Chapter 19 - Seraphina

We had finally arrived at the bar in the Middle East, the dim lighting casting long shadows on the faces of the patrons, and the pulsing beat of music vibrating through the walls. The place was upscale, exotic, and a little too luxurious for my taste, but I was here for one reason only: Isabella.

I stood near the entrance, scanning the crowd for any sign of her, but there was no Isabella in sight. A part of me wondered if she was even going to show up tonight. This bar was one of the few places she frequented, and I was starting to lose patience, Where was she? But just as I was about to give up, I noticed a man harassing a girl in the corner of the bar. His words were slurred, his gestures aggressive. The girl looked terrified, and I couldn't just stand there and do nothing.

Without thinking, I marched over to the scene, grabbed the man by his collar, and slammed him against the nearest table. His shocked expression was almost comical.

"Let her go," I snarled, not giving him a chance to respond before delivering a solid punch to his jaw. He staggered back, clearly dazed, and the girl scrambled to safety.

However, my actions didn't go unnoticed. Several security guards quickly approached, and I could see the man wasn't just a regular; he had some influence here. He looked like someone who could get the entire bar involved if he wanted to.

Adrian's voice crackled in my ear. "Seraphina, act smart. Don't reveal who you are."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not stupid, Adrian."

The guards exchanged some words in a language I couldn't understand, and before I knew it, one of them was pulling out his phone. It seemed like they were about to call the cops, and that wasn't part of the plan.

I called out Adrian's name, loudly enough to draw the attention of everyone in the room. He appeared from the corner, looking confused but quickly realizing what I was doing. With a mischievous grin, I dragged him next to me. "We die together, right?"

Adrian's eyes widened, but he quickly rolled with it. "Unbelievable," he muttered, clearly exasperated.

The guards were still unsure of what to do with us. They clearly didn't speak English, and neither did I understand their language. They looked between us and then back at the man I had just knocked out. In the confusion, Adrian stepped forward, acting like he was trying to smooth things over.

"Apologies," he said, bowing slightly in a gesture of false humility. "It's my fault. She's... well, she's a little impulsive."

I shot him a look. "A little?"

He shot me a quick, apologetic smile. "You know what I mean."

The guards didn't seem to understand, but I could tell they were still on edge. Adrian's face morphed into something more serious. "Listen," he whispered to me, "I'll count to five. When I hit five, we make a run for it. Got it?"

I nodded, my pulse quickening. "Got it."

Adrian took a few slow steps toward the exit, and I could see him glance over at the guards, his body language apologetic, almost like he was begging for forgiveness. But I knew better. He was stalling.

As he made his way closer to the exit, he raised his hand in a mock gesture of peace, bowing his head as though the whole scene was just a misunderstanding. Meanwhile, I kept my focus on the guards, pretending to be completely innocent.

When Adrian got to the right spot, he turned to me with a grin. "Now."

Before I could react, he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door. We ran like our lives depended on it, dodging through the crowd with the guards now in hot pursuit. I couldn't help but laugh as adrenaline surged through me. The thrill of running from danger was something I lived for.

Adrian didn't stop running until we were safely out in the cool night air. We slowed down, both of us trying to catch our breath.

"That was fun," Adrian said, grinning as he glanced over at me.

I rolled my eyes, still panting. "You're unbelievable. You look apologetic, but you're secretly arguing with me in front of the guards."

Adrian shrugged, a smug look on his face. "Well, someone had to look innocent while you were being Superwoman."

"Superwoman?" I scoffed. "I wasn't the one with a 'sorry I messed up' routine, was I?"

Adrian smirked. "I had to play the role. You know, charm the guards with my 'I'm just a guy helping out a crazy woman' act."

I couldn't help but laugh. "And that worked, huh?"

"Of course," he said with an exaggerated wink. "It's all about the performance."

"Well, next time, maybe I'll let you handle the 'performance,'" I teased, crossing my arms.

Adrian gave me a look, clearly unimpressed. "I'm just saying, I had to make sure we didn't end up in a Middle Eastern jail. I think I deserve some credit for that."

I smirked. "Credit for getting us caught and then having me bail us out?"

"Exactly!" he grinned. "Teamwork, remember?"

