Chapter 1

The Stranger Behind the Gun

I took the gun out my purse and slowly entered the bathroom… my heart was beating fast and my mind was racing with ways to escape, feeling the rush… at that moment I felt my pulse thundering in my ears and a strange grin tugged at my lips - like I could do anything. But all the thoughts vanished when I stumbled upon a man… who was already inside the bathroom.

My eyes widened as we pointed guns at each other. Without thinking, my fingers found the safety switch - muscle memory drilled into me through the years. You learned to carry one everywhere when you’ve encountered death everywhere.

“Who the fuck are you supposed to be?” I demanded. My body froze, fingers twitching as my mind begged my body to move, though that didn’t stop me from checking the man out.

He towered over most people, broad shoulders, muscles rippled beneath his fitted shirt, and a stance that was commanding without needing to say a word. His gaze swept over me, cold and sharp like knife. His mouth pressed in a thin line, but his eyes calculating and intense, as if he had already assessed every threat in the room… including me.

He also checked me out and it took him a moment before meeting my eyes again. He scoff as if the situation was funny. He then put his gun down that made my brows creased… who was this man? And I’m not putting my gun down.

“Why are you here? You should have left with the crowd! Hiding like this- it’s dangerous. You could get yourself killed.”

I jumped as he screamed to my face. “Why are you yelling at me? I didn’t do anything! I’m trying to protect myself. And we don’t even know each other - why do you care?” My fist clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms, and heat flared in my body as I glared at him. “Cut the bullshit and tell me - who the fuck are you.” I demanded.

“Just a random guy at the bar.” He said that darkly that it’s hard to believe him, and the knots twisted in my stomach tightening with every second. Something was wrong. My instincts trying to warn me.

“You have a gun.” He could kill me right now in an instant and I could be dead… but I’m sure the fuck as hell I’m not going to die alone, he’s coming with me.

He looked at me with disbelief, eyes glaring at my gun pointed at him. “You’ve got one too.” before I could complain I heard screams and gun shots that made me stiff.

“You need one especially when many people wants to kill you.”

He locked eyes with me but in a matter of seconds the door started banging behind me, he grabbed my hands and pulled me into the cubicle. He was behind me, his hand covered my mouth while the other held the gun and pointed it to the door of the cubicle.

Cold sweats ran down my back, even though I’m not hot, my thoughts scattered and I was too afraid to look, but more afraid not to which is unlike me… because this was not me, I don’t hide… I face the danger but with this mysterious man protecting me… I did not feel the need to face the danger myself… because I am protected.

I could hear their voices from outside as they started kicking the cubicles one by one… it made my heart pound and wanted the man to just shoot the hell out of them but I knew better, they are trained that they got passed the bar’s security… they must be something… and I think this mysterious man knows it too.

“Stay here.” He whispered, letting me go slowly and before he could open the door, my hands gripped on his arm and I shook my head.

His face was stoic but at the same time comforting he then slowly removed my hand on his and he left… I closed my eyes tight, listening to the sound of their fight, there were many of them and when I heard a gun shot that’s when my heart raced and went out of the cubicle and I was shocked that they were down on the floor and he was standing there… with just blood on his lips that he immediately wiped it away.

I stared at his blue eyes, filled with passion and bravery. His scent was still in my nose after our close encounter earlier… and as he slowly approached me I looked up as he was towering over me… I never felt insecure of my height before, but here he is standing proudly.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay put? You never listened, do you?.” His remark made me came back to my senses and I couldn't help rolling my eyes.

“I thought you were dead.” For a moment, his gaze soften - the cold melting - but just as quickly, the hardness returned.

“So? What’s that with you?” Why is he so angry at me? Like he already decided to hate me when he doesn’t even know me yet.

“I’m not about to be blamed for killing anyone.” I hate being unwanted… so I would detach myself…. that’s my rule.

He laughed… which weirdly sounded so good to my ears that I had to look away from him or he would notice my attraction towards him… I can’t believe it. Fuck, I hate myself, did I just admitted that I’m actually attracted to him?

When we locked eyes again, I couldn’t stop myself any longer. I pulled him in for a kiss. My lips tingled from the kiss. What the hell had I just done? My breath hitched as I stepped back, my eyes wide in disbelief.

I was going to run away but he pulled me by the waist and kissed me, a passionate kiss that made me forget why where here… and what had happen earlier. My rule? I guess I could bend it.

Every time I met a guy, they just fail to amaze me. Nothing about them excite me, they sounded boring and boastful about their achievement in life but he’s different… he didn’t need to boast, it shows… and we couldn’t deny the fact that he had just saved me, despite me getting pissed and pointing my gun at him.

The kiss made me breathless and panting, there’s an awkward silence between us as we stepped back… his touch on my back that sent electric shocks on my body was now separated from my skin… I pouted.

I was about to say my appreciation to ease the tension when the security arrived together with the police. Body guards immediately rushed to me and escorted me out of the bathroom while the guy was interviewed by the police about what had happened while they made their arrest, good thing no one was dead and everyone was safe.

As I was escorted out, our eyes locked with each other and everything around us blurred as I stared at him… I felt like his stare was feeding my soul… there was feeling that I couldn’t explain, I wanted to ask who he was but it was too late… I kind of wanted to meet him again, talk to him… and I hate to admit this but actually get to know him… because I’ll be damned, I am attracted to him, I just don’t know if he felt the same way.