Chapter 82: Chapter 77

Song: 'Fighting For Love' by Dami Im

Don't give up, don't give in

When the fears are creeping in

No matter what you think you're facing

What we have is too strong

Feeling it in my bones

When the times when the times are getting rough

When you feel when you feel it's all too much my love

When the weight of the world is on your heart

No I won't let it tear us both apart my love

I'm fighting for love

'Cause love is the only thing I feel

I'm fighting for us

'Cause you are the only thing that's real

I'm fighting for love (I'm fighting, I'm fighting for love)

I'm fighting for love (I'm fighting, I'm fighting for love)

(I'm fighting, I'm fighting for love)

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HANNAH’S POV

“GET. YOUR. HANDS. OFF. HER.” A thunderous voice echoed in the chaotic club, making everything go quiet, even the deafening music.

The voice wasn’t loud, still, it held authority and an aura not to be crossed. I would’ve known to whom this voice belonged, even if I hadn’t known he was here already. The voice was so powerful that the whole surrounding stood still and watched.

My eyes instantly shot up, and an unknown relief washed over me. But what I saw had nothing to do with relief; instead, it screamed war.

A one-sided, already won, war because the emperor himself had stepped into the battleground.

And he did not look happy.

I was met with two murderous orbs, fortunately, they weren’t directed at me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a look on his face.

He looked visibly pissed, if you can imagine what I mean by that. It wasn’t only in his aura anymore for me to make assumptions about his mood. No, this time it was genuinely on his face to be seen by everyone; his jaw was clenched, his eyes held a promise to kill; they were harder than any indestructible stone. For the first time, I saw veins popping out on his gorgeous face.

He was on a mission to wipe out anyone who crossed him.

And by the looks of it, Max has definitely crossed him.

“Fuck off, man,” Max spat back with a bored expression, oblivious to the source of the command as he further squeezed my clenched cheeks.

An uncontrollable sob escaped me at that and caught my savior’s attention; our eyes met momentarily. I think I saw them soften up a little. A faint smile of comfort spread on my face through tears. A ray of hope lit up in the dark by looking at him. I saw something flash in his eyes at that; a layer of protectiveness masked his dark, mysterious eyes, exuberating emotions openly, not to be hidden but to be seen for what they are.

A sudden, painful whimper left my mouth as I felt a sharp tug at my hair. That turned his attention back to the target at hand, the gentleness from moments ago gone instantly like it was never there to begin with. His stare at the back of the perpetrator's head was so piercing that it could’ve obliterated his head like an atomic explosion.

With calm and confident strides, he completed the few steps separating us. My frightened eyes noticed his every move. He didn’t look at me again, but I could not look away. Even in such a situation, he can divert my attention to himself.

He was finally next to us now; his hand reached out and calmly gripped Max’s wrist. I could tell it was a death grip he had on him by the way his neck and hand muscles popped out.

“I said get your fucking hands off her,” his voice was at the same decibel as always, cool as a cucumber; there was no urgency of the situation on his vocals, but somehow it sounded frostier than the glaciers of Antarctica; it sent chills down my spine.

Is it okay to think he looks ravishingly hot when it’s me who he is saving? Technically, shouldn’t I be scared out of my mind that this thought should not even be the last thing on my mind?

He looks ravishingly hot anyway, all the time!

“Chill out, dude; I told you to fu...” Max’s words got stuck in his throat, and I saw him visibly gulp as his eyes bulged out with fear. “ “M… Mr… Mr. Norman, what… what are you do… doing here, sir?” ” The state of his words was written on his face, beyond terrified. Every ounce of color drained from his face, depicting exactly what he made me feel a few moments ago.

Only thinking about his filthy words made me shudder. If it wasn’t for Elijah coming to my rescue, I don’t know what could’ve happened.

Elijah.

This is the second time today that he’s come to my rescue.

Oh, if he isn’t your God-sent angel!

At this moment, I really can’t argue with that; he is an angel, but instead of a halo and wings, he’d dressed in a Ralph Lauren suit.

“Security,” ignoring the pesky scum of all answers, he called the two giant bouncers standing behind him. All the while, his eye didn’t waver away one bit from the bastard before us.

Did they come with him?

The security needed not to hear anything else, and they got to work. Both giants restrained each of Max’s arms and proceeded to take him away.

As the security turned around, Elijah did too, and his eyes landed on me once again.

His gaze wasn’t as harsh as it was for Max, nonetheless, it wasn’t easygoing either. It held a hint of accusation and blame.

‘Just be careful’ I remembered his warning me.

I looked down with embarrassment, unable to continue looking him in the eye. I feel so stupid now. I’m not the one to make decisions in haste. It’s not me; I like my comfort zone; I like being around people that I know and trust, not strangers.

How did I not see this coming when I overanalyzed everything in advance? There were so many red flags that I can now recall.

Elijah is right. There’s no one else to blame but myself.

Of course, the harassment isn't my fault, but what I am saying is that my instincts were telling me there was something wrong, but I refused to listen.

‘Also, I can defend myself if what you’re implying actually might happen, which it won’t.’

