CHAPTER 016
JULIAN’S POV
I stared into the eyes of their leader as he held a knife in front of me. His other men were groaning on the ground, too injured to stand. It was just him and me now.
He started circling me, flipping the knife between his fingers with practiced ease. His smirk told me he thought he had already won.
I glanced at my iron rod. It had served me well against the others but against a knife? It was useless. He could move faster, strike quicker, and all it would take was one wrong move for him to land a fatal blow.
I needed something else. Something that could counter his weapon.
Then an idea came to mind.
Slowly, I dropped the iron rod to the ground, keeping my eyes locked on his and carefully maintaining the distance between us.
The guy tilted his head, confused. “You ready to surrender?” He chuckled darkly. “Too bad…it’s already too late.”
I didn’t respond. Instead, I shrugged off my brown leather jacket. The fabric was already torn from the last time he nicked my arm, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t planning to wear it–I was planning to use it.
His smirk faltered slightly as he tried to figure out what I was doing. Good. Confusion worked in my favor.
Gripping the jacket tightly in both hands, I stretched it out like a rope. My pulse pounded in my ears as I waited for him to make his move.
This was a defensive technique I had seen before. If I executed it properly, I could turn his weapon against him.
I watched his hands carefully, monitoring the smallest movements. I needed to know exactly when he would strike.
Then–I saw it.
He lunged forward, swinging the knife straight at my chest.
I wanted him to do that.
In an instant, I snapped my arms forward, wrapping my jacket around his wrist and trapping the blade in the fabric. Before he could react, I twisted his arm sharply and yanked him forward, using his own momentum against him.
Successfully unlocked!
He stumbled, his center of gravity sing forward…at was my chance.
I spun him around, keeping my grip firm on my jacket as I wrenched his wrist. He let
out a sharp grunt of pain, but before he could fight back, I tore the jacket away with
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CHAPTER 016
force–disarming him in the process.
The knife fell to the ground between us.
I didn’t hesitate. I kicked it across the pavement, sending it skidding far out of reach.
The guy clutched his wrist, his face twisting in rage. “You son of a…”
But before he could finish, he charged at me again, his fist flying toward my jaw.
I reacted instinctively.
Grabbing his arm mid–air, I used his own momentum to flip him over my shoulder. His body slammed onto the pavement with a sickening thud.
I heard the distinct pop of a dislocated joint.
His scream confirmed it.
Was that too much? Maybe.
I exhaled, shaking off the adrenaline rush.
Around me, the other three men were still on the ground, groaning from the injuries I had already inflicted.
I couldn’t believe it. I had just taken down four guys on my own.
I ran a hand through my hair, my breathing still uneven. Then, I glanced at my arm.
Blood trickled down from where the knife had grazed me earlier. It stung, but I had no time to worry about it.
“What a rush,” I muttered under my breath.
I bent down, picked up my torn jacket, and turned toward the café.
As soon as I stepped inside, the entire place went silent.
Then–one guy started clapping.
Another joined in.
Before I knew it, nearly the entire café erupted in applause.
“Way to go, man!” someone called out.
I ignored them. My eyes scanned the room until I found Olivia.
Without saying a word, I walked over to her and grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward the exit.
“Julian…” she started, but I didn’t stop.
I led her straight to my car, opened the passenger door for her, and shut it once she got in.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, I started the engine and drove off without hesitation.
The tension in the air was thick.
She finally broke the silence. “Your arm… you’re bleeding.” Her voice was soft but
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laced with worry.
I kept my eyes on the road. “I’ll be fine.”
I asked, “Were you able to see any of their faces from the cafe?”
“kind of” she replied
“did you recognize any of them?” I asked
“No, not quite.”
That was weird because when I mentioned her name earlier it looked like they already knew her name, so their definitely working under someone
“Did you recognize any of them?” she asked me.
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. “No. But they knew you.”
She went silent.
“Could it be your parents?” I asked.
Her reaction told me she had already considered it.
“I… I don’t think so,” she finally said. “They don’t care that much. If anything, they’d just try to manipulate me, not send people to follow me around.”
That made sense. But if it wasn’t them, then who?
“Then we’ll have to figure it out,” I muttered. “But for now, I’m taking you to my place.”
She turned to me, surprised. “What?”
“It’s safer if you stay with me for now,” I told her firmly. “Whoever those guys are, they‘ ve been watching you. They know where you live. It’s too risky for you to go back there.”
She didn’t respond immediately.
I could tell she wanted to argue, but deep down, she knew I was right.
With a sigh, she leaned back in her seat. “Fine.”
I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. Her arms were wrapped around herself, My estate was safer and they couldn’t just park across my house to watch me so until we figured out who it was that was watching her it was better if she was with me.
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