Chapter Four: Fire and Friction

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The warehouse was dimly lit, its rusted walls groaning with the weight of years gone by. Taehyung led Lisa through the maze of abandoned crates and machinery, his steps swift but deliberate. His pistol remained in his hand, his sharp eyes scanning every corner for movement.

Lisa trailed close behind, clutching the weapon she had taken from the attacker. Her pulse raced, not just from the aftermath of the rooftop ambush but from the tension building between her and Taehyung. The memory of his kiss lingered, even as the danger surrounding them refused to relent.

“Is this where you’re hiding out?” she asked, her voice cutting through the silence.

“For now,” he replied, glancing over his shoulder. “It’s secure, but not for long. They’ll figure out where we are soon enough.”

“Who are they?” Lisa pressed, frustration creeping into her tone. “Why are they after me?”

“They’re not after you,” Taehyung said, stopping abruptly. He turned to face her, his dark eyes blazing. “They’re after us. You stepped into a world you weren’t ready for, and now you’re in their crosshairs.”

Lisa bristled, refusing to back down. “I can handle myself.”

“Can you?” Taehyung challenged, his voice low and dangerous. He stepped closer, the intensity between them crackling like a live wire. “Because out there, it’s kill or be killed. There’s no room for hesitation.”

“I’m not some damsel you need to protect,” Lisa shot back, her gaze unwavering. “I’ve fought for everything I have, and I won’t let anyone—especially you—tell me what I can or can’t do.”

Taehyung’s lips curved into a faint smirk, admiration flickering in his eyes. “You’ve got fire. I’ll give you that.”

Before Lisa could respond, the distant sound of footsteps echoed through the warehouse. Taehyung’s expression hardened, and he gestured for her to take cover behind a stack of crates.

“Stay here,” he whispered.

Lisa opened her mouth to argue, but the look in his eyes silenced her. Reluctantly, she crouched behind the crates, gripping her weapon tightly.

Taehyung moved like a shadow, his footsteps silent as he melted into the darkness. Lisa strained her ears, her heart pounding as the footsteps grew louder.

Three men entered the warehouse, their movements precise and coordinated. They were dressed in black, their faces obscured by masks.

Lisa’s breath hitched as she watched Taehyung spring into action. He took down the first man with a swift blow to the head, his movements fluid and lethal. The second man turned, raising his gun, but Taehyung was faster. A single shot rang out, and the man crumpled to the ground.

The third man spotted Lisa and charged toward her. Instinct took over as she raised her weapon, firing off a shot that grazed his shoulder. The man stumbled but didn’t stop, and before Lisa could react, he was on her.

They struggled, the sound of grunts and scuffling filling the air. Lisa fought with everything she had, using her knife to slice at his arm. The man cried out, his grip loosening just enough for her to push him off.

A gunshot echoed, and the man collapsed, blood pooling beneath him. Lisa looked up to see Taehyung standing over her, his gun smoking.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice tight with concern.

Lisa nodded, her breathing ragged. “I had it under control.”

Taehyung raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. He offered her his hand, and after a moment’s hesitation, she took it.

As they made their way deeper into the warehouse, Lisa couldn’t ignore the heat radiating from his touch. His fingers lingered on hers longer than necessary, sending a jolt of electricity through her body.

When they reached a small room tucked away in the corner of the building, Taehyung locked the door behind them.

“You’re bleeding,” he said, his voice softer now.

Lisa glanced down at her arm, realizing for the first time that a shallow cut had opened during the fight. “It’s nothing.”

Taehyung didn’t reply. Instead, he grabbed a first aid kit from a shelf and motioned for her to sit on the edge of the table.

Lisa hesitated but complied, watching as he knelt before her. His hands were surprisingly gentle as he cleaned the wound, his touch sending shivers down her spine.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Taehyung paused, his dark eyes meeting hers. “Because I can’t let them take you.”

Lisa’s breath caught at the raw emotion in his voice. For a moment, the walls she had built around herself wavered, and she allowed herself to feel the vulnerability she had been trying so hard to suppress.

“You don’t even know me,” she said, her voice trembling.

Taehyung stood, his gaze never leaving hers. “I know enough.”

The air between them grew thick, charged with unspoken desire. Taehyung leaned in, his hand cupping her cheek as his lips brushed against hers. The kiss was slow at first, a tentative exploration, but it quickly deepened, becoming urgent and all-consuming.

Lisa’s arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer as their bodies pressed together. Taehyung’s hands roamed her back, his touch igniting a fire that burned through every thought in her mind.

In that moment, nothing else mattered—the danger, the lies, the uncertainty of what lay ahead. There was only Taehyung, his kiss anchoring her to the present and setting her soul ablaze.

But as the sound of sirens echoed in the distance, reality came crashing back.

Taehyung pulled away, his breathing heavy as he rested his forehead against hers. “We need to move.”

Lisa nodded, her heart still racing. She knew the moment they had shared was fleeting, a stolen fragment of time in a world that wouldn’t let them rest.

But she also knew she wasn’t ready to let go.

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