NOT A PROTECTOR, BUT A DESTROYER!

KING

"How do you know his name?" Cameron's surprising voice caught my attention.

"I have my ways, Jones! You are not the only one with the good connections. Now, I don't want to waste time in talking. Surrender or I will kill her!"

My anger was shooting into the sky. How did that bastard know my first name?

My first name was another aspect of me that I loathed. I never used it anywhere. Nobody called me by that name... nobody... except...

Then how did that moron get my name?!

"Hey, dickhead! He is talking to you. Come and save me. I am hungry."

Oh, how could I forget that annoying presence!

"Fine, if you don't get that lazy and arrogant ass of yours here in a minute and free me from this manwhore, I will destroy your house, every gadget and every car of yours and poison you and Camera with snake's venom!"

I could only clench my jaw to stop myself from putting that bullet in her head instead of Jason Finochi.

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BRIA

I was waiting for the devil to do something because I would prefer to be with him, tolerating his arrogance and silent treatment, then standing anywhere near Jason Finochi!

I never thought such a time would ever come when I would consider him a better option than any other!

I curse my fate!

"As entertaining as this is, I have to cut it short. I repeat. Surrender or I will kill her." Jason pressed the gun against my head, and my legs began trembling.

How many more times have I had to be at the gunpoint in my short life of about only two and a half months?

"Fine! Kill her. Let's go back."

I thought the ground just slipped underneath me as that cold and detached voice fell on my ears.

Did he just say that?

"WHAT? You are letting me die here? You motherfucker. You can't do this to me. Come back here" I began thrashing and yelling in hope that he would see through my anger. He would see how I was begging for his help.

Because no matter how I fooled myself, it was clear that I was no match for these monsters. Throwing a punch or a kick was a different thing, and fighting with the people who lived and breathed crime was a whole different realm.

And I was the lost miserable sheep of that realm!

I needed a big, bad wolf to save me!

But as heartless as he was, he ignored my calls of pleading. " She is yours, Finochi!"

"Who said you have to die? You can be more useful than that beautiful!"

The bile rose in my throat at his sick words, and my head began throbbing in pain.

God! Please, help me!

My most disgusting nightmare was right in front of me, leaning towards my face with an intent to kiss me on the lips. The lust I saw in his eyes made me want to crawl out of my skin and far away from him.

Before he could come any near to my face, I turned my head to the other side. That was all I could do in that situation.

But my nerves filled with panic when he tossed his gun to one of his men and held my face with his now free hand. He began leaning for the second attempt, and I thought that was the end of my dignity.

But then I heard the sound I needed to hear. The sound that saved me, came to my help.

"Down, Miss Maxwell." The devil ordered.

I didn't know how my brain comprehended his words, and my body acted accordingly.

The first thing that I felt as soon as I ducked down was the sound of a gunshot followed by Jason's cry. I didn't waste any time freeing myself from that demon and ran straight to the only hope I had.

I didn't care if I cried in front of the devil or how I ran straight to him, and instead of running away from him, I wrapped my arms around him, buried my face in his chest and sobbed.

I felt his muscles tensing under my touch, but I didn't care as the warmth his body provided made me feel safe!

Can you believe that?

The man who was my death made me feel safe. How ironic!

You expected him to push me away, but he didn't! Was he dead, and was I hugging a dead body?

I slowly loosened my hold around him, but my hands refused to let go of him completely. I peered up at him through my teary eyes to see his jaw set tightly and his face void of any expressions.

I heard Cameron informing him that Jason's father, Anthony Finochi managed to escape with a bullet wound on his leg. And now Cameron was asking what they should do with Jason Finochi.

I tried to turn away to face everyone, but the devil slipped his hand around my waist, holding me firm against him.

"Look at me." He commanded.

What was he doing?

My question was answered by the gunfire and Jason's last cries. My eyes widened in shock as I stared at the devil. He had no remorse, no hesitance as he pulled the trigger again. My hands slipped from around him as the reality hit me hard in the guts.

He was not a protector, but only a destroyer.

And after the third shot, I saw black patches in front of my eyes before my body slumped down in his arm.

My brain woke up for a few seconds when I heard the whispers close to my face as a hot breath fanned my face.

