Chapter 1

"Yeah, Riley," I answered the incoming call, crossing to the other side of the street.

"Are you coming soon? It's dangerous to walk around the city at night," the girl mumbled into the phone, visibly worried about me.

The clouds began to cover the moon, making the street noticeably darker. In this alley, to my regret, there was not a single lantern that had a whole bulb and could light my way. Unfortunately it was a bad neighbourhood and the notorious petty thugs in the form of teenagers from high schools liked to hooliganise by smashing the only lone streetlights with rocks. It was only my second time in this city, and I couldn't really memorize anything yet. I was always getting the streets mixed up and what to say about the outskirts of the city, I'd rather not say anything at all. I only came to visit my friend for three days. After that, I have to go to my job in Sydney.

It was a bit awkward, because right after the airport, I got in a cab to go to Riley’s, but we only made it halfway down the road. The reason for that was an empty tank. The driver gave me the money, and I took my suitcase and went to the address alone.

"If you keep distracting me with calls, expect me in the morning."

"I’m sorry, I'm just worried about you."

"I’ll be there soon. Make some tea, because I'm freezing cold." I dropped the call without waiting for an answer.

Putting my phone in my pocket, I wrapped around the back of the house. A couple more blocks and I’d be warm. Next to my best friend and hot tea in my hands.

"Damn," I hissed when I realized I’d taken a wrong turn.

It was getting too dark. I narrowed my eyes, trying to make out the road. London seemed so different now. It was like a different life at night. Far from the club life of all the movies. Some kind of fear was slowly building up in my body, and anxiety rose to my throat as the sound of someone else's soles rustling against the pavement reached my ears. I tripped over a medium-sized rock, which apparently had been left by the little hooligans, and I lost my balance and flew downward, but ...

A man’s arms wrapped around my waist, preventing me from falling. I shrieked in surprise and stood up on my feet, shoving away the stranger who had literally saved me from falling. My heart was literally jumping out of my chest as my eyes were wide open at the same moment, trying to see more clearly the situation around me. I turned to the side, noticing a pair of black figures. Three guys were standing at my side, scaring me. The bloody anticipation of the situation was getting more and more frightening.

There are four of them, I’m alone, and I am a girl, the weaker sex compared to them.

I don't have any fighting skills, and I'm not a fast runner either.

"You gotta be careful," the guy tucked his hands into his pocket and raised his gaze to me.

Blue eyes glinted in the darkness, reflecting off the headlights, but then the car drove on, taking all the light with it. Because of the darkness and shadows that fell on my face, I couldn’t see my savior very well. Only his eyes, which shone in the darkness like a beacon.

"Thank you," I picked up the suitcase handle from the ground and wrapped my arms around it, clutching it tightly so I wouldn’t miss it next time.

I wanted to walk away from them, to be safe, but the man’s hand kept me from doing so, holding me firmly by the elbow.

"You just came to this city?" His voice was slightly husky, but also pleasant. He let go of me, hiding his hands in his pockets again.

"Yes," the wind blew, and my body went goosebumps.

I rubbed my bare arm with my free palm, pushing the blood through my body to warm it. I knew it wasn’t the reason I was cold. I was just scared.

I wasn’t used to talking to a strange guy at night when his friends were still standing to the side, scaring the hell out of me, because they were silent. Or maybe they were men. I don’t know what they had in mind. I couldn't see the exact face of who I was talking to, and that was a little alarming. What if they were bad people and I was about to get in big trouble?

"Here, you're frozen," he took off his jacket and threw it over my shoulders.

"Thank you," I wrapped myself more tightly  in the stranger's jacket, smelling the pleasant odor that came from it.

What I needed more than anything was the warmth I already had.

"I think you need to be escorted out, don’t you?" It was like he read my mind, because it was really necessary, but on the other hand, I was scared as hell of the whole thing.

"Yeah, I’d really appreciate it," I pulled my phone out of my jeans pocket and went into messages, finding a message from Riley with the address.

Fingers gripped the mobile phone tighter, so that if anything happened, they wouldn’t  be able to grab it and run away.

"I got it," the stranger nodded and walked forward, the three man following him, but then the guy stopped abruptly, turning back. "Are you coming?"

"Oh yes!" I realized and hurried after him.

"What is your name?" He asked, not even turning around to look at me.

"Hailey, my name is Hailey."

Could it be the son of a rich daddy and his bodyguards? Or were they outlaws?

We walked into a dark area where there really wasn’t any lighting. How can they see in the dark? Unlike them, I can't even see the road beneath my feet. They must have lived here for a long time and know this city like the back of their hands. We rounded the corner of the building and my escort and his men stopped abruptly. I didn’t expect it, and I slammed into the blue-eyed man's back, following right on his heels.

"I’m sorry," I looked away in embarrassment.

"We’re here. We’ll see you again," I heard his smirk.

"Thanks for walking me out. I’m going to go," I ignored his previous words and walked into the house.

When I got to the right floor, I opened the apartment and went inside. I quietly closed the door behind me, set down my suitcase, and took off my jacket and hung it in the closet. Only then did the thought hit my head that I had completely forgotten about it to give it to the young man. The terrifying situation and wariness had knocked the idea out of my head. Now I knew what the fellow meant. But anyway, how would he find me? I don't think he’d have been guarding me under the house all day.

Turning on the hallway light, I walked into the living room and saw my friend. Riley was in a sitting position sleeping on the couch, holding her phone in one hand. There were two mugs of cold tea on the table. Taking a blanket from the bedroom, I carefully covered my friend with it. After that, I went back into the bedroom and plopped down on the bed, falling into sleep. I was very tired from the long airplane ride. So, I needed to rest and regain my strength.