The Protection

The present. Chris walked quickly over to Joe. His hand grabbed Joe's shirt collar roughly.

"Leave the girl to me!" Chris ordered in a fiery tone. He pulled Joe closer to him.

Joe brushed Chris's hand away roughly. "What the hell are you doing? Didn't you do enough yesterday? Huh?" He pushed Chris away from him. His brother was not tired of causing trouble. No matter the place or time.

"Don't try to change the subject! You know what I came here for. So, you'd better not waste my time," Chris snapped. His eyes were still glaring.

Joe paid no attention to his brother. He looked behind Chris' back. Antonio was standing at the door with several other men. They were preparing to arrest Chris for trying to attack his boss.

"You guys can go. I'm fine, and I can take care of myself," Joe assured Antonio. Then he signaled Antonio to leave him and Chris immediately.

"I don't think you're going to get what you want," Joe said after Antonio and the others had left.

Chris groaned loudly. He gritted his teeth. It wasn't like he could talk nicely with his brother. He would have to resort to violence to get what he wanted.

"How can you say that after what he did to our father? You deliberately hid a murderer in your house, and let her live freely without suffering the consequences of her actions." Chris vented his emotions at length.

"I don't want to argue with you because you don't know the real story," Joe replied casually. "You'd better leave before my men beat you to a pulp," Joe snapped fiercely.

Chris snorted in annoyance. "This isn't over yet. I'll leave, but it's not over yet. I'll come back with my men, then get her out of here somehow."

Chris turned around. He strode out of Joe's house with his stride and head held high. The humiliation from Joe would never be forgotten. He made sure Joe would get his comeuppance.

***

"Who is he?"

Joe turned around, seeing Briana standing at the top of the stairs. Briana's face looked deathly pale. Briana's body swayed slightly and almost fell down.

Joe hurriedly climbed the stairs. He grabbed Briana and hugged her tightly. Briana's body trembled under his embrace.

"That's Chris, my brother. He wants to take you away from here to get back at you for killing Dad," Joe said quietly.

Then Briana sobbed silently. Her tears hit Joe's shirt. But Joe didn't seem to mind. Joe let her shed all her grief without trying to interrupt or stop her crying.

After calming down, Briana pulled her body away. She deliberately kept her distance from Joe. Briana tried to avoid Joe's eyes, not daring to look at Joe directly. She chose to look the other way.

"I think you should take me to see Chris. I'll take my punishment," Briana said after they had been silent for a while.

Joe shook Briana's body. "Are you crazy?" snapped Joe. "I won't let that happen."

Briana shook her head quickly. "You can't do it. I don't want you feuding with your brother because of me."

Joe took a deep breath. After knowing the true facts of Briana's actions in killing her father, Joe wanted to protect Briana. Joe didn't want to let Briana die in vain. Because it seemed like he had fallen in love with Briana.

"Even without you, I didn't get along with my brother. Since a long time ago, many years ago," said Joe.

Briana forced a smile after hearing Joe's words. At least Joe managed to comfort her and reduce the burden on her heart. If only she could turn back time, she would definitely choose not to avenge her family's death. Because it seemed like this problem would never end if she didn't end it with her death.

"I still have to take responsibility. I can feel what Chris is feeling. Because I've also been in his shoes, losing my parents tragically."

Joe hugged Briana again. This time the hug was tighter than before. He would find another way to stop Chris from killing Briana.

"I don't want to talk about this right now. We should go downstairs for breakfast." Joe changed the subject. Then he took Briana by the hand, leading her downstairs to the dining room.

***

Joe paced back and forth in his room. It was now an hour after he had enjoyed breakfast with Briana. During that time Briana was silent and didn't seem to be enjoying her food. It seemed that Briana had lost her appetite after Chris' arrival at her house.

"What's the need for you to find me?"

The next thing he knew Antonio was already in his room frowning. Joe took a deep breath, and he found it difficult to speak. His tongue suddenly felt stiff and immovable.

"Boss .... What's wrong?" asked Antonio worriedly.

"Chris came here to take Briana away, then kill her." Joe was finally able to speak again.

"What then? Are you going to let Chris kill Briana?"

Joe shook his head quickly. "No way. I wouldn't give Briana to Chris," Joe said firmly.

"Then what will you do to protect Briana?"

"I don't know yet. Right now I want you to mobilize all your friends to guard this place," Joe said giving orders. "Tighten up the security. Don't let strangers into the house easily. Including the horse fodder suppliers." Joe continued.

"Okay, Boss. Is there anything else?" asked Antonio.

"You have to keep an eye on Briana. Don't let her leave the house like she did before." Joe added.

"Yes, boss. I can make sure everything goes according to your orders."

"You may leave now." Joe told Antonio to leave the room immediately.

***

A few days later. Briana narrowed her eyes as she was about to leave her room. For days she had seen two bodyguards standing guard outside her room. They watched her every move, and did not leave her alone.

Briana felt like she was living in a prison. And she didn't like that fact very much. Feeling like she couldn't take it anymore, Briana met Joe in his room.

"Listen! I'm asking you to tell those two guys to get the hell out of my room," Briana pleaded under her breath.