Chapter 3: Under His Protection

Nina’s world was turning upside down.

She stood in the small, dimly lit room of the warehouse, staring at the unconscious man on the floor. His blood had already started to dry on his shirt, leaving a dark, crusted stain. She was still trying to wrap her mind around the events of the night.

The world of the mafia? That was something she had only ever seen in movies or read about in books. But now, it was her reality.

The man she had saved—Kai—wasn’t just any stranger. He was the heir to one of the most powerful mafia families in the city, and in the blink of an eye, she was tied to him.

Her gaze flickered to his battered form, sprawled across the floor. He was still breathing, thank God, but the man had almost bled out in front of her. She had saved him. Saved a mafia boss.

Her hand instinctively reached for her phone. She should call an ambulance. But what would she tell them? How could she explain any of this? The blood, the mafia ties… she didn’t even know where to begin.

It wasn’t like she could just let him die, either.

Sighing, Nina ran a shaky hand through her hair. She was out of her depth here.

A soft groan broke her from her thoughts.

Kai stirred on the floor, his eyes fluttering open. He looked disoriented for a moment before his gaze locked onto her, sharp and intense.

“What…?” he croaked, his voice hoarse.

Nina jumped back, startled by the sound. "You’re awake."

He attempted to sit up but winced in pain, clutching his side. “Damn…”

Nina rushed to him, kneeling down beside him. “You need help, okay? I— I don’t know what to do, but we need to get you to a hospital or—”

Kai’s lips curled into a faint smirk despite the grimace on his face. “You saved my life, and you’re worried about me going to a hospital?”

“What else am I supposed to do?” she asked, exasperated. “I’m just a high school student! I don’t even know how to treat a gunshot wound!”

Kai’s eyes softened for a moment, but only for a brief second. “Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

“Fine?” she repeated incredulously. “You’re bleeding out, Kai. This is ‘fine’?”

He grinned despite the pain, looking almost amused at her distress. “I’ll live. Just… help me get to my feet.”

Reluctantly, Nina extended her hand to him. His grip was strong as he took it, pulling himself up with a low grunt. She helped him steady himself as he stumbled slightly.

“Where are we?” she asked, glancing around the warehouse.

“Somewhere safe,” Kai replied, his voice low, though there was no humor in it now. His eyes darted around the room, clearly on edge. “For now.”

“Safe?” Nina repeated, her voice trembling with a mix of confusion and frustration. “You’re in the middle of nowhere. How is this safe?”

Kai leaned against a stack of crates, exhaling slowly. “You don’t get it, do you? People are looking for me, and they won’t stop until they find me.”

Nina’s heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t sure whether to feel scared or just plain angry. She had saved his life, and now she was stuck in this mess, tied to him by some unspoken bond.

“You don’t have to do this,” she said, her voice quiet but firm. “I didn’t sign up for any of this. I don’t even know who you are or why anyone’s after you.”

Kai looked at her with a calculating expression, his eyes narrowed. “You saved me. That’s all that matters. And now, you’re part of this whether you want to be or not.”

Nina recoiled slightly, unsure of how to respond. “You mean… I’m just a pawn in your little game?”

A shadow crossed his face, and he looked away. “I don’t want you involved in this, but it’s too late. You’ve seen too much.”

There it was. That cold reality. She was already in too deep, and there was no turning back.

Nina swallowed hard, her eyes focused on him. "So, what now? Am I supposed to just sit here and wait while the mafia comes for me?"

Kai’s gaze turned dark, and for the first time since she met him, Nina saw something close to vulnerability in his eyes. He was a mafia boss, but in this moment, he looked like a man on the edge of losing everything.

"I won’t let them hurt you," he said quietly, his voice low but intense. "No one is going to touch you. Not while I’m alive."

Nina felt a lump form in her throat. He was promising her protection, but she could see the weight of his words—the pressure that came with leading a mafia family. It was a promise made with consequences.

"Why should I trust you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kai stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he answered, "Because you saved my life. And because I’m not the kind of person who leaves a debt unpaid."

Nina wanted to argue, to run away and forget about the mess she had walked into, but deep down, she knew there was no escape. She was tied to him now, whether she liked it or not.

And when he looked at her like that—eyes intense, lips pressed into a thin line—she didn’t feel fear. Not quite. She felt something else. Something dangerous, unpredictable.

Something that made her heart race, even as her mind screamed at her to keep her distance.

“I’ll take you home,” Kai said, breaking the silence between them.

Her brow furrowed. “Home? You can’t just—"

“I’m not asking you to come with me, Nina,” Kai interrupted. “But I’m not letting you go back to that life, not with people after me.”

He made a gesture toward the exit of the warehouse. "Come with me. I’ll make sure you’re safe. For now."

For now.

The words echoed in her mind as she hesitated. She could leave, maybe even call for help, but she wasn’t stupid. She had seen what happened when people went after Kai. The mafia didn’t let their targets go.

Reluctantly, she nodded. "Okay. But I need answers. I deserve answers."

Kai smirked, though it was laced with something darker. "I’ll give you answers when you’re ready to hear them."

With that, he motioned for her to follow him.

And for the first time in her life, Nina knew that the world she had once known was gone.

Her future—whatever it might be—was tied to the man in front of her.

A mafia boss.

And now, her protector.

End of Chapter 3

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