Rina struggled.
Hard.
Her body twisted violently as the man dragged her through the dark corridor, his grip like iron around her arm.
"Let me go!" she screamed, kicking, fighting, resisting with everything she had.
But he didn't loosen his hold.
Not even a little.
"You're wasting your strength," he said calmly. "You'll need it later."
Her heart pounded wildly.
Fear. Anger. Confusion.
Everything crashed into her all at once.
"Where are you taking me?!" she demanded, her voice breaking.
No answer.
Only silence.
Cold.
Terrifying silence.
Behind her, the sounds of fighting echoed faintly.
Gunshots.
Grunts.
Chaos.
"Damien…" she whispered.
Was he okay?
Was he hurt?
Or—
Her breath hitched.
Was he… gone?
"No…" she shook her head violently. "No, he can't—"
"Focus," the man snapped suddenly, tightening his grip painfully.
She winced.
"Your concern shouldn't be him," he added coldly. "It should be yourself."
Rina's anger flared instantly.
"Shut up!" she snapped, glaring at him. "You don't get to tell me what to care about!"
The man stopped.
Suddenly.
The force of it made her stumble slightly.
Slowly… he turned.
And for the first time—
She saw his face clearly.
Sharp features.
Cold eyes.
A dangerous calm.
But there was something else.
Something deeper.
Recognition.
"You really don't remember…" he murmured.
Her chest tightened.
"Remember what?" she asked, her voice unsteady.
He stared at her for a long moment.
Then sighed.
"That's going to make this harder."
Before she could react—
He pulled her forward again.
"Move."
Her heart raced faster.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
They exited through a hidden door at the back of the building.
Outside—
Black cars.
Engines running.
Men waiting.
Her stomach dropped.
"No…" she whispered.
This wasn't escape.
This was capture.
"Get her in," the man ordered.
Two men stepped forward immediately.
Rina panicked.
"No! Don't touch me!" she shouted, struggling harder.
But they were stronger.
Faster.
One of them grabbed her other arm.
She screamed.
"DAMIE—!"
Gunshot.
Everything froze.
The man holding her stiffened.
Then slowly—
Collapsed.
Rina gasped.
Another shot.
The second man dropped instantly.
Silence.
Dead silence.
Her heart slammed violently.
Then—
Footsteps.
Heavy.
Controlled.
Familiar.
Her breath caught.
No…
It couldn't be—
"Get away from her."
That voice.
Cold.
Deadly.
Possessive.
Her entire body trembled.
"Damien…" she whispered.
He stepped out of the shadows.
His expression was darker than she had ever seen.
Blood stained his shirt.
His eyes burned with something terrifying.
Rage.
Pure rage.
"You…" the man in front of her muttered, narrowing his eyes. "You're still alive."
Damien didn't respond.
He just walked forward.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
Each step felt like a warning.
"Let. Her. Go."
The air turned deadly.
The man chuckled lightly.
"You really think you can take her from us?" he asked. "You don't even know who she is."
Damien's gaze flicked briefly to Rina.
Then back to him.
"I don't care who she is," he said coldly.
His voice dropped.
"She's mine to protect."
Rina's breath caught.
Something inside her tightened.
Even now…
Even after everything…
He still chose her.
The man's expression darkened.
"You're making a mistake."
Damien didn't hesitate.
"Then come stop me."
And just like that—
Everything exploded again.
The man lunged forward.
Fast.
Deadly.
Damien met him head-on.
Their movements were brutal.
Precise.
Like trained killers.
Rina stumbled back, her heart racing as she watched them fight.
It was terrifying.
Damien moved like someone who had done this his entire life.
No hesitation.
No mercy.
A punch.
A block.
A strike.
The man staggered.
But he smiled.
"You've gotten better," he said, wiping blood from his lip.
Damien didn't reply.
He just attacked again.
Harder.
Faster.
This time—
The man hit the ground.
Hard.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Rina's chest rose and fell rapidly.
It was over.
Damien turned to her.
For a moment—
The world faded.
It was just them.
He walked toward her slowly.
Her heart raced with every step he took.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
His voice was softer now.
But still intense.
She shook her head.
Barely.
Before she could say anything—
He pulled her into him.
Tightly.
Her breath caught.
His arms wrapped around her like he would never let go.
"You don't get taken from me," he muttered against her hair.
Her heart pounded.
"I thought…" she whispered. "I thought you were—"
"I'm not going anywhere," he said firmly.
Her fingers tightened slightly on his shirt.
For a moment—
She let herself stay there.
Safe.
But then—
Reality hit.
She pulled back slightly.
"You lied to me," she said softly.
His expression darkened.
"I know."
"And everything they said…" her voice trembled, "it's true, isn't it?"
Silence.
That silence again.
Her heart broke a little more.
"Yes," he said finally.
Tears burned her eyes.
"I don't even know who I am anymore," she whispered.
He looked at her.
Really looked at her.
"Then we'll figure it out," he said.
Her breath caught.
"Together."
But before she could respond—
Engines roared in the distance.
Multiple.
Getting closer.
Damien's expression hardened instantly.
"They're coming again."
Rina's heart dropped.
"This isn't over," he muttered.
He grabbed her hand.
"Run."
And this time—
She didn't hesitate.