Chapter 2

Cassiel‘s POV

I watched from the floor-to-ceiling window of my study, my gaze locked onto Julian’s retreating form.

I had expected resistance but what I hadn’t expected was the hesitation.

Julian was too proud to beg. Too stubborn to make desperate bargains—at least, that’s who he had been. But the man who had walked into my house tonight was different.

I had seen it in his eyes. The exhaustion. The quiet, bone-deep fear.

It had been… satisfying.

A long time ago, he had tried to put me in handcuffs. Had stood in courtrooms and called me a criminal, a parasite feeding off society. And now, he was here, seeking me out like a lifeline.

Poetic.

I turned from the window as Enzo stepped into the study.

“You let him leave?” He asked.

I poured myself another drink. “He’ll be back.”

Enzo crossed his arms. “You sure about that?”

I took a sip, savoring the burn. “He doesn’t have another choice.”

Enzo exhaled sharply. “And if he does?”

I set my glass down, my expression turning cold.

“Then I’ll make sure he doesn’t.”

Enzo sighed as he left for a moment. I barely glanced up when Enzo reentered the room. The man moved like a shadow, silent and calculating.

“He left,” He said.

I smirked. “Of course he did.”

Enzo leaned against the desk. “You’re pushing him hard.”

I swirled the whiskey in my glass. “I always push. If he breaks, then he was never worth it.”

Enzo exhaled sharply. “And if he doesn’t break?”

My smirk widened. “Then he’ll be mine.”

The thought was… intriguing.

Julian was fire, even now, when he was barely holding himself together. That kind of defiance wasn’t easily extinguished. And I had no intention of putting it out. No, I wanted to own it. Control it. Make it burn for him.

“He’ll run,” Enzo warned.

I chuckled. “Let him. He has nowhere to go.”

A knock interrupted us. One of my men entered, eyes sharp, stance rigid.

“Sir,” the man said. “We have a problem.”

My amusement faded instantly. “Speak.”

The guard hesitated. “It’s Julian.”

My grip tightened around the glass.

“What about him?”

______________________

The streets were quiet, but my presence was enough to make the air thick with tension. I stepped out of the black car, my movements unhurried, controlled.

My men had already secured the scene. A few civilians lingered at the edges, pretending not to watch. But no one dared come closer.

My gaze locked on the wreckage ahead.

Julian’s car was on its side, the front smashed in, smoke curling from the engine. A black SUV was parked a short distance away, its door still open. Blood trailed across the pavement.

I exhaled slowly, my eyes darkening.

I moved forward, stepping past the wreckage until I found what I was looking for.

Julian.

The man was half-conscious, slumped against the alley wall. Blood stained his temple, trickling down the side of his face. His breathing was labored, but his hazel eyes still burned with fury as they flickered open.

I crouched beside him, gripping his jaw.

“Looks like you’ve had a rough night.”

Julian forced a laugh, hoarse and bitter. “Go to hell.”

My grip tightened, forcing Julian to meet my gaze. “You should’ve stayed where I could protect you.”

He wrenched his head away. “I don’t need your protection.”

My jaw tensed. “No? Then explain this.” I gestured at the wreckage, at the blood staining his shirt. “Explain why you’re barely breathing.”

His silence was answer enough.

I slowly rose to my feet, adjusting my cuffs. “Who did this?”

He hesitated. His lips parted, then pressed into a thin line.

My patience snapped and I grabbed him by the collar, hauling him to his feet. He swayed but didn’t fall, stubborn even in pain.

I leaned in, my voice low and sharp.

“I will burn this city down to find out. You either tell me, or I find out my own way.”

Julian glared at me. His voice was tight with pain. “I don’t know.”

I stilled.

For the first time, Julian looked shaken. Not from the attack itself—but from the unknown.

That changed things.

I let go of him abruptly, turning away.

If he didn’t know who was behind this, then the situation was worse than I thought. Someone had gone after him deliberately. Sent a message.

