Without warning, I reached down and gave her ass a hard smack.
"That's for spray painting my car," I said.
Her breath hitched, and she bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile. "You're such a caveman."
"Caveman? How about this?" I said, smacking her...
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Caleb's POV
My heart raced as I registered Esme's panic-stricken face before she collided with me. The world around us faded into a blur as adrenaline surged through my veins. "What the hell is going on?" I demanded, instinctively stepping in front of her, my body coiled like a spring, ready to protect her from whatever threat loomed behind us.
Before she could answer, the kidnapper exploded out of the alley, a savage glint in his eyes. "Get away from her!" he snarled, and all rational thought vanished.
I took a step forward, my fists clenched, ready for a fight. "You picked the wrong girl to mess with, asshole!" I growled, my voice low and dangerous, carrying the weight of every threat I'd ever faced. The guy was bigger than me, but that didn't matter. I had to protect her, and I was damn good at it.
With a snarl, he lunged at me, and I didn't hesitate. I swung first, connecting with his jaw. The impact sent a jolt through my arm, and I relished the feeling. He staggered back, surprise flickering across his features, but it quickly morphed into rage.
"Bastard!" he spat, wiping the blood from his lip with the back of his hand.
I didn't give him a chance to recover. I charged forward, throwing another punch that landed squarely on his stomach. He doubled over, gasping for breath, and I seized the moment to shove him against the brick wall of the alley.
"You think you can just take her?" I hissed, my voice low and threatening, my face inches from his. "You have no idea who you're dealing with. Trevor's not going to let this slide. And me? I'll make sure you regret ever laying hands on her."
I felt the kidnapper's muscles tense under my grip, and I pushed harder, reveling in the fear I could see flashing in his eyes. "You're going to wish you never crossed paths with the Kensingtons," I growled, the truth of my words ringing in the air. "We don't back down. We don't let threats slide."
He managed to push off the wall, trying to regain his footing. "You think this is over?" he spat, pulling something from his waistband. I barely registered the glint of metal before he aimed a knife at me.
My heart dropped, but I was too wired with adrenaline to feel fear. "You really want to do this?" I challenged, my voice steady despite the chaos brewing around us. "You think you can intimidate me with that? You're in way over your head, scum."
I took a step back, keeping my eyes locked on the blade as I felt for my own weapon. It was concealed in my jacket, and I was more than ready to use it. "You've got two choices," I said, keeping my tone calm, as if I were discussing the weather instead of facing a knife-wielding maniac. "You can walk away now, or I can make this really fucking painful for you."
His smirk twisted into a snarl, and he lunged forward, but I was faster. I sidestepped, knocking his arm aside as I grabbed my gun and pointed it directly at him, the metal cold against my palm.
"Back off," I warned, my finger hovering over the trigger. "You really don't want to make this worse. If you even think about moving, I'll blow your head off."
The kidnapper froze, eyes wide with shock. "You wouldn't dare..."
"Try me," I shot back, my voice low and deadly. "I'll do it, and I won't think twice. You don't know who you're dealing with, and I promise you'll regret every choice you've made today."
His bravado faltered, and I could see the gears turning in his mind as he weighed his options. I kept the gun trained on him, the tension thick between us.
Esme was still behind me, watching, her fear palpable in the air. I could almost feel the weight of her gaze, urging me to keep her safe. I refused to back down, my determination hardening my resolve.
"You have ten seconds to get the hell out of here," I said, my voice low and menacing. "If you come anywhere near her again, I'll make sure you pay—tenfold."
The kidnapper's eyes darted between me and the knife, and I could see the fight draining from him. With a growl of frustration, he shoved the knife back into his waistband, his hands raised in surrender. "This isn't over, Kensington!" he spat, but he was already backing away, fear finally overcoming his bravado.
I kept my gun trained on him until he rounded the corner and disappeared from view, then I ran towards Esme, my heart pounding in my chest. "You okay?"
She nodded, her eyes wide and terrified. "I... I think so."
I reached out, grabbing her arm gently, my heart aching at the fear etched across her face. "Let's get out of here, okay? You're safe now. I swear, I won't let anyone hurt you."
She looked up at me, her expression shifting from fear to gratitude, and I felt a surge of protectiveness wash over me. I'd do anything to keep her safe, and if that meant facing whatever threats lay ahead, then so be it. I'd fight for her, just as I always had.
"Let's go," I said, leading her away from the chaos, my heart still racing. I wasn't about to let this end here; I'd make sure she was safe, no matter the cost.
