Down Payment

"That would not be so simple." she exasperated. "When i was a child, my mother used to tell me stories of fairies where a knight in shining armor would come to save the princess trapped in the tower. When I was growing up in those dark rooms, I believed that one day, a prince would come to save me too. But with time I realized that I was not a princess but the spawn of a villain who was meant to be trampled.

But I did not want to give up on my life. I want to live, even if I have to sacrifice a few things for it." she looked at him. Her eyes are bright with the desire to live.

"I am not expecting you to be the prince anymore. I am not even expecting you to be the shitty knight that fights with the villains. I want you to be the villain who needs a few women around you to fawn at you. I could be one of them. You do not need to be responsible for me. All I need is your protection and in exchange, I will be yours." she offered without a hint of hesitation in her eyes. 

He stared hard at her. A kind man would offer her help without reason. But he was not kind, not anymore.

"It has been four times since they have attacked me. I could not just sit here and wait for them to come and attack me every time. There would be times when I would not be prepared for it. Tell me what you know about them. Even minor things could be of use. For starters, tell me the blueprint of their hideout if you know." she gulped. Even when she had offered him herself, she was sure he would not accept it.

"They are undefeatables." she warned him in a gloomy voice. "I know that you have fighting skills but they were just too many. The family only had Graham with his two sons handling the whole south district. But there will be hundreds of men guarding their villa. And thousands of thugs working all over the city for them. And then they must have extended chains of loyal dogs." 

But when she looked at his amused face, she felt like a child who was warning a lion against small dogs.

"You have a way. Don't you?" she blushed and looked away and he laughed. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her closer. 

"I will not lie to you, Mary. I am not a good man. And I am not a loyal man who would settle with a wife."He extended his hands and stroked her moist and delicate cheek.

"I will deal with them for you. But you do not need to be with me for life. You can always find a reliable and honest man who will love you and settle down with you." he offered but she only sighed and leaned on him further.

She could feel the strength of his body. The hardness of his muscles and she let go of the breath she was holding. 

"And then they would come and kill that man. And I will be hunted again. Worst of all, I will be dragged and used as their ragdoll. I do not want it in my life. Even if you deal with as many of them, they could never let go of me. I am safe with you. I want to live in your protection." 

When he did not reply, she stroked his cheeks with a mischievous smile on her face.

"As long as you give me a child. I will live with him. You are not interested in the underworld and so am i. But our child will run it in the future." she said those words so seriously when they had not even kissed yet that it made him laugh.

"I am not asking you to protect me all the time. Your name and the child would be enough for me. But if you are afraid that Ana would not accept our relationship, then I understand it and I would not pressure you and make things awkward between all three of us." she tried to move back from his chest with a reluctant look on her face.

But he wrapped his hand around her waist and did not let her move. 

"Me and Ana do not share that kind of relationship. She already has someone she likes where she is working." her eyes widened and she snapped her head to look at his face.

There were no emotions of betrayal or rage on his face. But he looked so calm that she felt petrified. Perhaps, he felt the change of her emotions that he rubbed her arms.

"So, you do not need to worry about her. But I will not touch you yet. I will get rid of them first and prove my worth to you. You can think about it and then decide about me in the future. 

You are free to refuse even when I have defeated all of them." he promised.

If anyone would have promised her this much, then she would have laughed over it. But when Ethen promised him, she did not doubt it. But she was touched by his sincerity and kindness.

Her gaze became resolute as she kept looking at him, "in this life I have already decided, Ethan. I will be with you and only you. Even if you have a wife and other kids." 

"...'' Ethan's gaze flickered. Somewhat happy and somewhat relieved he shook his head.

"Wife is too troublesome. Why would I want it when I can spend time with you and Ana? as long as you do not regret it." He did not let her repeat her promise as he bit her earlier and then kissed her neck.

But before her breathing turned labored, he let her go. A look of disappointment filled her eyes but she did not complain about it. 

They finished their meal and Mary left after a small conversation. 

Just as she was walking on the road, a sports car came all the way from the other side and struck in front of her. Her heart thudded. She had thought that was safe with the wig and scarf covering half of her face. But she was still caught so easily.

She was ready to run away. She could still call for Ethan. But as the window of the car slowly opened, she saw a young woman sitting on the other side.

"Who are you and what were you doing with my husband?"