"Teamwork? You're lucky I didn't leave you to deal with the guards by yourself," I said, shaking my head.

Adrian chuckled. "Oh, come on. You love it. Admit it."

I sighed dramatically. "Fine. I'll admit it. You're... okay at being a getaway driver."

Adrian grinned, the cocky smirk never leaving his face. "I knew you'd come around."

I rolled my eyes and punched his arm. "Just don't drag me into any more fights, alright?"

Adrian gave me a sideways glance. "No promises. You and I both know you can't resist the chaos."

And as much as I hated to admit it, he was right. With Adrian around, chaos was always just around the corner. But, somehow, it always felt like the kind of chaos I could handle.

"Let's get back to the hotel," I said, pulling my hair back into a messy ponytail.

Adrian nodded, and we walked off into the night, knowing we'd probably be in trouble again before the day was done. But that was the fun part.

As we made our way back to the hotel, I couldn't help but notice the crisp air, the kind of chill that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The sky above was clear, stars scattered across it like tiny diamonds. The city lights below flickered like a sea of fireflies, and the sound of distant cars echoed softly, blending with the breeze.

We reached the bridge that connected the city to the hotel area, and I stopped midway. The view was too beautiful to ignore, and I needed a moment to just breathe it all in. The coolness of the night air brushed against my skin, sending a shiver through me.

I closed my eyes, letting the wind play with my hair, but then, unexpectedly, I felt something warm against my back. I froze for a second, unsure of what was happening. A moment later, I felt strong arms wrap around me, pulling me back gently.

Adrian.

His oversized jacket engulfed me, its warmth immediately surrounding me, and the sensation of his chest against my back melted any tension that had been lingering in my body. I could feel his breath tickling the back of my neck as he settled his head over my shoulder, his body snugly pressed against mine.

For a brief moment, everything seemed quiet — the noise of the city, the movement of people, all of it faded as I focused on the warmth radiating from Adrian.

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice soft but curious, wondering why he was doing this.

"Just enjoy the view," he murmured against my ear, his voice low and calm. His hands tightened slightly around my waist, as if to keep me close.

I stood there for a moment, letting his words settle in. I could hear the faint beat of his heart, steady and calm. I felt his fingers gently brushing the fabric of his jacket, sending a warm ripple through me.

The cool air was still there, but it was now overshadowed by the warmth that Adrian's presence brought. A soft laugh escaped me as I realized how effortless it all felt — how easily I was melting under the simplicity of this moment.

"You're really pulling this whole 'mysterious, brooding hero' act well, you know," I teased, but the smile in my voice betrayed the softness I was feeling.

Adrian gave a low chuckle, his breath warm against my skin. "I'm just keeping you safe. You never know when you'll need saving."

"From what?" I raised an eyebrow, feeling a mix of amusement and the heat that was still lingering between us.

"From yourself," he replied simply. His arms tightened around me again, and for a moment, I let the silence stretch, enjoying the intimacy of it.

I smiled softly, feeling oddly at peace. Then he whispered, his voice deeper, "My arms were made to be wrapped around you. You fit perfectly in my hold."

That simple admission made my heart skip a beat, and I found myself melting even more into his warmth. There was something about the way he said it, as if he believed it to be the most natural thing in the world.

Finally, after a while, I turned my head slightly, glancing up at him. His face was mere inches from mine, and his eyes caught the moonlight, making them look even more intense.

"Enjoying the view?" he asked, his voice softer now, the teasing edge replaced by something warmer.

I nodded slowly, "I am now."

Adrian's lips curved into a faint smile. "Good. You deserve to."

And with that, we stood there for a few more moments, wrapped up in the quiet, the cool air, and each other's presence. Something about the simplicity of it made me forget everything else — all the danger, all the chaos, and just be in this moment with him.

After a while, I felt his arms loosen slightly, but not enough to let me go completely. He took a step back, but still kept me close.

"Ready to head back?" he asked, his voice low, as though he didn't want to break the spell of the moment.

I nodded again, finally feeling like the cold night wasn't so bad when you had warmth like this.

"Yeah," I whispered, my voice quieter than usual. "Let's go."

We turned toward the hotel, and though the bridge behind us faded from view, the warmth from Adrian stayed with me.