"I suggest you mind your own business, buddy," the lead thug snarled, gesturing with his knife. "Or you''ll regret it."


    Bet stared at him, his dark eyes cold and menacing.


    The fight resumed. Bet''s movements were powerful and precise. The thugs, even with their weapons, couldn''t get near him. In moments, they were all on the ground. Yvonne, protected behind him, watched in awe. She had known this man her whole life, but she felt like she was seeing him for the first time. Had he improved this much in five years, or had he been holding back all along?


    As Bet pulled out his phone to make a call, one of the thugs pulled out a silenced pistol and aimed it at Yvonne. Bet reacted instantly, pulling her down as a series of muffled shots rang out. The bullets missed them but shattered the crystal chandelier on the ceiling.


    Instinctively, Bet threw himself over her, taking the full impact of the falling chandelier on his back.


    "Bet!" she cried, her face white with terror.


    He didn''t even grunt, his expression only hardening. How could he not feel pain?


    In the ensuing chaos, one of the thugs mmed the basement door shut, trapping them inside. The rest scrambled to their feet and fled.


    The basement plunged into near darkness. Yvonne looked at Bet, her voice choked with tears. "Are you okay? How badly are you hurt?"


    "I''m fine," he said coolly, releasing


    her. He stood up, his gaze sweeping the room. Aside from a sealed


    window high on one wall there wa no other exit.


    "I didn''t bring my phone. You have yours, right?" Yvonne asked, huddled against the wall. Her face was pale, her eyes wide and luminous in the dim light.


    Bet took out his phone and frowned. "No signal."


    They were trapped. But someone would realize they were missing eventually. The


    hotel had cameras everywhere.


    Silence fell between them, so


    breathing. The cuts on her arms and


    shoulders throbbed with a sharp


    pain, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out.


    “You''re hurt?” he asked, crouching in front of her.


    She had run out in nothing but a thin slip dress, and her bare shoulders and legs were exposed. She instinctively curled in on herself, like a frightened deer.


    Realizing his gaze might be making her ufortable, Bet looked away. He took off his jacket and draped it over her.