Chaos's BMW rolled to a stop in front of the Saints Mansion.
Zarri had already contacted Grandfather James ahead of time, and by the time they arrived, Frank was waiting at the gates with two guards stationed beside him. The moment the car pulled up, the men moved swiftly.
One opened the back door and carefully helped Kashi out of Zarri's arms. The other steadied Zarri as she climbed out. Kashi, pale and weak, barely had the strength to protest before one of the guards lifted her into his arms and carried her toward the house.
Chaos stepped out from the driver's seat, shutting the car door behind him. He had barely taken two steps toward the guard holding Kashi when Frank raised a hand, stopping him in place.
"I need to... " Chaos began.
"We will take it from here, Mr. Riegrow," Frank said firmly, though not without respect. "We appreciate your help. But please, leave."
A dark frown settled over Chaos's face. His eyes moved past Frank to Kashi, but she turned her face away, burying it weakly against the chest of the guard carrying her.
"Chaos…" Zarri called softly.
He let out a long breath, the tension in him sharpening before finally giving way.
"Fine."
The guard carrying Kashi continued toward the mansion. Frank and Zarri followed behind, leaving Chaos standing alone under the estate lights.
A second later, he got back into his car and sped off into the night.
Inside the house, a doctor was already waiting.
Kashi was laid carefully on her bed, examined, and given medication for the pain. By the time the doctor left, the room had fallen into an uneasy quiet. Grandfather James hovered near her bedside like an enraged hawk, while Zarri sat beside Kashi on the bed, arms folded.
The silence broke when James finally spoke.
"You will be the death of me, Kashi Saints."
"She's fine now, abuelo," Zarri said with a frown. "Don't raise your voice."
"Fine?" James snapped, turning sharply toward her. "Define fine, Zarri. My granddaughter, my heir, was nearly killed by some lowlife scum in a club."
Zarri covered her ears dramatically while Kashi let out a weary sigh.
"I know, I know," Zarri muttered. "But crisis averted, no? Chaos was there. If not for him... "
"Chaos?" James cut in, his voice rising. "Caeser's brat? Of course. Let us all give thanks to that ruffian."
Zarri rolled her eyes.
Behind them, Frank adjusted his glasses and remained silent. Even he knew better than to interfere when the patriarch of the Saints family was in this sort of temper. He sighed inwardly and kept his head lowered.
"It was an unexpected incident," Kashi said at last, her voice soft from exhaustion. "It won't happen again."
"Yes," James said with a hard nod. "It will not happen again. In fact, this would never have happened at all if you had moved with your guards. But no, you insisted on walking around in public alone. The heiress of Saints. With no protection."
Zarri opened her mouth to argue, but James silenced her with one sharp look.
"Not another word, Mathias. I blame you as well. Your recklessness, your nightlife, both of you are trying to send me to an early grave."
Zarri pouted. Kashi shut her eyes briefly as her headache worsened. Frank bowed his head even lower.
"No more," James said. "No more nonsense will be tolerated. Frank!"
Frank stepped forward immediately. "Sir?"
"Call Dante back. Tell him his vacation is over."
Kashi's eyes flew open.
Zarri let out a low, amused chuckle.
"What?" Kashi pushed herself up slightly, wincing. "No, no, no. Grandfather, absolutely not. I already dismissed all the bodyguards. I don't need anyone. You can't do this."
"I can," James said flatly, "and I will."
Dante had once been the leader of Kashi's personal security team, the wildest of them. Kashi had dismissed all her guards because she hated the suffocating feeling of constantly being watched. She wanted freedom, not shadows following her every step. Dante, however, had been the hardest one to get rid of.
"Maybe this is for your own good, Kashi," Zarri said, shrugging. "You're not just a Saint by name anymore. You're the CEO. What happened tonight, who's to say it won't happen again?"
"And it had to be Dante?" Kashi asked, staring at her in disbelief.
Frank coughed quietly and excused himself from the room before anyone could drag him into the discussion.
James turned to Zarri next. "And you, no more roaming around without protection either."
Zarri lifted both hands in surrender. "Yes, yes. Fine."
Kashi scoffed and muttered, "Just don't try to sleep with him."
Zarri gasped, one hand flying dramatically to her chest. "How dare you."
Grandfather James pressed a hand to his forehead as though silently asking heaven to take him immediately.
Then his expression softened. He moved closer to Kashi and patted her hand gently.
"I know you do not like this, my darling," he said, his voice quieter now. "But I cannot watch you get hurt again."
Kashi looked away, her resistance weakening beneath the concern in his eyes.
"Just for a while," James coaxed. "Dante can protect both of you."
After a long moment, Kashi finally gave a reluctant nod. James patted her head, satisfied, before turning and leaving the room.
Not long after, Zarri also excused herself, leaving Kashi alone at last to rest.
The room grew quiet.
But even in the silence, the weight of the night lingered.