The city of New York roared with life—horns blaring, traffic lights flashing, voices overlapping in a chaotic rhythm. Inside a sleek black car, Ethan sat back in the passenger seat while his assistant drove. His sharp eyes scanned the skyline, but his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
The buzz of his phone pulled him back. He answered without hesitation.
"Sir," Marco's steady voice came through the line, "Miss Larah has already been moved to your penthouse villa. She'll be safe there."
Ethan smirked faintly, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Good." Without another word, he hung up.
The car rolled to a stop in front of a towering glass building: Bizard Corporation. The American front for an empire of illegal trades. Inside, employees lined the lobby, bowing slightly as Ethan walked past in his tailored suit. His presence was enough to silence the entire floor.
At the end of the hall, a large man waited. His frame was massive, his stomach stretching the buttons of his suit. A cigar smoldered between two thick fingers.
"Well, Mr. Ethan," the man said with a booming voice, "come to my office. We'll discuss inside."
Ethan said nothing, only following him with cold, measured steps.
Inside the office, crystal glasses clinked as expensive liquor was poured. They discussed shipments, money laundering, weapons, and drugs. The room thickened with smoke and greed.
Halfway through, the fat man leaned back in his chair, smirking. "So, Mr. Ethan… word is you've got yourself a new girl, hm?"
Ethan swirled the wine in his glass, his smirk never fading. "You've got a lot of eyes, Mr. Louise."
Louise chuckled but said no more. Business returned to numbers and promises. In the end, he offered Ethan forty percent of the profits in exchange for his influence and protection. Ethan accepted with a firm handshake.
"We'll make a fine partnership," Louise said, his grin revealing too many teeth.
But as Ethan left the building, Louise's eyes followed him with something darker—seeds of a hidden plan, something he had no intention of revealing yet.
---
Hours turned into a day. Ethan spent the evening in a luxurious nightclub, tucked away in a private VIP lounge. Neon lights spilled across the floor while music thumped like a heartbeat. Around him, dancers moved seductively, women clung to his arms, laughter rang too loudly. But Ethan wasn't smiling.
He lifted another glass of whiskey, his vision slightly blurred. And then—her face came unbidden.
Larah.
He saw her again in his mind, crying, trembling, yet still brave enough to help him that night. Twenty-seven years of living, of seeing betrayal and cruelty, yet never once had he met someone like her. She could have turned away. She could have pretended he didn't exist. Instead, she had chosen to help.
The thought made something twist inside him, something he hadn't felt in years.
Suddenly, he shoved the woman dancing on his lap to the side. "Move." His voice was sharp, laced with irritation. The woman stumbled, pouting, but Ethan didn't care. He stood and made for the door.
But just as he reached the club's exit—
CRASH!
A bottle smashed against the side of his head. Shards of glass rained across the floor. Blood trickled down his temple.
The club erupted into chaos.
"Fuck! I'll kill you!" Ethan roared, his voice cutting through the music. He spun around, eyes blazing with fury.
The attacker stepped forward, a rival with a sneer on his face. This was no random drunk. This was a man who had been hunting Ethan. A man whose group wanted Larah dead.
The rival swung a blade, lunging fast. The steel flashed toward Ethan's face. But Ethan was faster. He dodged, the blade slicing only air. In one smooth motion, he drew his gun and fired.
BANG!
The bullet shattered a table, missing its mark. The rival dove for cover, rolling behind the thick wooden furniture.
"You're going to die, Ethan!" the man shouted from behind cover, his voice full of venom. "And we'll kill the woman too!"
The words froze Ethan for a split second—then ignited a fire inside him. His vision went red. Larah's terrified face appeared in his mind. The thought of her in danger made him snap.
"You dare…" Ethan growled. He stormed forward like a thunderbolt, grabbing the man by the collar when he tried to slip away.
He slammed him against the wall, his gun pressed to the rival's jaw. "If you so much as breathe her name again, I'll end you right here."
The man laughed bitterly, but Ethan's fist silenced him. A brutal punch cracked his nose, blood spraying across the floor. Ethan hit him again, again, until the rival was barely conscious.
"I'll kill you if you dare lay a hand on my woman," Ethan hissed, his voice low and deadly.
But then—the wail of police sirens cut through the night. Red and blue lights splashed against the windows of the club. Officers shouted outside.
The rival smirked through his broken nose. "They'll catch you, Ethan. You can't run forever—"
Ethan didn't let him finish. One last punch sent him sprawling to the floor, unconscious.
The front doors burst open. Police stormed in. Panic spread like wildfire—screaming dancers, scattering customers, the sound of boots and batons.
Ethan didn't hesitate. He slipped through a narrow service corridor, his movements swift and precise. Every exit had been mapped in his mind long before he entered. That was the difference between him and the fools chasing him.
Behind him, chaos erupted. His rival screamed in fury as the police grabbed him, twisting his arms behind his back.
"FUCK!" the man bellowed, struggling in vain. "I'll get you for this, Ethan! I swear I'll kill her!"
But Ethan was already gone, melting into the night, blood still dripping from his temple, his rage burning hotter than ever.
---
By the time he reached his safe house, the city was quiet again. Ethan poured himself a glass of whiskey, staring at the dark liquid without drinking it. His reflection in the glass looked like a stranger—bloodied, furious, tired.
He set the glass down and clenched his fists.
Larah's face
flashed again in his mind. The innocence in her eyes. The kindness in her voice.
She was in danger because of him. And for the first time in years, Ethan wasn't sure if he could live with the thought of losing someone who mattered.