More Trouble

Annabelle’s pulse quickened, each beat loud in her ears as she felt the stranger’s hand gripping her shoulder. His voice was low, rough, and his fingers tightened as he spoke again.

“You’re coming with me, little lady.”

Annabelle froze, glancing around wildly, hoping someone would notice, but most students had already drifted inside. She tried to twist free, but the man held on, pulling her a step closer.

“Let me go!” she hissed, her voice shaky.

But he only tightened his grip, his mouth curling into a cold, twisted smile. “Not a chance.”

In that moment, she saw Riccardo moving toward them, his expression dark, his eyes blazing with a fierceness she hadn’t seen before. He was moving quickly, his whole body tense, like he was ready for a fight.

The stranger noticed Riccardo, too, and his smile faded. He shifted his stance, pulling Annabelle closer, almost as if he was using her as a shield.

“Riccardo!” she cried out, panic clear in her voice.

Riccardo’s gaze sharpened, his jaw clenched. “Let her go. Now.”

The man’s grip didn’t loosen. Instead, he sneered. “Riccardo Moretti. Thought I’d find you here.”

Riccardo’s eyes narrowed. “So, this is how you handle things, huh? Hiding behind a woman?”

The stranger’s face twisted with anger. “This is payback, Moretti. You got in my way last time; this time, I’ll make you pay.”

Annabelle’s heart hammered as she realized who this man might be. She remembered Riccardo had fought with some Group of people on her way to his Clan the first time. And now, one of them was here, holding her hostage.

“Let her go, and we can settle this,” Riccardo said, his voice cold, almost daring.

But the man just sneered, pulling Annabelle another step back. “Why would I give up my advantage?”

Riccardo’s eyes didn’t leave the man’s face, and he moved closer, calm yet deadly. “Your advantage won’t last long. You can either let her go now, or you’ll deal with me.”

The stranger hesitated, glancing between Riccardo and Annabelle, as if weighing his options. Then, with a sharp yank, he pushed Annabelle aside and lunged toward Riccardo.

Annabelle stumbled, barely catching her balance as she backed away, her eyes wide. She could feel her heart racing, her breaths coming fast as the two men clashed.

Riccardo dodged the stranger’s first punch, his movements quick and precise. He didn’t waste time, he countered with a swift jab to the man’s side, making him grunt and stagger back.

The man recovered, swinging wildly at Riccardo, but Riccardo sidestepped, moving with practiced ease. His eyes were focused, sharp, and his movements fluid as he avoided each attack.

Annabelle watched, frozen, as the two men exchanged blows. She could hear the sounds, the heavy thud of fists hitting flesh, the grunts of pain, the shuffling of feet on the pavement. She’d never seen Riccardo like this before, so fierce, so unyielding. It was almost as if nothing could shake him.

At one point, the stranger managed to get a hit on Riccardo’s shoulder, but Riccardo barely flinched. He simply twisted, landing a punch square on the man’s jaw, sending him stumbling back.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Riccardo taunted, his voice low.

The stranger snarled, wiping a bit of blood from the corner of his mouth. “You’re gonna regret this, Moretti.”

But Riccardo just smirked, his gaze steady. “I doubt it.”

Without waiting, Riccardo moved forward, his fist connecting with the man’s stomach in a hard, swift punch. The man doubled over, gasping for breath, but Riccardo didn’t stop. He grabbed the man by the collar, yanking him upright and holding him steady.

“This is for touching her,” Riccardo said coldly, his eyes blazing as he landed one final, powerful punch to the man’s face. The stranger crumpled to the ground, defeated, his breaths ragged.

Annabelle could barely move, her body still tense from the fear and adrenaline. She watched as Riccardo straightened, running a hand through his slightly mussed hair, his expression unreadable as he looked down at the fallen man.

For a moment, everything was silent. Then Riccardo turned to her, his face softening, though his eyes still held a hard edge.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low, gentle.

Annabelle swallowed, nodding slowly. “I... I think so.”

He stepped closer, his gaze scanning her face, as if checking for any sign of injury. “Did he hurt you?”

“No, I’m okay,” she managed, though her voice wavered. “He just... he just scared me.”

Riccardo’s jaw tightened, and he glanced back at the man on the ground. “He won’t bother you again.”

She looked down at her hands, which were still trembling slightly. “Thank you... for coming.”

Riccardo’s expression softened further, and he placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. “I’ll always be here, Annabelle.”

His words sent a warmth through her that she couldn’t quite explain. She looked up at him, meeting his gaze, and for a moment, the world around them faded away.

But before she could say anything, they heard the sound of sirens approaching. Riccardo’s eyes darkened, and he glanced back toward the main road.

“Let’s go,” he said firmly, his hand moving to gently guide her away from the scene. “We don’t need to be here when they arrive.”

Annabelle nodded, allowing him to lead her away from the field and back toward the quieter parts of campus. Her mind was still racing, the events replaying in her head like a loop.

As they walked, Riccardo kept his hand on her shoulder, his presence steady and reassuring. They found a quiet bench away from the noise, and he gestured for her to sit down.

“Take a deep breath,” he advised, sitting beside her.

Annabelle inhaled deeply, letting the cool air fill her lungs. It helped, a little, to calm her nerves, though her heart was still beating fast.

“Thank you again,” she said softly, glancing over at him.

Riccardo met her gaze, his expression unreadable. “It’s my job to protect you. But next time… don’t wander off alone.”

She felt a small pang of guilt, nodding. “I’ll be more careful.”

He gave a slight nod, but his gaze lingered on her for a moment, as if he wanted to say something more. But instead, he looked away, his jaw set.

Annabelle glanced down at her hands, which had finally stopped shaking. “Do you... think that man will come back?”

Riccardo’s expression darkened. “Not if he knows what’s good for him.”

She nodded, trusting his words, though a small part of her still felt uneasy.

Riccardo seemed to sense her worry. “You’re safe with me, Annabelle. Don’t doubt that.”

His words brought a comfort she hadn’t expected, and she gave him a small smile. “I believe you.”

They sat in silence for a moment, both of them lost in their own thoughts. Annabelle felt a strange sense of relief, knowing Riccardo was there, watching over her. The danger hadn’t passed completely, but she felt stronger with him by her side.

Just as she began to relax, her phone buzzed again. She pulled it out, seeing an unknown number flash across the screen. Frowning, she glanced at Riccardo, who raised an eyebrow.

“Who is it?” he asked, his tone cautious.

“I... I don’t know,” she replied, staring at the screen.

The phone buzzed again, and a text message popped up.

“You can’t hide behind him forever, Annabelle. This isn’t over.”

Her blood ran cold as she read the message. She looked up at Riccardo, her voice barely a whisper.

“They’re not done.”