Guns 'n Roses

Chapter 6 The hunter became the hunted

Damien Thorn. The name seared into my mind like a brand. I clenched my fists as I processed what I'd learned about Kylina's stepdad. He was no criminal mastermind, just a regular guy working construction, but with a temper that made him dangerous. It was time to pay him a visit.

I called my most trusted men and had them prepare a car. As we drove to the address I'd memorized from the police report, I went over the plan in my head. This wasn't about making a scene; it was about sending a message. I wanted Damien to know that there were consequences for what he'd done.

We arrived at the modest house, and I instructed my men to wait outside. This was something I needed to handle personally. I knocked on the door, my patience thin. After a few moments, the door swung open, revealing Damien's scowling face.

"Who the hell are you?" he barked, clearly annoyed by the interruption.

"I'm someone you need to talk to," I said, my voice cold and controlled. "About Kylina."

His eyes narrowed, and I saw a flicker of recognition and fear. "What about her?"

Before he could react, I shoved him back into the house and slammed the door behind me. He stumbled, glaring at me with a mix of anger and confusion.

"You hurt her," I said, stepping closer, my eyes locked on him. "And you're going to pay for that."

"She's my stepdaughter," he spat, trying to regain his composure. "I can discipline her how I see fit."

"Discipline?" I scoffed, my fury barely contained. "You think beating and torturing a defenseless girl is discipline?"

I didn't give him a chance to respond. With a swift movement, I grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall. "You're going to leave her alone from now on. If I hear you've so much as looked at her the wrong way, you'll wish you never met me."

Damien struggled, but my grip was unyielding. "You can't come in here and threaten me!"

"I'm not threatening," I corrected, my voice deadly calm. "I'm promising."

I released him, letting him fall to the floor in a heap. He scrambled to his feet, his face red with rage and humiliation. "Get out of my house."

"Gladly," I said, turning to leave. "Remember what I said, Damien. This is your only warning."

As I walked out, I felt a sense of grim satisfaction. The message was clear. Kylina was under my protection now, and anyone who tried to hurt her would answer to me.

Back in the car, I called the safehouse to check on Kylina. She was still unconscious, but stable. "Keep me updated on her condition," I told the doctor. "And make sure she has everything she needs."

Hanging up, I looked out the window, the city lights blurring as we drove back. Kylina had been through hell, but she wasn't alone anymore. I'd make sure of that. And if Damien Thorn ever forgot that fact, he'd have me to remind him.
****
I made a swift decision to take Kylina to my mansion. It was the safest place I could think of, a fortress of security where she could recover in peace. With her still unconscious in my arms, I instructed my men to follow as we made our way to the waiting car.

Arriving at the mansion, I carried Kylina inside, her slight form feeling fragile against my chest. The grandeur of the foyer seemed to swallow us whole as we stepped through the doors, the opulence a stark contrast to the violence we had just left behind.

I laid Kylina down in one of the guest rooms, a tranquil sanctuary amidst the chaos of our world. With meticulous care, I ensured she was comfortable, arranging blankets and pillows around her as she slept.

Standing by her bedside, I couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness. Kylina had been through hell, and now it was my responsibility to keep her safe. She was under my roof now, and I would do whatever it took to ensure she felt secure.

As I watched over her, the weight of the world seemed to lift from my shoulders, if only for a moment. In the silence of the mansion, with Kylina's steady breaths filling the room, I allowed myself to hope that she would find solace here, away from the dangers that lurked outside.

With a final glance at Kylina's peaceful form, I quietly tried to leave the room, but my attention was drawn to a duffle bag that my men had brought in alongside her. It was buzzing incessantly, and upon closer inspection, I realized it must be her cell phone.

As I approached the bag, the buzzing grew louder, and I carefully reached inside, retrieving the phone. The screen lit up, revealing a flurry of missed calls from someone labeled as "G.P.A 🥀👭🔥😍".

"Who the hell is G.P.A?" I muttered to myself, my curiosity piqued. Could they be her boyfriend? The thought stirred a twinge of jealousy within me, but I pushed it aside.

The phone vibrated again, signaling an incoming call, but I hesitated. It wasn't my place to answer, especially without Kylina's permission. She could call them back when she woke up.

Placing the phone back in the bag, I exited the room, making my way to my office. The mystery of G.P.A would have to wait for another time. Right now, my focus was on keeping Kylina safe and ensuring that she had everything she needed to recover.

As I sat in my office, poring over files and strategizing our next moves, the door swung open, and my brother Brian entered, his expression a mixture of concern and curiosity.

"D'Angelo, I heard something happened," he said, his voice laced with urgency. "Is it true? What's going on?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I leaned back in my chair. "It's a long story," I replied, gesturing for him to take a seat. "But yes, something did happen. And it involves a girl."

Brian's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "A girl? What girl?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But Brian was family, and I trusted him implicitly. "Her name is Kylina," I explained, recounting the events of the past few hours. "She's in trouble, Brian. Serious trouble."

Brian listened intently as I spoke, his concern deepening with each word. "Damn," he muttered under his breath. "What can I do to help?"

I appreciated his offer, but I knew this was something I had to handle on my own. "Right now, I need you to keep an eye on things here," I said firmly. "Make sure security is tightened, and keep me updated on any developments."

Brian nodded, his expression serious. "You got it, D'Angelo. Just... be careful, alright? I don't want to see you get hurt over this."

I offered him a tight smile. "Don't worry about me, Brian. I can handle it."

As Brian left the office, I returned to my work, I wanted to get it done before she woke up again