Silence followed, broken only by ragged breathing.
Alexander stood there for a second, shoulders tense, fists clenched.
Then he turned.
Mia was trying to push herself up, hands shaking, knees weak beneath her. As Alexander strode toward her, his steps were heavy, controlled, dangerous. He stopped in front of her and reached out, his hand steady despite the fury still burning in his eyes.
“Come here,” he said lowly, offering his hand.
Mia lifted her shaking hand toward him—fear still clinging to her chest—but before her fingers could touch his, her gaze slid past his shoulder.
Her blood turned cold.
One of the men was on his feet again.
He staggered toward them from behind, teeth clenched, eyes wild with fury and desperation. In his hands was a thick wooden stick, gripped so tightly his knuckles had gone white.
“Mr. Graves!” Mia screamed, her voice tearing out of her throat.
She lunged forward, reaching to pull Alexander away—
Too late.
The stick came down with brutal force.
The crack of the impact echoed through the empty street.
Chapter 5 Fury
Alexander’s body jolted violently. His knees gave out at once, the strength leaving him in an instant. The color drained from his face as he pitched forward, collapsing straight into Mia. His full weight slammed against her chest, knocking the breath from her lungs. His head dropped heavily against her shoulder, his body going slack.
Warm liquid spilled down the back of his head.
Blood.
The man who struck him stumbled, his own legs giving out seconds later, crashing to the ground a few feet away. But Mia didn’t spare him a glance.
Her entire world narrowed to the man in her arms.
“Alexander… Alexander…” she whispered frantically, her voice trembling as she tried to hold him up.
Her knees hit the pavement as she lowered him, unable to keep him standing. His upper body remained slumped against her, his forehead pressing into the curve of her neck, breath shallow and uneven.
Her hand flew to the back of his head.
It came away warm. Wet.
She stared at her palm, stained red.
Mia’s breath shattered. Her chest seized so tightly it hurt. Tears flooded her eyes, blurring everything.
“No… no, no, no…” she whispered, panic spiraling. “Please wake up… please…”
Her hands shook so badly she could barely move. Fighting hysteria, she fumbled through the scattered bags, finally grabbing her phone. Her fingers were numb as she dialed Allen’s number.
He answered almost immediately.
“Where are you?” Mia blurted out, words tumbling over each other. “Did you come with Alexander? Where are you right now?”
