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Protecting her

Chapter 4

Ethan's POV

I massaged my temples, trying to soothen the throbbing pain radiating from my neck. The file on Ruby lay before me, but my attention kept drifting to her sluggish movements as she regained consciousness.

"She's finally awake!" Lucas announced from behind me, a hint of amusement dancing in his voice.

Ruby's eyes snapped open, wide with fear. "You kidnapped me!" she accused, her gaze darting wildly around the room before locking onto me.

I remained impassive. "Why were you there that night?" I demanded, cutting through her hysteria.

Her words tumbled out in a stuttering rush. "I was just passing by... I..." But she faltered, her sentence dying on her lips.

Just as I was about to press her further, a deafening explosion rocked the room. I was knocked off my chair, my ears ringing.

"Shit!" I cursed, scrambling to my feet.

In one fluid motion, I drew my handgun from my belt and aimed at the source of the blast.

After waiting for some seconds, there were no movements from the burst-out open wall in the abandoned warehouse, and I checked to ensure my captive was alright.

My gaze flicked to Lucas, and I nodded curtly. "Uncuff her."

The priority now was keeping Antonio captive.

Bullets rained down on us, shattering the silence. I overturned the metal table, its legs screeching against the floor.

As I shielded Ruby, my eyes locked onto the shooter's position. They weren't aiming to kill, just to pin me down.

I turned to Ruby, her eyes were wide with fear. "Stay low," I ordered, my voice firm.

I raised a finger at Lucas, and he nodded, understanding the unspoken command.

I sprang up, sprinting towards Antonio's location with Lucas covering my six.

"You can't waltz into my territory and take my prisoner, Shadow," I growled, training my gun on the familiar woman beside Antonio.

Her gaze met mine, cold and calculating. A hint of amusement danced in her eyes.

"Don't move," I warned.

Suddenly, she hurled a black orb at me. I dodged, but it burst into a blinding white gas, choking the air from my lungs.

The white smoke caught me off guard, searing my eyes like hot needles. I clenched them shut, pain stabbing through my eyelids.

"This won't do," I growled, disoriented.

Blindly, I fired a warning shot in Shadow's direction.

I dropped low, digging into my pockets for my handkerchief. There was momentary relief as I wiped away the stinging tears.

My vision slowly cleared, still hazy but serviceable.

Through the blur, I saw Shadow dragging Ruby away. I sprinted towards them, gun aimed. I squeezed the trigger.

That shot seemed to help, as I heard Shadow curse out loud while cradling her injured arm. Shadow aimed her gun at me but didn't fire a shot. Instead, she gave one final look at Ruby before hurrying to help her partner out.

I heard the distant sound of a helicopter and thought better of chasing them both. Lucas soon came to my side, still dabbing at his eyes.

"This smoky thing is crazy..." I heard him curse, but I didn't pay much attention to him. Instead, I stalked towards the defenseless Ruby, crouched down, looking confused and frightened.

I wrapped my large arms around Ruby's fragile frame, pulling her up to meet my gaze. "You claim you know nothing," I said, my voice firmer than intended. Ruby flinched, her eyes darting away.

"Maybe Shadow saw how helpless she looked and decided to save her from your evil clutches," Lucas quipped from behind me.

I ignored him, my focus on Ruby. "Shadow doesn't save anyone unless it's part of her scheme. And only Antonio's ever been worth saving to her."

As I spoke, I released Ruby, noticing her wince. My grip had been too tight. Weeks ago, I wouldn't have cared, but this redhead...

Something about her sparked a glimmer of curiosity.

"Lock her up," I ordered Lucas, turning to leave.

"Where do I lock her up?" Lucas asked, chuckling. "That crazy Shadow blew up the whole place."

I spun back, irritation etched on my face. "I'll take her myself."

I grasped Ruby's arm, pulling her close. She struggled, but my grip remained unyielding.

"Where are you taking her?" Lucas asked, falling into step beside me.

"My place," I replied curtly, my tone dismissing further questions.

As we walked out the warehouse's rubble-strewn exit, I sidestepped the lifeless bodies.

'Hmmm, knife wounds, no wonder there was no commotion outside.' I walked towards my car, parked in the distance, and forcibly guided Ruby in, despite her stubborn resistance, before getting in.

"Don't even think about it, unless you want to be bound up again," I warned, my voice icy, as I caught her reaching for the handle.

The engine's sudden silence halted my words. "Get out of the car!" I bellowed at Ruby, my anger flaring, as smoke curled from the bonnet. I leapt out, expecting Ruby to follow, but she remained trapped, desperately wrestling with the jammed door.

Without hesitation, I slammed my fist into the car glass, and searing pain shot through my hand as my fingers cracked. But the glass stood firm.

"Shit!" I growled, swiftly moving to extract Ruby from the back seat through the driver's sear. Instinct kicked in, and I reacted without hesitation.

I pulled her out with ease,

We needed distance from the exploding car. I could smell the fuel and sensed the impending blast.

The explosion threw us into the air, pain ripping through my body like a jagged knife. My training kicked in, and I wrapped myself around Ruby, shielding her from the worst of it.

Her pained scream pierced the air as we hit the ground, the impact jarring every bone in my body.

Darkness encroached, threatening to consume me. Then, nothing.

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