Her Final Blade

chapter nine

Rosa ran, her breath coming in sharp bursts as her boots hit the concrete floor with rapid, muted thuds. The hallway seemed to stretch endlessly, the walls closing in as her pulse pounded in her ears. She heard the guard's frantic shouts behind her, his footsteps growing louder with every second. But she didn’t dare look back.

The corridor twisted sharply to the right, and Rosa skidded as she rounded the corner. Ahead, a heavy steel door stood ajar, its cold metal glinting in the dim light. She threw herself toward it, her hand outstretched, hoping it led somewhere—anywhere—safe.

But before her fingers could reach the handle, a powerful arm shot out from the shadows and snatched her back. She gasped as she was spun around, her body colliding with the hard chest of a man she recognized immediately.

Nolan.

His grip on her arm was firm, almost possessive, his face inches from hers. His eyes, dark and unreadable, locked onto hers with a mix of frustration and something else—something she couldn't quite name. For a brief second, neither of them moved, their breathing heavy in the silence that now enveloped the narrow space.

“Rosa,” he said, his voice low, almost a growl. “You didn’t think you’d get far, did you?”

Her heart slammed against her ribs, the adrenaline still rushing through her veins. She tried to pull away, but his grip tightened just enough to keep her in place without hurting her. His body heat radiated through the thin fabric of her clothes, the closeness of him unsettling in a way that had nothing to do with fear.

“Let go of me,” she hissed, her voice trembling but defiant.

Nolan’s lips twitched into a faint smile—one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. His gaze flicked down to her wrists, the raw skin where the zip ties had cut into her flesh still visible. He raised an eyebrow, impressed despite himself.

“Resourceful,” he murmured, his fingers brushing lightly over the marks before he caught himself and let go of her arm. “I’ll give you that.”

Rosa took a shaky step back, but her back hit the cold wall behind her. Nolan didn’t move, keeping her cornered, his broad frame filling the space between her and any hope of escape. The tension between them crackled in the air, something unspoken lingering beneath the surface.

She glared at him, trying to ignore the way her skin buzzed under his gaze, the way his presence seemed to fill the room. “What do you want from me, Nolan?”

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. For a moment, it looked like he might say something, something real, but then the mask slipped back into place, and he took a small step closer, just enough for her to feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek.

“What do I want?” he repeated softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “I think you already know the answer to that.”

Her breath caught in her throat as his hand came up, fingers grazing her chin before they trailed down her neck, slow and deliberate. His touch was light, teasing, as if testing her reaction. She hated the way her body responded, the sudden heat that flared up despite the cold concrete around them.

She swallowed hard, fighting to keep her voice steady. “This isn’t a game, Nolan.”

His hand paused, resting lightly against her throat, his thumb brushing over her pulse. “No,” he agreed, his tone darkening. “It’s not. But you need to understand something, Rosa. I’m not the one you should be running from.”

Her pulse quickened beneath his touch, and she wasn’t sure if it was from fear or something else entirely. “Then who?” she asked, her voice barely more than a breath.

Nolan’s eyes flickered with something she couldn’t quite place, and for a moment, the mask seemed to crack again, something raw and dangerous lurking beneath the surface. But just as quickly, he pulled away, the distance between them suddenly feeling colder than the room itself.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” he said, his voice hardening as he stepped back.

Without another word, he turned on his heel and began walking down the hallway, leaving her standing there, her heart still racing in the aftermath of his closeness.

As Nolan turned to leave, Rosa's heart pounded harder in her chest. She could still feel the ghost of his touch on her skin, her pulse betraying the mix of emotions swirling inside her. She didn’t trust him, but there was something about the way he looked at her—something dangerous and compelling that made her legs feel weak.

Before she could react or plan her next move, Nolan stopped mid-stride. His gaze flicked back to her, the intensity in his eyes rekindling like a smoldering flame. Rosa took an instinctive step back, but it was too late.

In one swift motion, he closed the distance between them and grabbed her by the waist. She gasped, struggling in vain, but his strength was overwhelming. With a firm grip, he lifted her easily off the ground and hoisted her over his shoulder as if she weighed nothing at all.

“Put me down!” she demanded, her fists pounding against his back, but Nolan ignored her protests.

His arm locked around her thighs, securing her in place. Rosa could see nothing but the concrete floor and the fading light of the corridor as he carried her deeper into the building, his boots echoing against the hard ground. She kicked her legs, but he didn’t even flinch. Her frustration grew as the warmth of his body pressed against her, the heat sinking through her clothes, making it harder to think clearly.

“Where are you taking me?” Rosa spat, her breath coming in angry huffs as she twisted, but Nolan remained silent, his grip unyielding.

They passed through a few narrow hallways before he pushed open a heavy wooden door with his shoulder, revealing a room much larger and warmer than the cell-like space she had been held in earlier. The room was softly lit, with a plush couch in one corner, a fireplace flickering with a small flame, and thick curtains drawn over the windows. It felt entirely out of place in the cold, damp structure, like a space meant for comfort rather than captivity.

Nolan walked over to the center of the room and, without any warning, set her down on the soft couch. Rosa immediately scrambled to her feet, her eyes blazing as she faced him.

“You can’t keep doing this,” she hissed, her voice shaking with anger. “I’m not some toy you can throw around.”

Nolan’s expression softened for just a second, but then he took a step closer, looming over her. “I’m trying to protect you, Rosa. Whether you like it or not.”

She backed away, her heart still racing, the firelight casting shadows on his face. “By locking me up? You call that protection?”

His jaw tightened as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. Rosa’s stomach sank when she saw it. He walked to the door, slipping the key into the lock with a loud click, ensuring she couldn’t escape this time.

“Until you stop trying to run, yes,” he said, his tone low but firm.

Rosa clenched her fists at her sides, her chest heaving with frustration. “And what am I supposed to do, just sit here and wait while you decide my fate?”

Nolan’s eyes darkened as he took a step toward her, closing the distance once again. This time, the air between them crackled with an intensity that made her throat tighten. “You’re not a prisoner, Rosa,” he said quietly, his voice a low rumble. “But I can’t let you walk into a situation you don’t understand. Not yet.”

She stood her ground, refusing to let him intimidate her. “Then explain it to me.”

For a moment, she thought he might. His eyes flickered with hesitation, and his gaze dropped to her lips before he quickly looked away, his expression hardening once more.

“I will,” he said after a pause. “But not tonight.”

Rosa’s frustration surged again, but she bit her tongue, sensing the futility of pushing him further. Nolan walked past her, his closeness sending another ripple of tension through the room as he moved toward the door.

“I’ll be back,” he said quietly, the key still in his hand.

And just like that, he was gone, the door locking behind him with a finality that left her feeling more trapped than ever.