act was seared into Jenkins' mind.

The thought of Serena becoming entangled with such dangerous individuals, of being drawn into their underworld of secrets and violence where life seemed to hold so little value, filled Jenkins with a sense of dread that coiled like a leaden weight in the pit of his stomach. Yet what power did he truly hold to protect her now?

Serena was bound to the leader of the most formidable criminal network Jenkins had ever encountered. Her husband was a masked man shrouded in darkness and secrecy, whose identity remained a mystery and like a phantom that haunted Jenkins' every waking moment since their first encounter earlier.

"I'll be coming along," Jenkins stated firmly. His intense stare remained fixed on Killian's in a wordless challenge that betrayed his unshakeable commitment to protecting Serena at all costs. He would not – could not – abandon her to the wolves, no matter how dangerous the path ahead might prove to be.

Killian's expression shifted in an instant, his playful demeanor giving way to a more sinister edge

His eyes grew dark, giving way to the deadly assassin Jenkins knew was hiding under the endearing exterior.

"That won't be necessary," Killian replied, his voice taking on an ominous undertone that seemed to reverberate in the very air around them like the first rumbles of distant thunder… a subtle warning that Jenkins would be wise to heed, lest he find himself caught in the path of a storm he could never hope to weather.

Serena could feel the tension thicken like lightning crackling in the air. "If Jenkins doesn't come, I won't be going anywhere with you." She quickly interjected, meeting Killian's gaze with unwavering resolve.

Killian's eyes softened slightly and a low chuckle escaped his lips as he shook his head in amusement, seemingly impressed by Serena's display of courage. "Very well. He can accompany us. But remember, trust is a fragile thing in our world. I shall bear no guilt for his death."

With that, he motioned toward the front passenger seat for Jenkins to enter the car as well.

The flashy cars pulled away from the curb, gliding smoothly towards their destination.

Killian, seated with a wicked grin playing on his lips, casually pulled out his phone and opened a chat with Knox. His fingers danced over the screen as he typed, "It seems you have found yourself an equal match." He pressed send and reclined back, reveling in the complexity of the unfolding situation.

The ride had barely left the restaurant's vicinity when Jenkins and Serena felt simultaneous stinging sensations at the back of their necks. Both their visions grew blurry instantly, and their eyes darted to Killian who was smiling wickedly at them with a pose one of relaxed dominance.

Serena was the first to succumb. Her body slumped forward, but Killian swiftly reached out and caught her before she could fall from her seat.

He secured her gently but firmly, his grin never faltering.

Jenkins fought valiantly against the sudden wave of drowsiness that enveloped him, but it was a battle he was doomed to lose. His eyes fluttered closed, and he, too, succumbed to unconsciousness.