Chapter 2. Take me with you

After a transient contemplation, the door burst open, revealing the man now glaring at me solemnly.

He crumpled his brows, making me nervous. "Who are you? Why did you break into my house? And why did you run away from your husband?"

I panicked when his voice augmented with intensity, and he looked intently at me. I strode toward him nervously with my heavy breath. "Shhh. Don't shout, please... Please, I'm begging you. He might hear us and come back. I can't take it anymore."

My whole body quivered as I silently wished he would hear me. But then he crossed his arms over his chest and continued to watch me carefully as if reading my intention. "Speak and explain. You're in my house, so you will answer anything I ask."

"Just let me stay here... and do not tell him if you see him again outside." I swallowed hard. "I promise I'll be gone later. I just... I just need a place to hide now. Don't worry, I'm not a stripper, and I'm not a thief."

His face morphed into something indescribable. I couldn't decipher the emotion behind that dark stare until his gaze fell on my right shoulder.

Then I heard him mutter quietly under his breath. "Fuck, you're bleeding."

My hand flew to my shoulder reflexively, where my wound was oozing. That compelled me to brood. What if he took advantage of me after this? What if he caged me here just like my husband does every day? My heart started to pulsate faster, and my mind whirled. I began to think of running again to flee.

I swiveled around and was about to go when he grabbed my left arm and dragged me into the sofa without hesitation. "Sit down."

"I'm sorry... but I think I'm good to go now. Sorry for trespassing into your privacy, Sir."

He stopped me from moving. He had a towel in his hand, and I didn't even notice it. He covered my wound with sterile gauze before gently wiping off the dried blood scattered on my skin. "Laid back, woman. Now shut up and stop fidgeting. I'm not gonna hurt you."

The man's words halted me for the briefest second. He looked too intimidating, but how he cared for me was comforting. I don't know if I'm too exaggerated to have that positive impression, or perhaps I'm just thirsty for protection. That's why I find his presence soothing, despite being strangers to one another.

"Thank you." I smiled, trying to compose myself in front of him.

"No need to thank me." He continued cleaning the side part of my wound.

"But why? You saved me from my husband," I proudly stated, glancing at him with my heart in bliss.

"You're actually more safe with him."

His words stunned me enough to provoke a shy-high curiosity from me. He didn't even glance at me when he enunciated those words.

"No. You're wrong. You have no idea how numerous times I attempted to flee. The truth is... I don't know how to live without being punished in a day. And this is the first time because of you."

His eyes were sharp on me, making me almost think he was not just an ordinary man. But I can tell he has a good heart for treating me this way despite not knowing his personality.

I lingered for his response, but only silence followed. I know I should not trust this stranger despite the kindness he's giving me, but my heart urged me to do so. Never in my life have I felt this secure. Never in my life, I've met someone like him who's willing to be bothered just to give me some aid. It's funny how this cruel fate brought Blaine into my life so easily, but all he did was treat me like mucky trash and maltreat me in a derogatory way. But the stranger who was supposed to ignore me was here, helping me while ensuring I was safe.

"Stop staring at me like that, woman." His manly voice broke my trance.

"I'm sorry. It was just a real curve." I diverted my gaze to the corner, trying to unleash the embarrassment I felt on my cheek when I realized that I'd been staring at his handsome face for the past five minutes.

Silence ensued until he stood up and looked down to meet my gaze. "Don't move from that spot. You need ample rest."

"Yeah, thanks. I'll do it," I responded, tossing him a slight beam.

He strode toward his closet located in the southeast corner of the room. What he did next made me gasp in shock. He took off his coat and shirt, revealing his sculpted torso. It was broad and firm, with a tattoo of a black dragon coiled around his upper left and right arm as if it was a pattern of some dangerous organization. However, I noticed a lot of old scars and marks littered on his body. Still, his body was well-toned.

I bit my lips and quickly turned my head when he caught me gawking at him.

"Tell me, why did you run away from him?" He asked, compelling me to look at him. He's putting on his clothes with a new set of formal attire. "Your bruises, wounds, and scratches... is he the one who caused them?"

A pang of pain shot through my heart. "Yes."

"You should leave him," He stated coldly as he fixed himself in front of the mirror.

"I did. Look, I'm here. You saved me, right? And that is the best thing I've ever done." I respired, locking my gaze in his direction.

He veered around and faced me. "You can't stay with me. I have a lot of work tonight, and you won't be able to see me tomorrow. Plus, I'm not the best person you could ask for help in this certain state."

His utterance made me anxious as I began to ponder what would happen to me next. I couldn't go outside, and I'm certain my husband is searching for me now in the best way he could. I'm not sure if I would see the sunrise again once he caught me. The punishment will surely be more severe than usual.

"I know this is your house. You make rules, and I have no privilege to oppose you. But... I don't have anywhere else to go. Just... just let me stay here tonight. I promise to repay you at our next meeting. I-I'll do whatever you want. Anything you want, please?" I pledged, yearning for his approval. My tears started to fill my eyes again.

He placed both of his hands inside his pocket and turned away.

I sighed heavily and stood up. I followed him in front of his closet, trying to convince him. "I know it's not fair to ask you for that..."

"I can send you somewhere safe if you want. But you can't stay here the whole night."

"No, please. I don't want someone else. Just take me with you; it's fine," I concluded tenaciously.

"You don't know what you're saying, woman." He hurled me a stern look as if my words were futile.

He spun around and was about to walk, but I grabbed his arm in a most apologetic manner, 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."

"W-What do you mean by a hawk? A bad people?" I'm so naive about its true meaning. I waited for his explication, 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!

We didn't move from our spot until 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.

"Oh my god! What's that?" I exclaimed, horrified.

He ran to the window and peeked outside. "Fuck, they're here."

"W-Wait... what is happening?"

He returned to the closet, grabbed a piece of the hood, and quickly handed it to me. "Put it on. We're leaving."

"Can you tell me where we are going? And where's that sound coming from? Is that a gun?"

He threw me a look with such a ferocious expression as if my question vexed him. I shrank backward, unnerved by that gaze. But that expression quickly altered into a soft one. "You suggested earlier coming with me, right? Now, you'll see how my life works."

"But not in this—"

I didn't have a chance to finish my sentence because he pulled me closer. His right hand caught my back head with so much care and whispered, "Don't move."

He effortlessly took off his gun from his left side and shot it directly at the window. Shards of glass splattered everywhere. When I was still in shock from what happened, he stared at me intensely with a slight smirk— too hot that almost made my heart melt. "I'm Courtney Siegel. Now you know my name in case we split up..."

My heart suddenly leaped upon seeing him stating his name, and I found myself wanting more seconds with him. "C-Can we not?"