Somniphobia

Chapter 84. Almost taken

Everything in me snapped.

I didn't think. I didn't breathe. I didn't hesitate.

I moved.

The second I saw that black mask and her legs kicking in the air, my body reacted before my mind could catch up. People were screaming. Chairs scraped. Glass shattered. Someone yelled for the police.

But none of that mattered.

Only she did.

"ARIA!" I roared.

The man bolted toward the back alley, shoving through the emergency exit. I was right behind him, slamming through the door so hard it flew into the wall with a violent crash.

Cold night air hit my face.

The alley was narrow, dimly lit by flickering yellow lights. He was fast — faster than I expected — and Aria was weak in his arms, sobbing, struggling, fighting with every ounce of strength she had.

"LET HER GO!" I shouted.

He didn't.

That's when rage swallowed me whole.

I sprinted.

My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might explode out of my chest. My boots pounded against the concrete. He was only a few feet ahead now.

Then Aria screamed again.

That sound shattered something deep inside me.

I lunged.

My hand caught the back of his jacket, yanking him backward with brutal force. He stumbled, losing his grip on her for just one second — long enough.

She slipped from his arms and collapsed to the ground.

I didn't even check if she was okay yet.

I went straight for him.

My fist connected with his jaw so hard I felt bone crack beneath my knuckles. He flew back into the dumpster with a sickening thud.

He barely had time to recover before I was on him again — punching, choking, slamming his head into the metal.

"You picked the wrong woman," I growled through clenched teeth.

He fought back — a knife flashing in his hand as he slashed toward me. The blade grazed my arm, cutting through skin. I didn't even feel it.

Pain meant nothing right now.

All that mattered was ending him.

I kicked the knife from his grip and slammed him against the wall, my forearm crushing his throat until his body went limp in my hands.

Only then did I drop him.

Only then did I turn back to her.

"Aria—"

She was on the ground, shaking violently, hands wrapped around her stomach protectively, tears streaming down her face.

I dropped to my knees in front of her instantly.

"Baby," I whispered, my hands trembling as I touched her face. "Princess, I'm here. I've got you. You're safe. You're safe, I promise."

She sobbed harder, collapsing into my arms.

"I t-thought h-he w-was g-gonna t-take m-me f-forever," she cried into my chest.

That almost destroyed me.

I lifted her carefully, cradling her against me, holding her like she was glass.

"Never," I said darkly. "No one takes what's mine and lives peacefully after."