What happened to all these claims that you made so boldly in front of him to prove how strong you are? When the time came, you just stood there, succumbing to being harassed without any protest.

What happened to all those boxing and safety classes Nick took you to? Everything went down the drain.

You didn’t even put up a fight and went numb just because you were taken by surprise and didn’t anticipate this to happen?

I was in the midst of reprimanding myself when I realized a very tall figure shadowing me. A familiar scent and presence hit me, and I didn’t have to be a genius to know who it could be in this now-silent club.

I still didn’t look up, not having the nerves to meet his cold, dark, and judgmental stare.

He moved before me, and I heard the soft rustling of his clothes. Before I could make out what was happening, a sudden warmth enveloped my cold, bare skin.

I looked up to fathom what was happening only to find he had draped his suit jacket over my shoulders, covering up my shaken and now very disheveled body. When my eyes met his, a painful emotion crossed his eyes. I felt his fists clenching on the edges of his jacket that he was still holding to keep it in place.

“Are you alright?” This is the second time today that he’s asked me this question, but this time it’s not gentle and concerning like before. This time his eyes are like a ticking time bomb; there’s no reflection of humanity in them but only hatred.

But none of those emotions are directed at me; in fact, I’m not sure if he’s even seeing at all.

Tears rolled down my eyes. I don’t know what to tell him because, honestly, I’m not okay. And even if I lied, I am sure he’d be able to call out my bullshit. So, instead of saying anything, I just shrugged helplessly, the only response my body could give.

“Wait here.” My eyebrows knitted at his sudden order, “Do not move!” His stare became distant and ten times colder.

Letting go of the jacket, he turned around and, with big and determined steps, marched up towards the jerk who was being escorted outside.

Since he told me not to move, it’s a given that I had to, and so I did. My curiosity is getting the best of me.

I continued looking at the scene in anticipation, but much more closely now.

What is he trying to do?

When he was behind them, he put his hand on the culprit’s shoulder; the former stopped, and so did the guards. Without saying a word, Elijah swung him harshly towards himself with unfathomable force, and without giving him any chance to comprehend what was happening, he landed a powerful fist at Max’s face.

An abrupt but audible gasp escaped me at what sounded like a cracking of a bone. It was only confirmed seconds later when Max dropped down to his knees, shrieking and crying in pain while holding his broken nose, blood gushing out profusely.

What the hell?

Did he... did he just punch him?

For me?

And what a mighty punch was it!

He wasn’t only showing emotion but was acting on it too.

I looked around at the people to confirm if it was all in my imagination but found everyone watching with awe in their eyes.

Why is nobody filming this? Strange.

“Listen, you piece of shit,” his usually ruthless voice now sounded lethal, echoing in the quiet club. He was holding Max by his blood-drenched collar; his knuckles were turning white due to his tight grip. He shook a very drowsy and fear-stricken Max, who was losing consciousness because of a very hardcore punch that he received and also because of all the recreational substances he had in his system.

He added further, his one hand now holding Max’s frail neck to make him look in his eyes and choking him all the while, “You’ll regret the day you were born and decided to lay your hands on her. Not that it will happen again; I will make sure of it. But if I ever saw you within a radius of her or if you ever set as much as a foot of yours again in my company... ” it was a precise and impactful monologue, he won't have wasted his precious word on him anyway.

He had his back to me, so I could not see his face, but I could see Max's, and by that, I could guess how horrific he must be looking right now. “...Trust me, you don’t want to know what happens next.” Elijah choked him further, so much so that it was getting harder for him to cough or even breathe altogether.

What is he doing, trying to kill him? With the force he’s choking him, there will be no next.

His words weren’t empty threats; rather, they were dangerously promising, as I of all the people can confirm.

Taking things into my own hands, I decided to intervene.

“Elijah, stop it.” I held his hand which was single-handedly responsible for disrupting Max’s blood and airflow, but his hold only tightened.

“Let him go; you’ll kill him; stop it!” I pulled his hand away with all my might; all I could achieve was that he stopped.

He shot me a glance full of animalistic rage. Not going to lie, it legit scared me.

With a merciless jerk, he threw Max’s almost unconscious body on the cold floor, causing a loud thud, “Mother Fucker!” I shivered at his choice of profanity.

The guards roughly yanked Max out via the front door, and Elijah turned around towards me. Without giving me much room to think or act, he held my wrist and dragged me out with him.

“Elijah, let go of me,” I kept asking him as he pulled me behind him to God knows where, but he didn’t stop for once.

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Author's note:

Woah! Now that's one hell of a heroic entry.

Elijah has never looked more beastly. And honestly, it's a sexy look on him.

Did he make your heartbeat go erratic? Because he sure made mine.

What do you think would he have killed Max (rightfully) if Hannah hadn't intervened?

Also, where does it leave Hannah now?

Will they make peace or will their internal battle continue?

Would love to know what you guys thought.

I know the update is slightly late and the chapter is rather small but I might have a treat in store for you all!

Can you guess what it could be?

Leave your answers in the comments along with your thoughts on the chapter.

The correct answer will get a shoutout in the next update.

Vote, people, it takes only a second.

Much love🥰