Sophia''s hands were locked together so tightly her knuckles went alc.


    Every breath she drew felt ragged, quivering with dread. Beside her in the car, Hanks kept his posture rigid.


    He knew better than toy a finger on a woman destined for Han Drake.


    He valued his own skin too much.


    "Listen up," Hanks sald in a low, steady voice. "You''re about to meet Han Drake. Do exactly what he tells you. Man''s got no patience, and he''ll break yet if you give him a reason. One swing from him could shatter every bone in that slender arm of yours."


    When the car finally stopped, Hanks threw the door open. "Out. Now. Don''t make me haul you out myself."


    Sophia''s legs trembled as she stepped onto the gravel.


    The mansion sprawled before her-its cold, imposing silhouette famed by perfectly trimmed hedges.


    A heavy sense of foreboding clung to the air. Hanks mped a hand around her arm and dragged her inside, the grand entry hall gleaming with polished marble floors and crystal chandeliers.


    Without a word, he shoved her into avishly furnished room.


    Inside stood Han Drake, phone in hand. The moment he saw her, his eyes narrowed.


    He ended his call with a curt, "I''ll call you back."


    Hanks stood at attention. "Sir, this is Sophia Lancaster. The man who injured your son is Alex-her ex-husband. She knows everything about him. She can bring him here with a single phone call."


    Han waved a dismissive hand, and Hanks hurried out without another word.


    The door clicked shut behind him.


    "So," Han said, his tone quiet but loaded, "you''re Ms. Lancaster. You''re exactly as stunning as they said. No wonder my useless son fought over you."


    Sophia swallowed hard. "Sir Drake," she managed, voice unsteady "how is


    "He''s crippled," Han answered tly. He motioned toward the sofa


    "Crippled?” Her voice cracked, eyes going wide.


    your son doing?"


    "Sit," Han said, his stare hard. "I don''t hit women-generally. You don''t need to fear me if you don''t give me a reason."


    Sophia lowered herself onto the sofa, every motionced with caution.


    Her thin nightgown clung to her shape, offering her no sense offort.


    Han''s gaze flicked over her, assessing.


    He settled in next to her, the cushions shifting beneath his solid frame.


    His hand reached for her smartwatch, curling around it with controlled force. "Call him," he ordered.


    Sophia hesitated, fear twisting in her gut.


    "Don''t make me force you," he said, cold and clipped. "Because if have to hurt you, it won''t just be one broken bone."


    Sophia''s hands shook as she activated the watch, connecting to Alex.


    Far across town, Alex was driving through the city with Jasmine in the passenger seat, neon lights bleeding across the


    **


    windshi ad


    At the sight of Sophia''s call, he tapped the speaker,


    "What?" His tone was sharp, bracing himself for whatever came text.


    But it wasn''t Sophia''s voice that came over the line.


    "You bastant," a thunderous male voice snapped, "I''m sending you an address. You better show."


    "Who is this?" Alex barked.


    "The father of the man you attacked," Han growled. "Sophia''s with me. that way. I want to see the man who nearly killed my son."


    Alex''s jaw clenched. "If you hurt her-


    safe for now. Come alone if you want to keep her


    Before he could finish, Jasmine cut in, voice crackling through the speaker. "You''re threatening someone under Kingston protection! Are you so stupid you don''t realize Kingston wille and destroy everyst one of you if you harm her?"


    Han''s tone hardened. "Who''s that screeching in the background?" "Jasmine Kingston," she snarled.


    He gave a dark chuckle. "So your little friend is a Kingston man, is he? Well, I don''t care if he''s your favorite toy. I want his head."


    "You''d better release Sophia," Jasmine spat. "If you don''t, Kingston will tear your fortress apart."


    "I''m eager to see you try," Han said with a sneer. "And if you manage to get inside these walls, I''ll line the driveway with the bodies of your people."


    Jasmine''s anger red. "Stay right where you are. We''reing. "I''m not going anywhere," Han said evenly, then ended the call


    Jasmine turned to Alex, her face etched with worry.


    "I''ll gather all the Kingston allies," she said, the threat of fear evident in her eyes.


    Alex pulled the car to a sharp stop in front of the Golden Mansion.


    He stepped out, then opened the passenger door for Jasmine.


    She stood looked ready to protest, but he pressed a gentle finger to her lips.


    "I know you want to protect me," he said softly. "But it''s already toote for that. Do me a favor: rest."


    Jasmine''s knees seemed to buckle as if his words had stripped her of the will to fight.


    He held her close, letting her trembling body lean into his strength "I can handle this on my own.".


    Inside the mansion, Han punched a number into his phone.


    "Kyle, gather all our men. Tonight, we end this with Kingston. If we prevail, their entire Vancouver will fall under our control."


    He snapped his phone shut, then turned his attention back to Sophia. She was still seated on the sofa, trembling, her neck pale in the overhead light. Han reached out, brushing a calloused finger along the column of her throat. "So tell me," he said, voice turning cold, "how exactly are you going to fix this situation?"


    Sophia couldn''t speak. Her thoughts spun in panic, and she hated How her fear radiated off her in waves ruthless amusement.


    fuel for Han''s


    Without warning, he seized the neckline of her nightgown and ripped it apart,


    leaving her bare but for a thinyer ofce


    "What what are you doing?" Sophia gasped, scrambling to cover herself.


    A small, cruel smile curved Han''s lips.


    "I haven''t decided yet," he said, mping a hand around her chin. His eyes gleamed with dark intent. "I see a beautiful, privileged woman and suddenly I want to break every piece of that perfection."


    He ran his thumb along her lip. "Use that mouth to please me. Do, and maybe I''ll


    let you walk out of here in one piece."


    Terror clenched Sophia''s heart, but she refused to give in.


    She lunged for a ss ashtray on the table, smashing it into the side of Han''s


    face.


    He barely flinched, just wiped away the blood trickling from a small cut on his


    cheek. "What do you think you''re doing?"


    She swung again,nding another hit.


    Anger red in Han''s eyes, and with a low growl, he shoved her.


    He miscalcted his own strength, and she mmed against a wooden table


    before copsing in a silent, unconscious heap.


    "Dammit," Han snarled, flipping open his phone again. He barked an order, and within seconds a maid stepped inside.


    "Yes, Sir Drake?"


    He red at Sophia''s prone form. "Take her to my bedroom. Make sure she doesn''t leave. I''m not done with her yet."


    "Yes, sir." The maid quickly gathered Sophia in her arms and carried her away.


    Outside, headlights raked across the mansion''s grand facade. More and more vehicles pulled up, disgorging men who fanned out over the expansive gardens. Over three hundred of Han Drake''s fighters awaited the oing storm, armed and ready for the final showdown with Kingston.


    Yet, only one man emerged from the shadows of the night, stepping into the mansion''s grand entrance.


    With a weary sigh, he murmured, "Violence is never the answer... until it bes


    the only answer."