Page 54 of Protected By My Playboy Billionaire

“Oh, I think you’ll find there’s plenty to talk about,” he murmurs, his breath hot against my skin. “After all, you and I are never finished. And we still have so many unfinished things I want to do.”

My heart hammers in my chest as his words send a chill through my body. He wouldn’t dare. It’s a lie, but I keep repeating it anyway. I push against the wall, desperate to put some distance between us, but Carson’s grip tightens, his fingers digging into my arms with bruising force.

“Let me go,” I demand, my voice cracking. “You have no rightto touch me.”

He only laughs, the sound ringing with sinister amusement as he leans in closer, his lips hovering dangerously close to mine.

“I have every right, Elana,” he whispers, his voice dripping with malice. “You belong to me. And now, I’m going to show you just how much.”

The blood drains from my face as his words hit me like a physical blow, the realization of what he’s planning on doing crashing over me like a tidal wave. Panic surges through me, fueling a desperate need to escape, to break free.

“Get away from me,” I hiss, my voice trembling with rage as I summon every ounce of strength I have left. With a surge of adrenaline, I bring my knee to his balls with so much force I feel my knee slam against bone.

“Fuck!” Carson shrieks and stumbles to the ground, but before I can step away from him, his hand clamps down on my leg.

I steel myself, ready for another kick, this one aimed at his head. But before he can lay another hand on me, a sudden blur of movement catches me off-guard.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a large male figure charging toward us with a ferocity I’ve never witnessed before. Adrian. With a swift and powerful punch, he lands a devastating blow to Carson’s jaw, sending him staggering backward with a grunt of pain.

“You piece of fucking shit!” Before Carson can recover, Adrian lunges at him with relentless fury. The two of them lock in a violent struggle amidst the pouring rain. Each blow is met with an equal measure of resistance as they grapple with one another, the sound of their grunts and curses echoing through the alley.

“Sir!” I see Mac running towards us. “Mr. Morgan!” he yells at Adrian, trying to pull him back. “Adrian, stop!”

But Adrian doesn’t listen. I don’t even think he hears Mac or feels his hands on him.

Frozen in place, I watch in disbelief as Adrian unleashes a torrent of punches, his normally composed demeanor replaced by something purely animalistic.

Finally, with a decisive blow, Adrian delivers a knockout punch that sends Carsoncrumpling to the ground, unconscious and defeated. Breathing heavily, Adrian stands over Carson, his chest heaving as he surveys the scene. His eyes meet Mac’s.

“Sir, step back.” Mac pushes him to the side, and Adrian obliges. Without hesitation, he rushes to my side. But as he reaches out to me in the rain, his concerned expression softened by the gentle glow of the streetlights, I can’t help but recoil instinctively. The memory of him and Victoria flashes through my mind like a bolt of lightning, igniting a storm of emotions in me.

“Stay away from me,” I choke out, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger. “I don’t want your help. I want nothing from you.”

He blinks at me. There’s nothing but pain in his eyes as he looks at me, his hair dripping. He steps closer, his hand outstretched in a silent plea.

“Elana, please. Let me take you home. What you saw… I’ll explain everything. Let’s go home.”

“I said no.” I shake my head stubbornly.

“Elana, let’s go.” His tone turns sharper.

“I’ll call Lilly. I don’t want to come with you after what I saw.”

A flicker of something cold flashes across Adrian’s features. His jaw clenched. “Fine,” he says through gritted teeth. “If that's how you want it.”

Before I can react, Adrian scoops me up in his arms with surprising ease, his strength leaving me powerless to resist.

“Put me down!” I protest, kicking and squirming in a futile attempt to break free.

“Mac,” he turns to the older gentleman kneeling beside Carson.

“Take her home, sir. I’ll call an ambulance for this one.” Mac nods and turns back to Carson, lying unconscious on the wet ground.

Adrian ignores my protests, his grip firm as he carries me back to his car.

“We’re going home,” he says firmly, his voice cutting through the sound of the rain as he deposits me unceremoniously into the passenger seat.

As he climbs into the driver's seat beside me, I glare at him.