Chapter 3 - The Shield
Gregory sneered, attempting to maintain his bravado despite being visibly outmatched. “Who the hell are you? This is a private family matter. Mind your own business.”
Adrian didn't answer with words. He walked straight up to Gregory, grabbed Gregory’s forearm with a grip that made the man gasp in pain, and forced him to release my wrist.
Then, Adrian stepped directly between us, placing his broad frame like an impenetrable barrier between Gregory and my family.
“My name is Adrian Kane,” Adrian said, his voice dangerously low. “And you are currently trespassing on private commercial property, attempting to assault an executive of Kane Global Holdings.”
Gregory’s eyes widened slightly at the name Kane, but his arrogance quickly reclaimed him. “She’s my wife!”
“Ex-wife,” I corrected from behind Adrian, holding my bruised wrist.
“As of six o’clock this evening,” Adrian added, pulling a sleek leather wallet from his jacket and tossing a business card onto the hood of Gregory’s car, “Ms. Vance is under the exclusive legal and security protection of Kane Global Enterprise. If you take one more step toward her, or if you even look in the direction of her daughter, my legal team will file an emergency injunction that will land you in a federal holding cell before midnight.”
Gregory looked at the card, then at the two massive security guards standing behind Adrian. He spat on the concrete floor, his face dark with rage.
“You think you can hide behind a billionaire, Elena?” Gregory spat, stepping back toward his rented sedan. “This isn't over. I’m taking my daughter back!”
He slammed his car door, threw the vehicle into reverse, and sped out of the garage, the tires screeching loudly against the concrete.
The garage fell silent once more.
My strength finally gave out. My knees buckled, but before I could hit the ground, two strong, warm arms caught me.
Adrian pulled me up against his chest. His suit jacket smelled of expensive cedarwood and rain. For a brief, terrifying second, I allowed myself to collapse into him, breathing in his warmth, resting my forehead against his crisp white shirt.
“Are you hurt?” he whispered into my hair, his hands holding my waist with surprising gentleness.
“I’m… I’m fine,” I managed to stammer, forcing myself to step back and smooth my skirt, though my hands were shaking uncontrollably. “Thank you, Mr. Kane. I’m so sorry you had to witness that.”
Adrian looked down at my wrist, where red marks were already beginning to form. His jaw tightened, a muscle ticking beneath his skin.
“You’re not going back to your apartment tonight,” Adrian stated. It wasn't a suggestion.
“What? Of course I am—”
“He knows where you work, which means he likely knows where you live,” Adrian said firmly. He walked over to my car, opened the rear door, and smiled down at Mia, who was watching us with wide eyes. “Mia, how would you like to stay at a big hotel with a pool on the roof tonight?”
May you like
Mia’s eyes lit up. “Can Gerald come too?”
“Gerald is a VIP guest,” Adrian replied smoothly. He turned back to me, his gray-blue eyes dark with a determination that left no room for argument. “My driver will follow your car. We’re going to the Plaza.”
