The drive felt like an eternity to Eric, each passing second stretched by the weight of his fear and anger. His hands gripped the steering wheel as he sped down the dark road, his mind racing with thoughts of Emily and the danger she was in. When he finally arrived at the villa, hidden away near the beach, he pulled his car under the cover of trees and killed the engine. Every nerve in his body was on edge.

Stepping out of the car, he motioned toward the gang leader, who was waiting in the shadows nearby. The man quickly approached, his voice low but urgent.

"Sir, you're here," the gang leader said, his eyes scanning the villa for any movement.

Eric wasted no time. "What’s the situation right now?"

"The place is locked down tight," the gang leader explained. "There are men at the gates, others posted at every corner of the property. We've counted nine guards in total, plus a few random ones patrolling around the house."

Eric's jaw tightened. "We have more men than that. Can we take them?"

"Yes, sir. My men are ready."

Eric’s focus shifted. "Have you found where he’s keeping Emily?"

The gang leader nodded. "We believe she's in a room at the back of the house. It’s the only one with bars on the windows, probably to prevent her escape."

"Good. Let’s gather the men and finalize the plan."

The gang leader signaled his team, and within moments, Eric was surrounded by his most trusted men. They quickly went over the plan: a distraction to draw out the guards while Eric slipped inside to get Emily. Once she was safe, the police would be called to arrest Luke.

Eric’s voice was hard as steel as he gave the final order. "Remember, your priority is Emily. Protect her at all costs. She’s my future."

With a nod, the gang leader and his men dispersed, taking their positions around the property. Eric slipped through the shadows, staying low as he approached the wall surrounding the villa. His heart raced as he climbed over, landing silently behind a guard. In one swift move, he knocked the man out and tied him up.

Crouching beneath the window next to Emily’s room, Eric signaled to the others. A gunshot rang out from the front of the property, creating the distraction they needed. Without wasting a second, Eric broke the glass of the window and climbed inside.

Inside the villa, chaos erupted.

Luke, who had been sipping whiskey in his study, jumped to his feet as the sound of gunfire reached him. "What the hell is going on?" he barked, storming toward the hallway.

Luke’s assistant, wide-eyed and panicked, ran up to him. "Sir, we’re under attack! Several men are fighting the guards outside!"

Luke’s face twisted in anger. "It’s Emily. They’re after her."

He bolted down the hall toward Emily’s room, but when he arrived, the door had already been forced open. His blood boiled as he saw Eric, holding Emily in his arms, stroking her hair as he whispered something to her.

Luke’s voice was a low, dangerous growl. "Eric Hart... who the hell do you think you are?"

Eric stood slowly, his eyes cold. "I’m your worst damn nightmare."

Luke sneered, pulling a gun from his jacket. "You think you’re going to leave here alive? Not a chance."

Eric pushed Emily behind the bed, shielding her from Luke’s line of fire. "Stay down," he whispered urgently. "I won’t let him hurt you."

Emily’s voice was shaky with fear. "Eric, I’m scared."

He kissed her forehead. "It’s okay. Trust me."

Two shots rang out, bullets zipping over their heads and embedding in the wall behind them.

Luke laughed, his gun still trained on Eric. "Be a man, Hart. Come out and fight me."

Eric whispered to Emily again, his voice calm despite the chaos. "Listen to me. I’m going to distract him. When I say run, you head for the door and get out. My men will be waiting for you outside."

Emily’s eyes were wide with fear. "What about you? I can’t just leave you here!"

"Trust me," Eric insisted. "I won’t die that easily."

Tears welled in her eyes, but she nodded. "I don’t want to leave you… but okay."

Eric kissed her softly, his words filled with emotion. "I love you, Emily."

She froze for a moment, shocked by his confession. "I… I love you too."

Luke’s taunting voice echoed across the room. "Are you coming out, or are you just going to hide forever?"

Eric stood, gun in hand, and slowly began walking toward Luke. "I don’t want any problems with you, Luke. Let her go, and we’ll settle this between the two of us."

Luke’s face twisted in rage. "You can’t have her. Not as long as I’m alive. I’ll kill you today, Hart, and she’ll be mine forever!"

"You’ll never have her," Eric growled.

Luke raised the gun, aiming directly at Eric’s chest. "We’ll see about that."

Before either man could fire, a voice boomed from behind Luke. "Freeze! This is the police! Put the gun down!"

Luke stiffened, his eyes darting toward the officer behind him. For a moment, he hesitated, but then his gaze shifted back to Eric. His lips curled into a sneer. "You think the police are going to save you?"

With a wild, desperate look in his eyes, Luke pulled the trigger.

Time seemed to slow. As the bullet left Luke’s gun, Emily, without thinking, leaped over the bed, throwing herself in front of Eric. At the same moment, another shot rang out—this time from the officer’s gun.

"Eric!" Emily screamed, just before the bullet struck her.

She fell into Eric’s arms, her body going limp. Eric’s heart stopped as he looked down at her, blood seeping through her shirt from the wound in her shoulder.

"Emily!" he cried, his hands shaking as he lifted her. "Emily, can you hear me?"

Emily’s voice was barely a whisper. "Eric… are you okay?"

"I’m fine," he said, his voice breaking. "Why would you do that?"

Her eyes fluttered closed, her breathing shallow. "I… love you," she whispered before everything went black.

"Emily, no! Wake up!" Eric shook her gently, his voice filled with panic. "Someone help me! She won’t wake up!"

Across the room, Luke lay lifeless on the floor. The officer’s bullet had hit him square in the back, piercing his heart.

Paramedics rushed in, lifting Emily onto a stretcher. Eric climbed into the ambulance with her, holding her hand the entire ride to the hospital. His mind raced with fear, anger, and guilt. He couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not after everything.

At the hospital, Emily was rushed into surgery, and Eric was left standing in the hallway, feeling helpless. The doctor gave him a reassuring look before disappearing behind the doors.

"Please, doctor," Eric whispered. "Save her."

As the doors closed, Eric fell to his knees, his body shaking with fear and exhaustion. He prayed silently, tears running down his face. He couldn’t imagine a world without Emily in it.

"Please, Emily," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Fight. I can’t live without you."