“Connor!” Kirra gasped, her chest tight, her hand flying to grab his sleeve. “Wait! Don’t go—”But before she could finish her sentence, the butler’s foot slammed down on the accelerator.The car lurched forward with a jerk as the wheels screeched against the dirt road. Kirra was thrown back into her seat, while the bonnet jumped ahead like a charging bull.“STOP!” She screamed, twisting around in panic.The headlights sliced across the forest road as the vehicle took a dive straight into the crowd of men. Some jumped out of the way, while a few were pushed aside by the bonnet, accompanied by shouts and protests.But Kirra couldn't hear anything else. She was almost writhing with anxiety, turning in every possible direction, desperate to catch one last glimpse of Connor. She clawed at the window, but all she could see was the top of his head as he stood in the middle of those men, separating them like a human wall. “Stop! Stop the car! We can’t leave him behind!” Her voice cracked,

Two hours ago, the forest had been a darker place, lined by a corridor of trees that swallowed sound and light that dared to enter. Connor had stepped out of the car into that black maw of nature, with nothing but his own two hands to meet thirty men who had been paid to finish him.They had taunted him the second they saw him. “Look at the village dog,” one had sneered. “All alone. Come and give us a dance, little man.” Another cracked, “Hope you brought something better than that tired face, mate.”Connor’s reply had been a single, cold smile. “Show me your best,” he said, almost bored. “I’ll show you the rest.”They came in ragged waves. The first few were clumsy, all bravado and wild swings. Connor moved like a man who’d trained until his own muscles had learned memory: a step, an angle, a palm to a jaw that folded a man in half; a forearm across ribs that stole the breath out of another. He didn’t waste time on theatrics. He punched where it counted, twisted wrists until elbows

“Hurry up! Can't you see that it's an emergency?”She barked, her voice trembling but commanding.The ride was a blur as Connor leaned against her shoulder, his breath shallow. Kirra stared out the window, biting her lip so hard she tasted blood, praying he wouldn’t lose consciousness before they arrived.At last, the taxi pulled up to the emergency ward. She hauled him out, staggering under his weight but refusing to let go. Inside, the sharp scent of antiseptic hit her nose as she shouted for help. Nurses rushed forward, wheeling a bed.“Admission requires upfront payment,” one nurse said briskly, clipboard in hand.Kirra’s stomach dropped. She fumbled at her side, realizing she had no purse, no wallet—nothing. Panic clawed at her throat. “Please,” she begged. “He needs help! Just… just give me a moment—”“No exceptions! Payment first please.”In a frantic motion, she reached up and tore one of her diamond earrings free. The jewel glittered under the hospital’s harsh lights. She thr

The morning sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows of Charity Cross Hospital, painting soft golden streaks across the whitewashed walls. The nurse clipped the final band around Connor’s arm and tucked his file neatly under her arm.“The patient is stable,” the doctor said, slipping off his gloves and glancing at them both with a practiced smile. “You can leave anytime you wish. Follow the medication schedule I’ve written. Keep the cast dry, and don’t put weight on that arm until we review it after two weeks.”Kirra nodded quickly, her lips curving into a formal smile. “Thank you, Doctor. Really. Thank you for everything.”The doctor inclined his head before striding out, the click of his shoes fading down the corridor.The very second the door shut, Kirra’s composure cracked. She whirled around to face Connor, her words tumbling out in a rush.“Connor, where are we going to go now? I don’t have the keys or papers for any of the properties under my name—not even a single cont

Kirra stepped carefully across the familiar marble floor where she had spent countless evenings running around to play, crossed over that threshold numerous times a day, without even taking note of it. But none of those times felt as significant as this one, even though she had spent the whole cab ride while trying to calm down her heart that was beating with excitement. Her fingers trembled as she clutched the small basket of fruits to her chest. The handle was rough and scratched her soft palms, but she didn’t loosen her grip. It was all she had managed to buy with the last of the cash she had, her tiny gesture of thanks for her father.Her lips were pressed into a fragile smile as she stepped through the heavy wooden doors. The air carried the rich smell of roasted coffee and buttered toast to her nose, but before she could speak, a sharp voice cut through the air like a lash. “What the hell are you doing here?”Kirra froze mid-step. Aunt Kakadu’s glare burned into her like fir