Chapter 3

Annabelle

The day finally came.

I waited for Lucian to leave, then grabbed my heaviest studded bag. I tossed in a can of pepper spray.  

The Bronx fight den was easy to find. I followed the damp, reeking tunnel down into the basement until the sound of drunk shouting hit my ears.

I shoved past the crowd around the cage.

Lucian stood in the center, surrounded by six men. His shirt was shredded, showing deep, raw cuts over his old scars.

Julian Vance stood across from him.

Julian planted a polished shoe on Lucian's dirty hand wraps and sneered.

"Look at you, Lucian," Julian mocked. "A month ago, you ran this city. Now you're getting your brains scrambled for pocket money. Tell you what. I'll drop fifty grand. Stay on your knees, let my boys work you over for half an hour, and I'll see that you get paid."

The crowd laughed. Julian's pet dog, Leo, stepped up with a sick grin.

"Boss, you know the best part? His little pet is still hanging around. Living in a dump, eating cheap junk. What an idiot."

Leo leaned in, his face inches from Lucian's.

"Hey, Ghost. Drop to your knees, kiss Julian's shoes, and bring that girl down here to pour our drinks. Maybe then we let you walk out."

Lucian's jaw locked. His knuckles went bone white.

He threw a brutal right hook straight into Leo's mouth. But Lucian had already fought three rounds tonight. He was half a second too slow. Two heavy guards tackled him, slamming him hard onto the concrete.

Julian stepped up and kicked Lucian in the ribs.

"You think you're still a boss?" Julian spat. "You can't even protect yourself, let alone your woman."

Lucian coughed, blood pooling under his chin. He fought the weight pinning him down.

"Leave her out of this," he rasped, his voice lethal. "Touch her and I'll kill you."

The floating feed exploded in front of my face.

【Julian is such a scumbag! Threatening a guy with his girl?!】

【Classic. The villain breaks the lead so the 'angel' can save him.】

【Why does the author always torture Lucian before his rescue? Where is Victoria?!】

【Look at the balcony! Victoria is right there! The main couple is about to meet!】

I glanced up. On the mezzanine, a blonde was resting her hands on the railing, about to step in.

Not happening.

Before Julian's men could force Lucian's head down, I charged.

I swung my bag with everything I had. The heavy metal hardware smashed into Leo's skull with a sickening crack.

"Touch him again," I said, "and see what happens."

Leo went down hard, clutching his bleeding ear.

Before Julian could react, I swung again, catching him across the shoulder. He grunted, stumbling back into the ropes.

"Kneel to who, Julian?" I sneered. "Two weeks ago, you pissed your pants every time Lucian walked into a room. Now you wear a cheap suit and act like God?"

Julian grabbed his shoulder, his face bright red. "You little bitch—"

He lunged for my neck.

He never made it.

Lucian threw the guards off, lunging like a rabid animal. He slammed Julian into the post and yanked me behind his back.

The tired look in his eyes was gone. The Ghost was back. Cold, ruthless, and ready to kill.

"Don't touch her," Lucian growled.

Leo scrambled up, spitting blood. "Shoot this crazy bitch!"

Lucian didn't wait. He drove a kick into Leo's chest, sending him crashing into the front row.

I looked at my bag. The studs were dented, and the seam had popped.

I really should have stuffed a brick inside.

Julian's guards pulled batons and pipes, closing in. There were too many of them, and Lucian was swaying.

I reached into my pocket, thumbing the safety off the pepper spray.

Tires screeched.

A black Maybach smashed through the loading gate, stopping right beside the cage.

The back window rolled down. A man leaned out, smoke curling from a cigar.

Chiseled face. Dead, freezing eyes.

He tapped a heavy signet ring against the glass, his eyes locking onto me.

Julian stopped dead. His fury vanished, replaced by sheer, shaking terror. He smoothed his jacket and practically jogged toward the car.

The chat went feral.

【HOLY SHIT! HE'S HERE!】

【Alexander Frost! The kingpin of the East Coast!】

【Julian was begging Frost for weapons! That's why he was so cocky!】

【Why is the deadliest crime lord in New York staring at Anna?】

【Is she his runaway girl?! What is going on?!】

I froze behind Lucian, staring at the car.

A cold sweat broke out across my back.

Shit.

Alexander Frost.