The night had a way of swallowing sound, but to William, every creak, every whisper of movement screamed. He stayed tucked in the shadows along the promenade, eyes locked on Chloe as she walked briskly, clutching her bag tighter than necessary. The adrenaline in his veins buzzed, not from the cold air or the night, but from the certainty that danger was closing in.
He had faced rivals, enemies, and betrayal before, but this was different. This threat wasn't after his money, his empire, or his name. It was after Chloe. And that made it personal.
Chloe moved as she belonged to the night, unaware of the eyes following her, unaware that every step she took could tip the scales of someone's carefully laid plan. Her pace slowed near a quiet café tucked into a corner, and William hesitated, sensing the shift in the air. She was almost too calm, and that always meant something was coming.
A shadow detached itself from the alley across the street. William's stomach clenched. He knew the type, quiet, precise, predatory. Someone who had studied her movements, someone patient enough to wait for the perfect moment.
"Bellick," he muttered under his breath, already dialling his number. The line clicked.
"William?" Bellick's calm voice was steady but sharp, a grounding presence.
"She's being followed," William said, eyes never leaving the figure. "I need eyes on her now."
"On it. I'll track and intercept if anything happens. But William… be careful. Whoever this is, they're not ordinary."
William's jaw tightened. "I never am."
He hung up and ducked into the café just as Chloe entered. The warmth hit him, a stark contrast to the icy night outside. She looked around, her eyes flicking nervously toward the entrance before she settled at a table by the window. William moved closer, blending into the shadows, the corner of the room giving him a perfect view.
The shadow outside didn't move. William's instincts screamed. Whoever was out there was testing him, measuring him. Waiting. Patience. That's what they thrived on, and patience was something he hated to waste.
Chloe's phone buzzed again. She glanced down, frowning. William could see her hesitation, the subtle stiffening of her posture. Whoever she was communicating with was important. Or dangerous.
He considered intervening, but then she looked up, eyes meeting his, or at least, what he wanted her to think were casual eyes scanning the café. He didn't move, didn't call her attention. Not yet. Every second mattered, every subtle gesture could tip the balance.
Then the café door opened again, and a man stepped inside. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and moved with quiet confidence. William recognised the type immediately as a professional. Not a street thug, not a petty thief. This was someone trained to get what they wanted. And their target was Chloe.
The man's eyes scanned the room, landing on Chloe. He moved with purpose, and William could see her stiffen, her hand gripping her bag tighter. He didn't know if she sensed the danger or if it was instinct alone, but he knew the moment she saw him, the world would tilt.
William didn't wait. He moved silently, slipping between tables, closing the distance while remaining unseen. He had trained for encounters like this, twelve years of survival instincts, sharpened reflexes, and ruthless precision, but nothing prepared him for the way his heart hammered when it came to Chloe.
The man stopped a few feet from her table, leaning slightly, voice low. "Miss… you need to come with me."
Chloe's eyes widened. She glanced around, searching for an escape route. William's pulse surged.
He stepped forward. "No."
The man froze, scanning the café. His gaze landed on William, a flicker of recognition or surprise passing over his face. Not enough to show fear, just enough to acknowledge a potential obstacle.
"I said no," William repeated, voice calm but unyielding. Every muscle in his body was ready for confrontation.
Chloe's eyes flicked between the two men, confusion and fear battling in her gaze. "Who… who are you?" she whispered, voice barely audible.
William's lips pressed into a firm line. He didn't answer her, not now. Not when every second counted, when revealing his identity could shift the balance in a way that put her at risk.
The man made a sudden move, reaching for her. William reacted instantly, stepping between them and knocking the man's hand aside with precise force. Chloe gasped, instinctively stepping back, and William's eyes softened, just for a heartbeat, as he assessed her. She was safe for now.
But safety was an illusion. The man didn't retreat. Instead, he adjusted his stance, calculating, patient, knowing the fight wasn't over. William felt the tension spike. This was no random encounter. Someone wanted her, and someone was orchestrating this.
Chloe's voice trembled. "What's happening? Who are you?"
"I'm someone who won't let anyone hurt you," William said quietly. He could feel the weight of the past pressing down on him, the years of waiting, planning, and losing. And now, the stakes were higher than ever.
The man lunged again, faster this time, and William moved like lightning, blocking and twisting, forcing him to the ground. Chloe flinched, but William held her gaze, silently telling her she was safe for the moment.
Then the sound came a sharp, metallic click. William's eyes snapped toward the doorway, where another shadow appeared. Not one, but two. And from their stance, their movement, he could tell they were professionals trained, coordinated, and dangerous.
Bellick's warning echoed in his mind: Some people aren't who they were when you last knew them.
William realised with sinking certainty that tonight was no accident. Every encounter, every shadow, every unexpected movement, was all connected. Chloe wasn't just a target; she was the centrepiece of someone's plan.
He turned slightly, ready to confront the new arrivals, but before he could act, Chloe's bag shifted. A small device fell from it, blinking faintly, almost unnoticed. William's stomach dropped.
Someone had planted it.
And before he could warn her, the device activated, emitting a sharp, piercing sound that echoed through the café. Patrons screamed, ducked, and chaos erupted. William's instincts kicked in instantly. He moved, shielding Chloe, his eyes darting toward the source, heart hammering not just from the danger, but from the realisation that the threat was far closer than he had ever imagined.
Chloe looked at him, eyes wide, fear mingled with trust, and whispered, "William… what's happening?"
He didn't answer. There was no time. The night had just become a battlefield, and every second counted.
The device flared, illuminating the café with a blinding light and from the shadows, a figure stepped forward, smiling. William's blood ran cold. It was someone he had thought gone forever, and their return tonight meant nothing good could follow.