The bar doors opened, and the night swallowed Alina whole. Cool air brushed against her heated skin as she stepped out, heels clicking softly against the pavement. The music faded behind her, but the tension of the night still clung to her like smoke. Her chest rose and fell slowly as she tried to steady herself.
It was her win, that's what she told herself. She took a few steps forward when a voice cut through the air behind her.
"Hey, baby."
Her spine stiffened with that word. Her jaw tightened instantly, anger flashing through her veins like fire. She had heard that word before. Yes, Its from Kai. But when Kai said it, it wasn't casual. It wasn't careless. It carried weight possession wrapped in restraint, heat wrapped in control.
This? This was filthy and cheap. She turned halfway, eyes sharp, ready to tear into whoever had the audacity— Before she could even speak, the man stepped closer, too close.
He lifted his hand, fingers reaching for her shoulder, trying to spin her around like she was something he could claim with touch alone. And then—
Everything happened in a blink. A hand shot out of nowhere and locked around the man's wrist before his fingers could make contact with her skin. The grip was brutal. Bone-crushing. The man gasped, his body jolting as his arm was yanked back unnaturally.
"How dare you?" The voice was low. and deadly. But beneath it, violence simmered.
Alina's breath caught. She knew that voice. It was him, Kai Arden. He stepped forward, placing himself fully between her and the man, his broad frame shielding her without hesitation. His jaw was clenched so tightly a muscle ticked near his temple. His eyes were dark, dangerously dark as if something feral had been unleashed.
"How dare you touch her?" Kai repeated.
The man barely had time to react before Kai's fist connected with his face. The punch was vicious, clean and Unforgiving. There was a sickening crack, and the man staggered backwards, blood instantly spilling from his mouth as a tooth hit the ground with a sharp clink. Alina's heart slammed against her ribs.
"Kai—stop!" she shouted, grabbing his arm. "What are you doing?"
But Kai wasn't listening. He took a step forward again, fury radiating from him like heat from a wildfire. His fists were clenched, knuckles already reddening, his breathing heavy, not from effort, but from rage barely contained.
Ryan rushed in, grabbing Kai from behind before he could strike again.
"Enough!" he snapped, yanking him back with all his strength.
Security moved fast. The injured man was dragged away, barely conscious, his feet scraping against the floor as Ryan barked orders. Within seconds, he was already on the phone, calling the police, reporting the assault before the situation could spiral any further.
Only then did Ryan release his grip. Kai reacted instantly. He wrenched himself free with a violent jerk, shaking Ryan off as if his touch burned. Fury radiated from him: raw, barely contained. He turned away, breathing hard, and began adjusting his blazer, straightening the sleeves, fixing the collar with sharp, aggressive movements. The anger in his eyes hadn't faded, not even a little.
Kai didn't look back at the man again because he knew if he did, it would be way too hard to control him again. His focus was on one thing. Her. He turned suddenly, grabbed Alina's wrist—not rough, but firm enough that it left no room for argument.
"Kai—" she protested, but he didn't stop.
He pulled her toward his car with determined strides, opened the door, and guided her inside, his hand hovering above her head to shield her from hitting it. His body angled instinctively between her and the outside world, blocking everything else from view—noise, movement, people. Then the door shut with a solid thud. The car started, and just like that, the world beyond the car disappeared. Silence filled the space between them, thick and heavy.
Kai's hands were tight on the steering wheel, knuckles white, jaw clenched so hard it looked like it might shatter. His chest rose and fell in controlled breaths, as if he were forcing himself not to explode again.
Alina watched him from the side. This was a different Kai. Not the strategist. Not the manipulator. Not the man with a thousand plans running in his head. This was raw. This was instinct. This was possession stripped of pride. The car had barely merged into the empty stretch of road when Kai spoke.
"Are you okay?" The question was simple, almost careful. It didn't match the man gripping the steering wheel, knuckles still red, veins standing out like they were carved beneath his skin.
Alina sat stiff beside him, fingers clenched in her lap. For a moment, she didn't answer.
"What did he say?" Kai asked again, quieter this time—but sharper.
She swallowed. "He… he called me baby."
The effect was immediate. Kai's jaw locked. The word echoed in his head like a trigger pulled too close to the ear. Before Alina could even register what was happening, Kai's hands moved.
One sharp turn of the steering wheel—smooth, precise, unapologetic. The car swung in a perfect U-turn, tyres screeching briefly against the asphalt. His movements were fluid, dangerous, practised—like he'd done this a hundred times and never lost control once.
Alina's breath hitched. "Kai—" she started.
But he was already accelerating. His hands were red now, flexing once on the wheel, tension rolling off him in waves. The city lights blurred past as he drove straight back toward the bar. They hadn't gone far. The police lights were still flashing when he arrived. Kai slammed the brakes. He didn't park the car; it was a sudden and violent stop.
The car jolted to a halt inches from the curb. Kai was out before the engine even settled, door slamming behind him. Alina barely had time to open her mouth before she saw it—
Kai crossed the distance in seconds. He grabbed the man by the collar, lifting him halfway off the ground.
"You don't get to say that word," Kai said, voice deadly calm.
The man's eyes widened. Kai's fist came down hard. Once. Twice. Straight to the mouth. Not wild punches, it was calculated, and Brutal meant to leave a message engraved into bone and memory.
"So you forget," Kai continued coldly, "to ever open your mouth like that again."
"Hey—HEY!" Ryan shouted, sprinting toward them. "Kai!"
Police moved in instantly. Hands grabbed Kai's arms, pulling him back as he tried to step forward again. Ryan wrapped an arm around his chest, hauling him away with force.
"That's enough!" Ryan snapped. "You're done!"
Kai didn't resist. But he didn't relax either. Ryan dragged him back toward the car, Kai breathing hard, eyes still locked on the man even as officers restrained him. Ryan shoved him gently but firmly against the side of the car.
"Do you have an idea how dangerous it can be?" Ryan demanded.
Kai said nothing. He shrugged off his blazer slowly, deliberately, folding it over his arm like he had all the time in the world.
"You just left," Ryan continued. "Then why did you come back?"
There was no answer from the other side. Ryan exhaled sharply, already knowing he wouldn't get an answer. He turned instead and bent down to the passenger-side window.
Alina sat still inside, her head lowered, hair falling forward like a curtain. She hadn't said a word since they stopped. Her hands were clasped tightly together, knuckles pale.
Ryan's expression softened. He knocked lightly on the glass. "Alina?"
She lifted her eyes slightly, but didn't speak. Ryan straightened, understanding settling heavily in his chest. This wasn't about anger. This wasn't about ego. This was about a line that had been crossed and a man who didn't know how to forgive that.
Behind him, Kai stood silent, shoulders rigid, eyes dark. And for the first time, Ryan realised something unsettling— Kai Arden wasn't just dangerous. He was far more dangerous.