a predatory gleam. Face tattoos. Leather jacket. The thick sm

Can I buy you a drink,

ank you

ou want someone to butter you up. Don't

.forwardness but I'm

b her own in a vice-like grip. Panic surged through her veins as she tried to pull aw

breath now hot and sour against her ear.

she pulled her hand free from his, her heart pounding in her che

ing with barely contained fury and panic.

it

or every time someone cal

e crowd without another word. Breathing a sigh of relief, Nora sat down and

ing control over her own life. But as she glanced around the dimly lit

her now bruised wrists, after a few seconds of checking her appearance, she turned to leave only to be greeted by the sight of tw

he women's bathroom," she said, trying to sound

d calculating as they advanced towards her. Before she could rea

d, but their grip only tightened, she lost

cried out, her voice

d guttural growls in a strange language that sounded vague

fought to break free. Now she realized why the driver told her this was a dark place. Her cries for help were drowned out by loud music and

mp chemical-smelling han

ed and kidnapped right in a public pla

g thud followed by the sound of scuffling. Her attackers released her, shouting in their language, distracte

as the figure h

pinning and her body limp with exhaustion. Soon, I drifted into unconsciousness again. A few minutes later, Nora

ed? Where am I

s and not panic at the sight of

betraying no hint of emotion. "I had to sh

ety with an underlying edge o

a deep, dark gray that seemed

dark hair tousled in a disheveled yet somehow perfectly controlled manner. A dragon tattoo on hi

usion, struggling to

ry, who

. Get dressed and

n't belong there–she was like a lamb wandering into a den of wolves. He couldn't deny she was bea

m stuck in this cesspool of rich people without a conscience. Then, as if on cue, the local mob boss, Dan

it," he had muttered, irritated by the sudden interruption to his plans by an airhead. Th

the hell was he supposed to do with her now? He had no business getting inv

nowing he couldn't just stand by and do nothing. Whatever awaited him on the other side of that

om the punches he had to

his car, up to his hotel room. She was incredibly light–probab

the attack. Seeing the marks on her ticked him off.

her plump lips nervously, her confusion evident as sh

he protested, ch

ha

en know whe

y and her speech slightly slurred. Hawke resisted the urge to roll his eyes, his pa

stranger in his room,

e growled, "This isn't a joke. Get dressed. My driver will tak

ora, you high and m

to attend tomorro

nd authoritative. He didn't

r movements unsteady as she stumbled towards him. "You're so serious,"

aightforward answer, she surprised him wi

stumbled, he caug

her. Or I will dunk

s flirty as she reached ou

prisingly soft..my kn

do you think

ingers touched his tattoo in a f

imself of the situation at hand. One thing w