With haste, Kate rushed to Ace’s side, crouching beside him in an attempt to stem the flow of blood from his gunshot wound. However, one of the gangsters, emboldened by Ace’s defeat, strode over to Kate. He seized her, holding her up and preventing her escape. “Release me, you bastard!” Kate exclaimed, spitting at the man's face and squirming in his grasp. “You bitch!” The man cursed, responding with a heavy slap that made her dizzy and caused blood to trickle from the corner of her mouth. Determined not to be taken away, Kate fought against the tight grip, biting down on the man's hand with such force that blood gushed out. His reflexive reaction was to let her go, yelping in pain. Enraged by her defiance, the man grabbed his gun and aimed at her. But before he could pull the trigger, he was shot dead on the spot by an unknown assailant. Looking up, Kate saw the towering figure of Lucas, his face calm but his emerald eyes gleaming with ruthless determination as he strode like

The room remained tranquil, enveloped in the gentle embrace of the morning's radiance. Sunbeams, akin to gilded threads, weaved through half-closed draperies, casting intricate designs onto the glistening floor. Kate stirred, her hazel eyes fluttering open in a moment of disorientation. Memories of the previous day came flooding back — a chaotic symphony of gunshots, terror, and Lucas's unwavering intervention.She sensed a gaze upon her, causing her to turn her head abruptly, almost resulting in whiplash. And there he sat, the arrogant mafia boss, perched by her bedside, his emerald eyes fixated upon her with an inexplicable expression.As Kate scrambled to find the right words, her heart pounding, she managed to say, "Why... Why are you here?""Where else should I be? Mm." Lucas responded in a husky tone, the hint of amusement playing on his lips as he toyed with her long, blonde hair that cascaded down her back, his fingers carefully twirling it.At his words, Kate took a moment to

As the meeting concluded, Lucas departed from the shadowed abode of the mafia, the lingering scent of cigar smoke cloaking his attire. The night was tense, and the moon cast extended shadows across the cobbled alley, as he approached the sleek black vehicle awaiting him at the kerb. His chauffeur, an impassive man with a jagged scar tracing his jaw, held open the door, yet Lucas paused as a peculiar sensation pricked the base of his nape, pondering its source. Shrugging off the unease, Lucas slipped into his car only to hear a voice call out. "Lucas! Wait, Lucas!" Elizabeth cried, making her way towards him before he could close the car door and signal the driver to depart. Lucas arched an eyebrow in silence, and Elizabeth knew he desired an explanation for her interruption. Putting on a meek expression, her eyes clouded with tears, Elizabeth softly spoke, "Could I hitch a ride with you, please? My father is still engrossed in business with the other mafia leaders inside, and I

The following morning, Kate awoke in a state of confusion, her entire body aching as if it had been run over by a truck. As she sat up in bed, her attempts to move were met with sharp pain, causing her to finally take notice of the bite marks covering her hands and thighs. Panic-stricken, she attempted to stand, only to have her legs give out beneath her, drawing the attention of the man who had taken her to bed the night before.Lucas, who had woken earlier, gazed calmly at the sleeping woman in his arms, his emotions churning within him. He was unsure how to process what had transpired between them the previous night. Moved by his desires, he had taken her with a primal fervor, leaving behind a tell-tale red spot on the sheets. He knew it had been her first time with a man, and he had been anything but gentle. Like a wild beast, he had claimed her body, unable to resist the forbidden fruit that lay before him. Despite having been drugged, flashes of their passionate encounter linger