Chapter 6
Outside the Dark Night Bar.
The night breeze swept over my bare shoulders and legs, making me shiver involuntarily.
I was about to ask Nina when her friend would arrive when I heard her let out a cry of surprise.
"They're here!"
Nina waved at several young men and women walking toward us from a distance.
I followed her gaze.
The guy in front was very tall with brown curly hair, looking just like the dolls I'd seen in shop windows.
But I felt strangely uneasy and instinctively took a step back.
Nina, however, took my arm and said with a smile, "Come on, dear, let's forget about life's troubles and unpleasantness. Relax a little. Tonight is all about you."
As she spoke, they had already reached us.
The brown-haired guy looked me up and down and flashed a set of bright white teeth.
"Hey, you must be Sonya that Nina always talks about. You're just as cute as she said. I'm Daniel."
Daniel's smile was cheerful, and his manner friendly, which eased my anxiety a bit.
"Hi, I'm Sonya."
"Alright, it's way too cold out here. Let's go inside and talk." Nina rubbed her arms and gave Daniel a slightly reproachful look.
Daniel slapped his forehead with an apologetic smile.
"My bad. Let's head in."
Inside the dimly lit bar, Nina and I followed behind Daniel and his friends, weaving through all kinds of people.
The air was thick with the smell of alcohol and smoke. I'd never been to a place like this before and found it hard to adjust.
The pounding music assaulted my eardrums. Nina pulled me along and we sat down in a corner.
Daniel pushed a red drink toward me. It gleamed under the lights.
"This is a modified Martini. Very popular with the ladies. Give it a try."
I stared at the ripples in the glass, and the prohibitions from the convent rules flashed through my mind.
My fingers stiffened for a moment, but then Kane's beast-like eyes appeared in my thoughts.
A reckless, "what the hell" attitude flooded my heart. I picked up the glass, closed my eyes, and took a big gulp.
This was my first time drinking alcohol.
The sharp burn of alcohol immediately filled my mouth, followed by a hint of sweetness and warmth.
I was surprised. The taste wasn't bad at all.
"That's not how you drink, Sonya. Take it slow, or you'll get drunk really fast."
Daniel thoughtfully handed me a napkin.
I took the napkin and looked up to find that Nina had already been pulled onto the dance floor by Daniel's friends.
Being in an unfamiliar place without anyone I knew made me feel intensely anxious.
I searched for Nina with my eyes, but Daniel blocked my view.
Daniel had quietly moved to sit beside me. With a smile on his lips, he leaned close to my ear.
"I heard you ran into some trouble. Maybe I can help."
A flash of surprise crossed my eyes.
Under the lights, Daniel's eyes looked especially bright and sincere.
I opened my mouth, but finally just shook my head gently.
Kane was powerful. I didn't want to drag others into this.
Seeing I had no intention of telling the truth, a hint of regret flickered in Daniel's eyes.
"If you need anything, you can come to me anytime. After all, my uncle is a lawyer. Maybe I can offer some good advice."
But this was kindness I rarely experienced.
My nose tingled and I almost cried, unconsciously gripping my glass tighter.
"Thank you."
Just as Daniel was about to say something more, the entire bar suddenly went quiet.
I clearly heard a roaring sound, like some huge monster hovering in the sky outside the bar.
Someone at the door shouted.
"Oh my God, is that a helicopter? Why is a helicopter landing in front of our bar?"
My heart suddenly leaped.
A huge sense of dread spread throughout my body.
My gaze followed everyone else's toward the bar entrance.
The heavy soundproof door was suddenly pushed open, and more than a dozen tall men in black clothes and sunglasses burst in.
They lined up at the entrance.
A tall, imposing figure slowly walked forward.
My pupils contracted uncontrollably.
It was him. Kane Moretti.
My first instinct was to run, but his eyes, carved like gemstones, landed on me with eagle-like sharpness.
I felt like something had grabbed hold of me, unable to move from the booth sofa.
Kane approached me slowly, like a hunter who had found his prey.
The once noisy bar became completely silent in that moment, with only the sound of his handmade Italian leather shoes hitting the floor.
Daniel seemed to sense something was wrong and stepped in front of me just as Kane reached us.
"Excuse me, sir, what do you want with Sonya?"
But Kane didn't even spare him a glance. He simply raised his hand slightly.
Bandel, who was behind him, immediately stepped forward and pressed down on Daniel's shoulder.
Daniel's shoulder seemed to be crushed by a thousand pounds of weight, and he collapsed onto the sofa, unable to move.
Kane looked down at me, his gaze like a cold blade.
I could feel his eyes sweep over my lipstick-painted lips, my bare neck and shoulders, and my pale thighs.
Finally settling on my chest.
His eyes darkened, devoid of any desire, but with a flickering rage rising within them.
"It seems you thought my previous warning was a joke, didn't you, my little cake?"
Kane's voice was calm, yet carried an indescribable pressure.
I wanted to say something, but my lips trembled uncontrollably.
A cruel smile curved Kane's lips as he leaned down close to my ear.
The scent of cigars mixed with cool cedar from his body invaded all the air around me.
"Dressed like this, in a place like this, laughing and chatting with other men—Sonya, who gave you the nerve?"
Kane's hand traveled over my shoulder, finally settling on my neck.
He seemed to be waiting for my explanation, as if the next second he would snap my neck.
"I just came out with a friend."
"Friend?"
Kane cut me off. His gaze fell on Nina, who stood frozen on the dance floor.
"It seems I need to teach your friend a lesson."
With that, he stood up and snapped his fingers.
I watched in horror as the men in black behind him walked toward Nina.
No!
No!
I grabbed Kane's arm in panic.
"Please, it's my fault! It has nothing to do with her! Please don't hurt her!"