Protecting You ("The Shadows" Series: Book I)

VIII.

Ryan's POV

I entered my warehouse with Evan besides me. He had informed me about the attack on the girl. I had no idea why those people were trying to harm her. But I knew, they will answer my queries about her. I opened the door to see two shooter who were now bruised and bloodied, tied on the pole in the middle of the room. They were the left ones from the accident. Evan had convinced the girl and his lover to bring these men here in exchange that they will visit here before we do anything to them. But he has not told me what actually happened there or how they got hold of these men.

"So....why did you attack the girl? What does that 'Gonzalez' want from her?" I asked as I took out my knife and looked at its shiny appearance.

"He doesn't want anything from her. He wants you." One of them said as he choked on his own blood.

I furrowed my brows as I made eye contact with Evan. He had the same expression.

"What do you mean?" He asked as I looked back at the man who had answered us before.

"We know you have a soft spot for her in that hard-shelled heart of yours. Boss knows that. And he has grown a liking for that girl too. You know two targets from one arrow." The other one continued.

"She'll die no matter what and you will die too, either with her or without her." He said as he gave me an evil smile.

I felt my blood boil. They were trying to harm the girl who knew nothing. Just because they had seen me with her once, they choose her the target to get to me. She looked innocent and far away from this lifestyle. She was suspicious but I never thought she would get in danger If my men followed her. What have I done to her? I felt my fist clench but before I could react, I heard the door to the room open with force as the girl herself walked in, her lover boy hot on her trail.

Her face was void of expression but I could see her puffy, almost red eyes. What had happened to her? The man behind her looked worried and sad. Evan and I exchanged glances as Liam walked in behind them.

"She wanted to see them and was adamant. She was about to shoot one of our men but when she saw me, she recognized me as one who was there when she was attacked. So I brought her in." He said as she stood a few feet away looking at the tied guys. The man behind her turned furious, jaw clenching as he looked like he would kill anyone who would come in his way.

"You wanted to see them before we do anything...so go." I said as I turned towards her. She glanced at me for a second as I felt some kind of emotion crossing her eyes before going blank again. She turned towards the tied men behind me as she walked towards them. Her guy was about to follow her when she stopped him.

"But-" she cut him off by shaking her head. He nodded reluctantly as he looked at me and marched my way.

"You must be Ryan Martinez. I'm Jim. We will cross paths often. I'm her bodyguard. Thanks for helping us." He said as he nodded in my direction. I was taken aback by several things.

He knew my name, I don't know how. He knew who I was and he said that we will meet often. What does that mean? I brushed my thoughts away as I saw the girl squat down in front of them as she tilted her head to the side.

"What does he want?" She asked as I heard Evan cough loudly. Liam passed him a bottle of water. He gulped it down and whispered in my ears.

"Does she know what she's talking about?" I shrugged. I had no clue either. We looked back at her.

"What? No 'Hi' or 'Hello' darling? We've met before. You remember that right?" He said as he spit blood from his mouth while the other passed her a crooked smile. I felt my anger rising but Jim mumbled

"Don't even think to stand near her now. You don't know her well. She might do something to you." He whispered as I turned my head to look at him. He looked in front of him as he nodded.

"Give her sometime with them. You will realize what I said." He said as I felt like killing him then and there. Who was he to order me? I abruptly walked towards Lily as I heard him exhale and whisper 'he will regret' as I stood behind the girl. She stood up and I knew she hasn't noticed me as she went closer to one of them.

"What does he want?" She said slowly, emphasizing on each syllable.

"Both of you." He said and smirked.

"Why?" She asked again.

"None of your goddamn business whore." He said and soon regretted as I heard him scream in agony when a bullet went through his shoulder. My head whipped in her direction to see a gun in her hand as she shook her head. I heard footsteps as Evan and Liam came and stood by my side and Jim stayed away from us, maintaining his distance. He looked as if he was in sorrow. I looked at Evan and then Liam to see them equally surprised but not as much as me.

"She can shoot." Liam said in my ears as Evan nodded. Now I was more curious to know about this girl. She was not what I thought.

"I'll ask you again. Why?" She said as we all concentrated back on her.

"Everyone wants him. As for you, Boss has an unfinished business with you. So why not take this opportunity." He babbled looking at me and then at her. Her brows furrowed as she turned around and looked at Evan.

"What were you going to do with him?" She asked stoically. Evan wasn't expecting her to ask him anything. He shook his head as he looked at me.

"They are no use to us." I said staring dead in her eyes. Her tense shoulders relaxed for a second as I saw a faint but sad smile cross her face. That lasted for almost a second but I noticed and felt something stir in my stomach. I felt bad for her, I had no idea why. She nodded at me and then turned back to look at those men. I saw the men look at her shocked and frightened.

Before I could see what made them cower away from her, she pulled the trigger of her gun and shot one of them on his chest. He flinched and passed away the next moment. The other men shrunk in his position as he looked at the man who was lying beside him.

"I have a family. Don't do this." He pleaded. She walked towards him and leaned down to his level.

"You should've thought that before joining that bloody 'Gonzales'. I'll see if I could do anything about your family." She said and shot him too before he could utter a word. The blood splashed a little on her face as she had shot him at point blank.

She stood up and looked at Jim. He passed her a handkerchief as she rubbed her face as clean as possible. I, along with Evan and Liam stood dumbfounded. We had rarely seen a girl being so merciless. She strolled in my direction as she put the gun behind her back.

"Do you know me?" She asked in a low voice. I composed myself before answering.

"No. Why?" I couldn't help but ask.

She shook her head as she passed Jim what I assumed were car keys. He nodded and left. I glanced back at her.

"It's better for you to stay away from me." She said as she started walking towards the door.

"Who are you to tell me that? That's my decision to make." I felt rage through me as I followed her out. She turned around and looked at me straight in my eyes

"Please..." She said with so much emotions, I was left speechless. I had seen people plead in front of me in agony or fear but the way she asked I couldn't help but notice one thing. She meant more then what she relied. She entered her car and looked at me one last time before Jim drove away.

I stood at my place thinking what she actually wanted when she uttered that one word.

She knew something that I didn't...