The forest was pitch black. Antonio was pacing back and forth outside the car, holding his phone and his knife. He kept looking at the road, his face sweaty and pale. Inside the car, Eimi watched him. She was terrified, but she also felt a tiny bit of hope. She knew Marco was near.
Suddenly, the sound of a loud, roaring engine filled the air. Two bright lights appeared in the fog. A car was flying down the dirt road at a dangerous speed.
"He's here!" Antonio screamed. He ran to the back door of the car and pulled Eimi out. He held the knife near her arm. "Don't move, Princess! If he gets too close, I'll do it!"
The Arrival
The car—Marco's powerful sports car—slammed on the brakes, sending dirt and rocks flying everywhere. The door opened, and Marco stepped out.
He didn't look like the man Eimi knew. His hair was messy, his tie was gone, and his eyes looked like cold, blue fire. He didn't say a word. He just walked toward Antonio with slow, steady steps.
"Stop right there!" Antonio yelled, his voice shaking. "I want the money! Where is the money?"
Marco didn't stop. He didn't even look at the knife. He only looked at Eimi. When he saw the tears on her face and the way Antonio was gripping her arm, his face twisted into something truly scary.
"I told you," Marco said. His voice was very quiet, which made it even more frightening. "I told you what would happen if you touched her."
The Rescue
Antonio panicked. He lunged forward to strike, but Marco was faster than anyone Eimi had ever seen.
Marco moved like a shadow. He grabbed Antonio's wrist and twisted it until the knife fell into the mud. Then, with a loud roar of anger, Marco punched Antonio across the face. Antonio fell to the ground like a stone.
Marco didn't stop there. He grabbed Antonio by the shirt and pulled him up. "You talked about my wife," Marco hissed, his voice full of rage. "You thought you could put your hands on her?"
Marco was about to hit him again, but Eimi ran forward.
"Marco, stop!" she cried, grabbing his arm. "Please! It's over! The police are coming!"
Marco froze. He looked at Eimi's hands on his arm. Slowly, the fire in his eyes started to fade. He looked at her pale face and her shaking shoulders. He let go of Antonio, who slumped to the ground, unconscious.
The Warmth of Safety
Marco turned to Eimi. All the anger left his body instantly. He reached out and pulled her into a very tight hug. He held her so close she could hear his heart beating—it was fast and loud, just like hers.
"I'm sorry," he whispered into her hair. His voice was trembling now. "I'm so sorry I let this happen. I should have been there."
Eimi buried her face in his chest. The smell of his cedarwood cologne made her feel safe again. She didn't care about the contract or the money. In that moment, she just wanted to stay in his arms forever.
"You came for me," she whispered. "You really came."
"I will always come for you," Marco replied. He pulled back and cupped her face with his hands. He looked at her with so much emotion that Eimi felt her breath catch. "No more contracts, Eimi. No more acting. I don't care about the money. I just care that you are safe."
In the distance, the blue and red lights of the police cars appeared through the trees. The nightmare was over. But as Marco kissed her forehead, Eimi realized that a new story was just beginning.