"Serena....... It was so close, just a little bit..."
His voice was hoarse and tight. "I almost... failed to protect you."
The last few words seemed to catch in his throat, carrying a broken, vulnerable quality.
That intense emotion, so strong it made Serena's own heart tremble, enveloped her like a tangible thing.
Warmth spread through her, washing over a heart that was usually as calm as still water.
Serena's hands, which had been ready to push him away, slowly dropped to her sides. In the end, she didn't push him away.
She lifted her gaze slightly, meeting the man's captivating eyes, which were churning like a stormy sea.
His eyes were filled with worry and lingering fear.
Serena pressed her lips together, a complex emotion flickering in her bright eyes.
Her voice softened. "I'm fine. They were just a few lowlifes. Even if you hadn't come, they wouldn't have been able to hurt me."
"So, I shouldn't have come?" the man's voice sounded a little muffled as he tightened his hold.
He even buried his face in the crook of her neck.
His warm breath tickled her skin.
She shrank her neck back. "That's not what I meant..."
"Serena," Nicholas called her name, his voice hoarse. His large hands still rested gently on her waist, as if he was afraid she would disappear. "Don't go on adventures alone anymore."
Serena didn't answer, nor did she object.
She let Nicholas hold her.
The crisp, pine-like scent filling her senses threw her own heart into disarray.
She didn't know how much time had passed.
Finally, Serena started to feel a little numb from being held. "Have you held me long enough?"
"Of course not. I could hold you forever," Nicholas's breathing gradually calmed, and his voice lost its earlier tension.
Though he said that.
He was still afraid of making her uncomfortable by holding her for too long, so he let her go.
Serena glanced at him and immediately stepped back, moving out of his embrace. Only then did she raise her hands to straighten her clothes, covering the sliver of her fair, almost glowing waistline.
Nicholas's gaze swept over the surroundings, at the people scattered about.
A faint scent of blood hung in the air.
He took out his phone and dialed a number. "West Ring Road, coordinates are [reciting
coordinates]. Attacked by Aurelian et
Farreatm Siphon operatives. Seven hostiles, all subdued. Send a team to clean up the scene immediately. Take all survivors into custody and process them at the highest level."
After hanging up.
Nicholas looked up at Serena. "After my people get here, I'll take you home."
Serena pointed to the Ghost parked nearby.
Nicholas said, "My men will return the Ghost to Brianna."
Serena shrugged and didn't refuse again.
The team from the Department of Defense arrived very quickly.
In just ten minutes.
A team sped to the scene and took custody of the remaining "Siphon" members.
Serena got into the car with Nicholas.
She reached for the seatbelt, but her wrist was suddenly caught by the man's hand.
"Don't move."
Nicholas frowned slightly, pulling her hand in front of him.
On the back of the girl's hand, a shallow scrape was bleeding.
Her skin
so pale that the
trickling made the entire back
of her hand look alarmingly
gruesome
FindNovel.net
Nicholas's pupils constricted.
Inét
Serena also noticed the wound on her hand, her expression
unchanging. She tried to pull hand back it's a small scratch, fme."
Nicholas's eyes darkened.
IMS
He released her hand and leaned over to pull the seatbelt for her.
This position, this angle.
Besides the man's crisp, pine-like scent washing over her again.
There was also...
When he leaned over slightly.