***


    "Finally, Owen is here!" Be let out a delightedugh, her eyes shining with relief.


    Belial Scarlett! Are you alright?" The tall, broad shouldered man rushed toward them,pletely ignoring Alex as though he were invisible.


    He stood with amanding presence, sharp-eyed and radiating an unmistakable air of nobility that set him apart frommon folk.


    "We''re fine," Be answered, her voice bright with gratitude, "all hanks to Alex, who saved us.''


    "Oh, really?" Owen Whitman''s tone dripped with skepticism as he raked his gaze over Alex.


    "Be, a man''s face doesn''t reveal his true character. You''d do we to sicer clear of strangers."


    Suddenly, Owen''s expression twisted. "Wait. I know you-aren''t you the Alex who had the nerve to p Be?"


    His eyes zed with fury. "I''ve been searching everywhere for you after what you did to her."


    Be darted between Owen and Alex, her movements frantic.


    "Owen, stop it! It was my fault, and we''ve settled it already. My father forgave the whole mess. Don''t stir up more trouble!" she yelled, voice edged with


    desperation.


    Owen''s jaw tightened as he stared at Be, then he shook his head slowly.


    "Be, I''m just trying to protect you. You should keep your distance from this guy."


    "I''ll go wherever I please," Be snapped. "Don''t act like you can order me around, Owen."


    "Fine, fine," he muttered, throwing up his hands in a gesture of surrender.


    "Be, let''s not waste another moment," Scarlett interjected, her voice urgent. "We should get back home. Your mother''s waiting."


    Though the support team had arrived, the air still felt tense and unsafe.


    “Alex, thank you so much. I owe you,” Be said warmly, turning toward him. “I''ll find a way to repay your kindness. Goodbye for now."


    Owen''s re grew even sharper when he caught Be''s friendly tone. Jealousy flickered across his face.


    "Owen, can you help tidy up this ce?" Be asked. "We caused all this damage; it''s only right we fix it."


    "No problem,” he replied, voice clipped. "I''ll have my people handle it. You and Scarlett just go."


    Be slid into the waiting car and offered Alex a bright wave. "We''ll see each other again," she called, smiling broadly as the car pulled away.


    The moment they were gone, Owen gestured for his men to hop back into their


    own vehicles, making no effort to clean up the destruction.


    He yanked out a fat stack of cash, tore off a fistful of bills, andunched them into


    the air like trash-letting them flutter down in slow humiliation.


    A few pped against Alex''s face before hitting the floor.


    "This should cover the cleanup," he sneered, then leaned in close.


    "Here''s a warning for you, punk: Stay away from Be, or you''ll regret it."


    Without waiting for a response, he stormed out, confident that a "beggar" like Alex didn''t deserve another second of his time.


    What a lunatic Alex muttered, shaking his head before draining another gulp of wine,


    Suddenly, a flustered voice came from the doorway. "Oh my God,ex, what happened to your clinic?"


    Josephine strode into the room, looking around as though she''d stumbled upon a shipwreck.


    She spotted the scattered money and couldn''t resist scooping it up


    After meticulously counting it, she broke into a beaming grin. "Fiy grand! Where on earth did all thise from?"


    "Some rich jerk decided to wreck the ce and then threw money round to pay for the damages," Alex exined, shrugging as if it hardly mattered.


    Josephine''s eyes lit up. "Must be nice to have that kind of cash. Fixing this dump won''t even cost five thousand dors."


    "Take care of the repairs with it," Alex said, waving a hand dismissively, "and keep whatever''s left."


    Her joy burst out in a halfugh, half-cheer. "You''re the best boss Maybe we should invite that man toe and destroy the ce a few more times, huh?"


    That evening in Vermont, Be sat down to dinner with her parents, recounting every detail of the day''s events.


    "Dad, Mom, you should''ve seen Alex-he was incredible!" she gushed. "He took out those thugs with just a couple of quick moves!"


    She even sprang from her chair to reenact the moment, her excitement filling the


    room.


    "Are you sure you''re alright?" her mother, Lidia Kane, asked with concern, though her affectionate smile showed she was relieved.


    "After all, that''s the same man who caused you trouble before."


    "Mother, I''ve grown up," Be insisted. "I know I messed up in the past, and I don''t want to dwell on it


    dnymore."


    Jericho Kane mmed a hand on the table, rattling the dishes. "Didn''t I warn you already? Ever since I lost the governor''s position, enemies have been lying in wait, looking for a chance to strike. You''re fortunate nothing worse happened today, or you might have died!"


    "Dad, it was just an ident," Be protested, pouting like a scolded child.


    "People are targeting us," Jericho shot back, his voice trembling with frustration.


    "From now on, you don''t leave Vermont without permission. Times have changed-you can''t just run wild!"


    "Alright, alright, I won''t go anywhere!" Be tried to appease him with a yful, pleading look. "Just don''t be mad at me."


    "That''s enough for one day," Jericho growled. "Go to your room.''


    "Okay," she mumbled, then hurried off, feeling the weight of her father''s anger at her back


    Elsewhere, down a dimly lit corridor, a furious man was pping one of his underlings across the face.


    "You told me that mercenary you hired could handle the job, yet he couldn''t even snatch two weak women!"


    "I''m sorry, sir!" The subordinate''s voice quivered.


    "Find someone else-this time, spare no expense!" the man snarled. "Pay for three


    or four assassins if you need to. I want her in my grasp immediately!"


    "Yes, sir," the subordinate mumbled.


    "And what about that doctor, Alex?" the man demanded.


    A sly grin curved the younger man''s lips. "Throw some cash at burning down his


    clinic, then kill him. Be''s got her eye on


    him, and that''s a problem."


    "Do it. Now."


    Late that night, Alex''s phone buzzed. Kelly''s voice spilled through he receiver.


    "Alex, I''ve tracked down the Heaven Root you''ve been hunting." "Seriously?" A surge of excitement sparked in Alex. That herb was notoriously hard to find.


    "But the owner''s..plicated," Kelly warned.


    Alex''s tone hardened. "Who are we talking about?"


    "It belongs to Jericho Kane," she said quietly.


    Alex exhaled, a grim smile forming. It looked like he''d have to face that man


    again.


    26 BONUS