"You are taking more than necessary place in my thoughts, Miss Maxwell. But ultimately the truth doesn't change! You are going to be ruined by me whether I like it or not. And nothing is going to change it. Not even me!"

I wanted to ask him what he wanted before the darkness consumed me whole.

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KING

I was more than just upset with myself after the incident with the Finochis. They knew more than they should about me. But how?

I needed to find out how much information they had on me and how they got it. Why they were interested in Fire, and how did they find out about her? I wanted to know it all!

I was in the gym doing the decline dumbbell bench press and lost in my thoughts when I sensed something strange. There she was standing at the door, gawking at me as if I was a delicious piece of meat in the butcher's shop.

What the hell was wrong with her?

"You are drooling." I stated.

She took a minute to gather herself before she discarded it. "No. I was no-"

I frowned when she stopped abruptly. Why?

And then it struck me. With lightning speed, I ran to where I had placed my goggles and wore them before she got her hands on them.

"You were drooling, Miss Maxwell." I repeated in a calm voice, acting as if she was not just about to discover a secret of mine.

"Why do you hide your eyes?"

I was tired of her same question. "You are obsessed with my eyes!"

"I am curious... there is a difference." She said, pointing her finger upwards like a wise person.

"Curiosity kills the cat."

"You are going to kill me anyway." She countered back.

There was no way I was going to spend another minute with her, and thus I turned to leave only to stop again when she called me from behind.

"Wait. You Banyan tree! Wait." She held my hand to stop me, which brought me to an abrupt halt. She must not be expecting it as she crashed into my back.

"Ouch! Next time I would like if you give a heads up." She said, rubbing her nose.

"You just compared me with a tree."

"Because you both have the same quality. Gigantism!" She said in a duh tone.

I snatched my hand from hers and turned to walk, but she beat me to it by blocking my path and stood in between me and the door.

"I want to talk to you." She said firmly.

I stepped back and crossed my hands over the chest. I saw her eyes following the length of my arms and then my chest. I was about to point it when she said, "No. I was not drooling! Because there is nothing worthy to drool over." She took a deep breath and continued, "Please, I am here to talk about some serious matter. So, please concentrate."

Interesting!

"OK, look. I wanted to... thank you...for-um-saving my life. I never thought that you would reveal yourself for... me. But I don't appreciate the ... violent part but I don't want to talk about it right now. And- I -I want a favour from you." She spoke in a low voice.

I wondered what she wanted now when I had given her more than she deserved.

But nothing prepared me for what she was about to ask.

"I want to start my training again. Benji has taught me the basics of self-defence. I can use them against a normal jerk but dealing with the mafia and all... I need to learn more to handle this shit."

I stared at her for a long moment, trying to figure out what was going on in that pretty head of hers.

"You are going to die at my hands after two and a half months. You don't need to learn anything because till then you are not stepping outside this property." I declared.

"What? Are you serious? I know I have a very short life, thanks to you! And I have accepted the fact that it is unavoidable. But I don't want to spend whatever little time I have on anyone's mercy.

If it was not for Cameron, I would have been dead then and there or even worse. I can't touch the gun like you or use any weapon. But I can use my hands and legs quite better than most of the girls in this city. So please, will you train me?"

I narrowed my eyes at her ignorance.

"I was the one who saved you."

"You are the reason that I got into that trouble so it was your responsibility to help me. You owe me this!"

Yet I was not convinced.

"Why are you asking me of all people?"

"Because Camera would kill me the first chance he gets. Gabriel is busy with Adam, and I want them to spend some time together. Nora... I have seen her reaction to a cockroach!

And Kyle... he is a douchebag and out of the picture. I'd rather die than let him anywhere near me. It left me with only one option and that is you as I don't know anyone else here. Besides, I am living under your roof. Be a good host and tend my all needs!" She reasoned.

"I can kill you the first chance I get just like Cameron."

It took her two whole minutes to open her mouth, and during that time, one thing I surely figured out. She was cooking something in her head, and I wanted to know what it was.

"I-I have heard that you never break your promise. You are a man of his word. I put my trust in you to keep me safe until the end of our deal. You won't hurt me, I know. Well... not kill kind of hurt at least."

Well... if this was a game, then two could play it!

"Get ready at five in the morning."