Penny stumbled as the guy pulled her through the chaos, his grip tight on her wrist.
"Come on," he said, flashing that charming smile. "I know a way out. Follow me."
Her head was spinning. The room tilted around her. Everything felt fuzzy, distant.
But he was helping her. He was getting her out.
"Thank you," she slurred, struggling to keep up with him.
They pushed through the panicked crowd, away from the security guards' flashlights, away from the shouting. He led her down a corridor she didn't recognize, then up a narrow staircase.
The noise faded behind them.
They were alone.
Penny blinked, trying to focus. "Where... where are we going?"
"Somewhere safe," he said.
But his voice had changed. The warmth was gone.
They emerged into a quiet, dimly lit hallway. Empty. Isolated.
He stopped walking.
Penny swayed on her feet, her vision blurring. "I need... I need to find Auriella..."
"Don't worry about her," he said, stepping closer.
Too close.
Something in Penny's gut twisted. Wrong. This felt wrong.
"I should—" she started to back away.
But he grabbed her arm, yanking her toward him.
"Where do you think you're going?" His smile was gone now, replaced by something dark and sinister.
"Let go—" Penny tried to pull away, but her body wouldn't cooperate. Her limbs felt heavy. Weak.
He shoved her.
She hit the ground hard, the impact jarring through her. She tried to scramble back, but he was already on top of her, pinning her down.
"Where do you think your going ."
"No—" she gasped, trying to push him off.
But her hands were useless. Her strength was gone.
He grabbed at her dress, tearing at the fabric. The sound of ripping cloth filled the air.
"Stop!" Penny tried to scream, but her voice came out weak, strangled.
Her body felt wrong. Hot. Heavy. Like she was burning from the inside.
What's wrong with me.""
Panic flooded through her, but her body wouldn't respond. She could barely move.
His hands were everywhere. Rough. Violent. Tearing at what was left of her dress until she was completely naked .
She tried to fight, tried to kick, but everything was spinning.
And then—
A sound.
A sickening crack of bone.
The weight on top of her was suddenly gone.
Penny gasped, her vision swimming.
The guy was on the ground a few feet away, unconscious. Blood dripped from his nose.
And standing over him was someone else.
A man.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. His face was shadowed, but his presence was overwhelming—powerful.
He'd punched the guy. One hit.
Penny's heart pounded. She tried to sit up, but her body wouldn't cooperate.
The stranger looked at her.
For a moment, she thought he would leave. Just walk away and leave her here.
But then he moved.
He turned his gaze away from her body—deliberately, immediately—and shrugged off his jacket. He crouched down beside her without looking directly at her, draping the jacket over her torn dress, covering her exposed skin.
"Can you stand?" His voice was low, controlled. His eyes remained fixed somewhere above her shoulder.
Penny tried to answer, but her mouth wouldn't form words. Her head lolled to the side.
The stranger muttered something under his breath—a curse, maybe—and then he carefully lifted her, keeping the jacket wrapped around her as he cradled her against his chest.
Penny's vision blurred. Everything was spinning.
She was vaguely aware of being carried, of doors opening and closing, of being laid down on something soft.
A bed.
The stranger stepped back immediately, his jaw tight. He grabbed a blanket from the foot of the bed and covered her completely, pulling it up to her shoulders.
The stranger kept his eyes averted, his posture rigid.
"Where...?" she mumbled.
"You're safe," he said without looking at her. "Sleep it off."
He started toward the door.
But Penny's body was burning,her skin felt too hot, too tight. Her heart raced. Her breathing quickened.
She felt... desperate.
"Wait," she whispered, her voice trembling.
The stranger stopped but didn't turn around.
Penny tried to sit up. The blanket slipped down, exposing her bare body.
She didn't care. She couldn't think straight.
"Please," she breathed, her voice breaking. "Please don't leave."
He turned slowly, his jaw tight. His eyes flickered to her face and stayed there—deliberately avoiding looking anywhere else.
"You need to sleep," he said, his tone firm.
"I can't." Tears spilled down her cheeks. "I can't— it hurts. Please.she couldn't understand what was wrong with her or why she was feeling this way .
She reached for him, the blanket falling further. Her skin was flushed, glistening with perspiration.
"You need to cover yourself," he said quietly, his voice strained.
"I don't care." Penny's hand found his, her fingers wrapping around his wrist weakly. "Please. Just stay and —"
He pulled his hand back gently but firmly, then reached down and pulled the blanket back up over her shoulders, covering her again.
"No, you've been drugged ,close your eyes and sleep.
The word was final.
She tried to kiss him but he pulled away .
Penny's chest heaved. She felt like she was drowning, burning, falling apart.
The stranger stood there for a long moment, his fists clenched at his sides. His eyes remained fixed on her face, never straying.He cursed under his breath " fucking shit"
Then he moved.
But not toward her.
He grabbed a chair from the corner of the room and dragged it to the side of the bed. He sat down, keeping a deliberate distance between them.
"I'm not leaving," he said quietly. "But I'm not doing what you're asking."
Penny's vision blurred with tears. She didn't understand. Why did everything hurt? Why couldn't she think straight?
She reached for him again, her hand shaking, pushing the blanket down in her drugged confusion.
This time, he took her hand—carefully, gently—and held it. With his other hand, he pulled the blanket back up once more.
"Sleep," he said, his voice softer now. "I'll stay until you do."
Penny's body trembled. The fire in her veins was still there, burning, relentless.
.
"You're safe," he murmured, stroking her hair slowly. "Just breathe. It'll pass."
Penny's breathing hitched. Her body was still screaming for something she couldn't name, but his touch—his presence—was grounding her.
Penny's eyelids grew heavy. The burning was still there, but it was fading, dulled by exhaustion and whatever was left of the alcohol in her system.
She tried to hold on to consciousness, but her body betrayed her.
Her grip on his hand loosened.
"Please don't leave," she whispered one last time.
"I won't."
she fell asleep.
The stranger sat there for a long time, watching her face.
Her breathing evened out. The tension in her body slowly released.
She looked young. Vulnerable.
He shouldn't have gotten involved.
But he had.
And now he couldn't leave her—his expression unreadable.
Then he stood and walked to the door, locking it from the inside.
He returned to the chair and sat down again, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on her.
""What the fuck where you thinking kade ,getting involved isn't really your style ."" He muttered to himself and shut his eyes close .