And I wasn’t the kind of man who ignored threats.

I turned back to Julian. “You will come with me.”

His laugh was bitter. “Not a chance.”

I smirked. “I wasn’t asking.”

His body slumped as the fight left him, his consciousness slipping away. I watched him for a long moment, my expression unreadable. Then I turned to my men.

“Get him in the car,” I ordered, my voice clipped. “Now.”

They obeyed without hesitation, lifting Julian’s unconscious form with practiced ease. My gaze lingered on the blood seeping from his temple. It trailed down his cheek, disappearing into the collar of his ruined shirt.

A slow exhale left my lips.

Julian had nearly gotten himself killed. Over what? Pride? Stubbornness?

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to strangle him or—

I pushed the thought aside and sighed deeply.

Instead, I focused on the wreckage. My men had already begun their work—checking surveillance, controlling witnesses, making sure the police stayed away. It would be as if this never happened.

I turned to Enzo. “Find out who did this.”

Enzo gave a firm nod. “We’ll know by morning.”

My jaw tightened. That wasn’t soon enough.

The unknown factor in all this—it made my blood burn. Whoever had targeted Julian had done so for a reason. I didn’t believe in coincidences.

And if this was connected to Bash’s disappearance…

My grip on my cufflink tightened.

No one touches what belonged to me.

And Julian?

He belongs to me now, whether he realized it or not.

I slid into the backseat of the car, beside Julian’s unconscious form. The car door shut with a heavy finality, sealing us in.

I didn’t look at him right away. Instead, I studied the city lights flickering through the tinted windows.

A quiet groan broke the silence, drawing my glance down.

Julian’s fingers twitched. His head lolled slightly, the fog of unconsciousness lifting. His brows knitted together, like even in his sleep, he was fighting.

I smirked, Of course he was.

I reached into my jacket pocket, pulling out a crisp white handkerchief. With deliberate care, I pressed it against his temple, stemming the slow trickle of blood.

He stirred, eyelids fluttering. His hazel eyes cracked open, still heavy with exhaustion.

The moment his gaze focused on me, his entire body tensed.

“Don’t,” I warned, my voice smooth.

His jaw clenched. “Where—”

“You’re fine,” I interrupted. “For now.”

His hands twitched, but he was too weak to push me away. His breath was uneven, but his glare was sharp as ever.

“You—”

“Saved your life?” I finished. “Yes. Again.”

He let out a ragged laugh. “That’s not what I was going to say.”

I tilted my head. “No?”

His lips curled into something bitter. “I was going to say…you’re an arrogant son of a bitch.”

I chuckled. “I know.”

He exhaled sharply, leaning his head back against the seat. He looked exhausted, but not defeated. Not yet.

I studied him for a moment before speaking.

“You’re coming home with me.”

His head snapped towards me. “The hell I am.”

My smile didn’t waver. “You can barely sit upright, Julian. Where exactly do you think you’re going?”

Silence.

I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice to a whisper.

“You put yourself in my hands the second you walked into my office. And now, someone wants you dead.”

He flinched at the last part and I didn’t miss it.

My voice softened unconsciously, just a fraction.

“You can fight me all you want. But you’ll do it from my house, under my protection.”

He looked away, his throat bobbing and I let the silence stretch between us. I already knew the answer.

Because deep down, he knew it too.

This fight?

It wasn’t just his anymore.

_______________________

The car pulled up to the estate and the gates opened silently.

I watched Julian carefully as he stared out the window, his expression unreadable as he let his thoughts run.

“You need help going in?” I asked as he slowly took the handkerchief off his head, the bleeding had stopped since it wasn’t serious. “I have to be somewhere else soon.”

“No, I can handle myself now. You can go do whatever.”

“So you don’t care where I’m going?” A teasing smirk bloomed on my face before he scoffed and got out, striding into the estate. I watched him for a while before I gave Enzo the go-ahead to drive away.

And for some reason, I expected him to leave but I didn’t mind — the back and forth was fun.