Go where the stars take you

Mr. Ryu's POV

It's been two weeks since the attack. Two weeks of sleepless nights, countless interrogations, and dead ends. Today, we caught two of them, but they were nothing but pawns. My patience is razor-thin, and the men Ihired are proving to be useless.

"Tie them up. Use anything-break their bones, tear their skin-I don't care. Find out who's behind this. If you fail, I'll burn you all alive." My voice thundered through the room, leaving no room for misinterpretation. I couldn't trust the police with this; it was personal now.

Author's POV

Though Ryu appeared calm on the surface, the events of last night had ignited a storm within him. His mind was torn between finding those responsible and battling the image of her injured body-the one person he vowed to protect. She had been hurt saving him, and the thought alone was enough to drive him mad. He would make them pay, even if it cost him everything.

Sitting amidst monitors, devices, and his hired men, his mind betrayed him with flashes of the previous night. The kiss-unexpected, raw, and consuming- was seared into his memory. His heart flattered, despite the chaos. Why hadhe kissed her? Was it desperation, or fear of losing her? Whatever it was, one thing was clear: he couldn't let her go. Not now. Not ever.

Before he could linger on the thought, his phone rang. The voice on the other end sent an icy chill down his spine.

"Boss... she's gone. They took her."

His world tilted. His blood turned cold as the phone nearly slipped from his hand. The calm exterior shattered, replaced by a storm of rage. Whirling around, he pulled out his gun and pointed it at one of his men.

"Track her. You've got sixty seconds. All you've got or I'll shove every bullet in this gun down your throat."

His voice was deadly calm, but his eyes burned with fury. The seconds dragged on like hours, but soon, a notification pinged on his phone-her location. Relief was fleeting; it was replaced by searing anger.

Every dress he had gifted her had a tracker sewn into it-his silent way of protecting her without her knowledge. He clenched the steering wheel and pressed the accelerator. The car roared as it sped through the streets. He didn't care about the risk.

"Mr. Jung, get ready. We're going to her location. If anyone has touched her, I swear I'll make them beg for death."

As he spoke, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was a call from an unknown number.

"Ryu Aksh, it's been a while. How are you holding up? Afraid, perhaps? Ha... ha ...you should be."

The voice was laced with cruelty, each word like a dagger. Ryu's hand tightened around the phone.

"Who the fuck are you? If you've touched her-"

"Touched her?" The man on the other end chuckled darkly. "Come and get her, if you dare. But you'd better hurry. She doesn't have much time left."

The line went dead, leaving Ryu seething. His car screeched as he pushed it to its limits. Memories of his accident and the nightmares that followed were forgotten; all that mattered was her.The line went dead, leaving Ryu seething. His car screeched as he pushed it to its limits. Memories of his accident and the pain that followed were forgotten; all that mattered was her.

When he arrived at the location-an enormous, dilapidated building-he didn't hesitate. His men followed him with guns drawn, but he was ahead, his movements frantic. Room after room, hall after hall, he searched, shouting her name like a man possessed.

"Ahana! Where are you? Answer me"

His wristwatch ticked ominously. Time was slipping away. He glanced at it- three minutes left. Panic clawed at his chest as he barked orders.

"Find her! If you don't, I'll bury each of you with my own hands

Then, a sound reached him a faint ticking from a rusted door. His heart stopped. It was the same sound he'd heard during the call. Without thinking, he rammed the door with his shoulder. The first hit didn't budge it. Neither did the second. Blood oozed from his knuckles as he pounded on the wood. Finally, the door splintered, and he burst in.

There she was.

On the edge of the railing, her wrists bound, her neck looped with a rope tied to a timer. The device ticked down-5...4...

She was half-conscious, blood trickling from her lips, her body bruised and battered. Shards of glass surrounded her, evidence of the torment she had endured. Her torn clothes revealed deep cuts on her arms and legs.

Ryu's chest heaved. His mind screamed.

3...

He snatched a shard of glass from the floor, ignoring the way it sliced into his palm.

2...

With a burst of speed, he sprinted to her, his wide, desperate eyes fixed on her fragile form.

1.

"Ahana!"

The timer buzzed. The hook released.

She fell-but not far. Ryu's arms caught her just in time. He clung to her waist, his grip unrelenting as the rope fell loose. Blood dripped from his hands as the glass shard dug into his skin, but he didn't care. Carefully, he cut the ropes binding her, pulling her to him with trembling arms.

Falling to the ground with her in his lap, he held her as if she might vanish. His voice broke as he whispered her name.

"Please, wake up. You're safe now. I've got you Please, Ahana. Please."

Tears streaked down his face. He buried his head against her, his shoulders shaking. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, a faint touch against his cheek made him freeze.

Her hand.

He lifted his head to see her weak smile, her eyes barely open.

"You came," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "I thought... I thought I would die. I was so afraid."

Her tears mingled with his as her words tore at his heart. He cradled her closer, his voice trembling with emotion.

"Don't worry. You're safe now. I swear, Ahana, I won't let you go again. Never."

And for the first time, the unshakable Mr. Ryu Aksh broke, holding her as if his life depended on it.