Chapter Five – His Kind of Protection

Lina tried to forget the kiss.

She failed.

Every step home felt heavier. Her mind replayed the moment again and again—his hand on her waist, the way his voice changed when he said her name.

She didn’t notice the man behind her.

Not until a hand grabbed her arm.

“Hey, beautiful,” a drunk voice laughed.

“Why are you walking alone?”

Fear rushed through her.

“Let go,” she said, pulling back.

He didn’t.

That was his last mistake.

The sound came from the shadows.

“Take your hand off her.”

The man turned.

Adrian stood there.

Calm.

Still.

Deadly.

“Who are you?” the man mocked. “Her boyfriend?”

Adrian didn’t answer.

He stepped closer.

One second later, the man was on his knees, gasping, trembling.

Adrian leaned down, his voice cold and quiet.

“If you ever touch her again,” he said,

“they will never find you.”

The man nodded in panic.

Adrian let him go.

The man ran.

Silence returned.

Lina was shaking.

Adrian turned to her, his eyes burning—not with anger at her, but at the world.

“I told you to be careful,” he said.

“I didn’t ask for this,” she whispered.

“I know,” he replied.

“That’s why I handle it.”

She looked at him, scared… but safe.

“You can’t just threaten people,” she said.

He stepped closer.

“I can do worse,” he said calmly.

“And I will—if anyone looks at you the wrong way.”

Her breath caught.

“This isn’t normal,” she said.

“No,” he agreed.

“It’s obsession.”

She should have stepped away.

Instead, she stayed.

“You scare me,” she admitted.

His hand slowly lifted, stopping just before touching her cheek.

“I scare myself too,” he said softly.

“But losing you would be worse.”

His phone rang.

He answered without looking away from her.

“Yes.”

A pause.

Then his jaw tightened.

“Do it,” he said.

“And make it clear.”

He hung up.

Lina swallowed. “What was that?”

Adrian looked at her like the truth was dangerous.

“Someone thought they could get close to you,” he said.

“They were wrong.”

She didn’t ask more.

She didn’t need to.

That night, across the city, a message spread quietly:

Lina was under Volkov protection.

And anyone who ignored that warning…

disappeared from her world.

Adrian walked her to her door.

Before leaving, he leaned in and whispered:

“You are mine to protect.

Mine to ruin.

And no one touches what’s mine.”

He left before she could answer.

Lina closed the door, her heart racing.

She knew it now.

This wasn’t love.

It was something darker.

And once Adrian Volkov became obsessed…

there was no escape.Lina tried to live normally.

She really did.

University.

Friends.

Classes.

But nothing felt normal anymore.

Everywhere she went, she felt safe in a strange way. Too safe. Like the world was watching her… for him.

That’s when Ethan appeared.

A student from her literature class.

Kind smile.

Normal.

Harmless.

“Hey, Lina,” he said one afternoon.

“Do you want to study together? Just for the exam.”

She hesitated.

Then nodded.

They sat in the campus café, books open, laughing softly. For the first time in days, Lina felt… light.

She didn’t see the black car across the street.

Adrian did.

His jaw tightened as he watched them through the window.

The way Ethan leaned closer.

The way Lina smiled.

Something dark rose inside him.

“Who is he?” Adrian asked coldly.

“A classmate,” his man answered.

“Nothing important.”

Adrian’s eyes never left them.

“He smiled at her.”

That night, Ethan didn’t go home.

Not immediately.

A man stopped him outside the campus.

Polite.

Quiet.

“Wrong girl,” the man said.

Ethan laughed nervously. “What?”

The man leaned closer.

“Forget her name.

Forget her face.

Or you’ll forget everything.”

Ethan understood.

The next day, he avoided Lina completely.

No smiles.

No words.

Nothing.

Confused, Lina checked her phone.

Unknown Number:

Did you enjoy your coffee?

Her heart dropped.

Lina:

Were you watching me?

Three dots.

Then—

Unknown Number:

I always watch what belongs to me.

She felt anger rise.

Lina:

I don’t belong to you!

Seconds passed.

Then the reply came.

Not yet.

That evening, she found him waiting near her building.

“You threatened him,” she accused.

Adrian didn’t deny it.

“He was getting too close.”

“He did nothing wrong!”

Adrian stepped forward, his presence overwhelming.

“I don’t care,” he said calmly.

“I don’t share.”

“That’s not love,” she whispered.

He leaned down, his face inches from hers.

“I never said it was.”

His hand rested on her waist again—possessive, certain.

“If someone touches you,” he said softly,

“if someone looks at you the way he did—”

His voice dropped.

“—I erase them from your life.”

Her breath shook.

“You’re dangerous.”

“Yes,” he said.

“And yet… you’re still here.”

She didn’t move.

Neither did he.

Because they both knew the truth now.

Lina was no longer just a girl from university.

She was the weakness of a mafia king.

And Adrian Volkov would burn the world

before letting anyone take what obsessed him

.

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