Chapter 83 Save Your Woman II

Dean crouched down again, his eyes gleaming with sick amusement as he twirled the knife in his fingers before pointing the sharp edge directly at Ann.

"The last time we met..." He smirked, tilting his head. "I was under your feet. But this time—" He let out a dark chuckle. "I can do anything."

Ann tensed.

She could see it in his eyes—the hunger for revenge.

She barely had time to react before his fingers curled into her hair, yanking her up forcefully. A sharp cry escaped her lips as a jolt of pain shot through her scalp.

He didn’t stop there.

With a harsh shove, he sent her stumbling backward.

Her back slammed against the cold, hard metal of a wrecked car.

A groan of pain slipped from her lips as she winced, her breath coming out in short, shaky bursts. She instinctively reached back to steady herself against the car, her fingers pressing into the rough, rusted surface.

No way to run.

She was completely cornered.

Her heart pounded wildly against her ribs as Dean took slow, deliberate steps toward her.

His gaze flickered down, roaming over her body, making her stomach churn with unease.

She swallowed hard, pressing herself against the car as if she could somehow merge into it and disappear.

Fear gnawed at the edges of her mind, threatening to consume her completely.

But then—

A thought struck her.

What would Liam do if he were in her place?

The answer was almost immediate.

He would curse.

He would mock.

He would do everything possible to piss his enemy off—and then strike.

Ann clenched her jaw.

She could feel her fear clawing at her insides, trying to hold her back, but she refused to let it win.

She took a slow breath—then shifted.

Her entire aura changed.

Gone was the scared girl, trapped with no escape.

In her place stood someone reckless.

Someone fearless.

Someone who refused to let these bastards have the upper hand.

Ann lifted her chin, narrowing her eyes as she spat on the floor.

"Let’s see what you’ve got, you fucking cunt."

Dean’s steps faltered for a split second.

His smirk wavered.

The insult was unexpected, and for a brief moment, he simply stared at her.

Then—

He threw his head back and laughed.

Laughed like she had just told the funniest joke in the world.

"Oh, that’s adorable." He turned to Rick and the others, shaking his head. "She thinks she can make me angry by cursing me out."

Ann clenched her fists.

Come closer.

Just a little closer.

Dean turned back to her, his amusement still evident.

"Alright then, sweetheart," he murmured as he took another step forward. "Let’s see what you’ve got."

Ann waited.

She kept her expression neutral, watching his every move.

And then—

The moment he was within range—

She swung her leg up with all the force she could muster, aiming straight for his crotch.

A direct hit.

Or at least, it should have been.

But—

Dean was faster.

His reflexes kicked in, and before her foot could make contact, his hand shot out, grabbing her leg mid-air.

Ann’s breath caught in her throat.

His grip was tight.

Too tight.

A slow grin stretched across his face as he tilted his head.

"I like fighters," he mused.

Ann’s stomach twisted.

This wasn’t good.

She had miscalculated.

But before Dean could make another move—

A voice sliced through the tension like a blade.

Cold.

Sharp.

Unwavering.

"Let. Her. Go."

Dean’s head snapped toward the sound.

Ann’s eyes widened.

A woman stood just a few feet away, a gun raised high, her steady aim locked onto the group of men before her.

Dean’s brows lifted in surprise.

A low whistle escaped his lips.

"Well, well, well..." He straightened up, slowly letting go of Ann’s leg as he took a step back. "Who do we have here?"

Ann let out a shaky breath, her heart still racing as she staggered away from Dean the moment she was free.

Dean’s gaze flickered over the woman’s uniform, and his smirk returned.

"You must be the new cop in town." His tone was laced with mock admiration. "My boys told me all about you. Gotta say, I’m impressed. And now that I see you in person..." His eyes darkened as he gave her a slow once-over. "You’re quite the sight."

Vanessa didn’t respond.

Her grip on the gun remained firm.

Her expression remained unreadable.

She had seen it all from the very beginning.

When she was patrolling the area, she had spotted a black van heading into this secluded place.

That was strange.

No one came here.

There was nothing here.

Her instincts immediately flared in warning.

So she followed.

And when she finally arrived and saw what was happening—

She didn’t hesitate.

She had come here for one reason.

To rescue Ann.

And she would not be leaving without her.

Dean’s smirk widened as he lifted his hands slightly in a mock display of surrender.

"Now, now, officer," he drawled lazily. "There’s no need for violence. We were just having a friendly little chat, weren’t we, sweetheart?" He turned to Ann, flashing her a grin.

Ann glared at him.

Vanessa’s eyes narrowed.

She wasn’t buying it.

"Step away from her. Now."

Dean’s smirk widened as he suddenly raised a single hand into the air.

Before Vanessa could react—

Bang!

A loud gunshot echoed through the air.

Her eyes widened as a sharp sting exploded in her wrist, and before she even had time to process it, her gun was blown out of her hand.

It clattered onto the ground with a metallic thud.

Her heart pounded violently.

A sniper.

There was a sniper.

Her instincts screamed at her.

This wasn’t just some low-level gang kidnapping.

These bastards were prepared.

They had a sniper in position.

Which meant they had planned all of this in advance.

And the worst part?

It wasn’t just for Ann.

Vanessa had been a police officer long enough to know when something wasn’t adding up.

These men wouldn’t go to such lengths just for a simple lady.

No.

There was something bigger going on here.

But before she could think any further, Dean’s slow, mocking voice snapped her back to reality.

"Alright, Officer..." He took a casual step forward, hands in his pockets as he eyed her with amusement. "That was just a warning shot. Now, let’s not make things difficult. I know you have another gun on your waist."

His smirk deepened.

"Drop it."

Vanessa remained still.

Her mind raced.

Her muscles tensed.

She knew that if she made any sudden movements, the sniper would pull the trigger without hesitation.

She clenched her jaw.

Her instincts screamed at her to fight back—to do something.

But she was outnumbered.

And worst of all, she had no idea where the sniper was positioned.

One wrong move, and she was dead.

So—

She did what she had to.

Without saying a word, she slowly reached down and pulled the second gun from her waist.

Then—

She dropped it to the ground.

The metal clanged against the pavement, and she lifted her hands into the air, her sharp eyes glaring at Dean.

A slow, victorious grin spread across his face.

"See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?"

Then, without breaking eye contact, he subtly turned his head and whispered something to Rick.

"Take care of her."

Rick stiffened beside him.

His grip on his own gun tightened slightly as he frowned, his eyes flickering toward Vanessa.

"Are you sure about this?" he muttered under his breath.

Dean rolled his eyes.

"What’s your problem, man?" He let out a short laugh, clapping Rick on the shoulder. "You get the cop, I get the girl. We finish quick, then we kill them. Easy."

Rick’s gaze lingered on Vanessa.

She was young.

Beautiful.

And soon, she would be dead.

Something inside him twisted uncomfortably.

But he didn’t say anything.

Orders were orders.

And Dean?

Dean was already rubbing his hands together in excitement as his gaze shifted back to Ann.

"Who would’ve thought," he mused, grinning. "A simple, ordinary day would turn into such an eventful one for all of us?"

Ann didn’t respond.

She didn’t move.

But she understood what he meant.

They were going to kill her.

Not right away.

But eventually.

They would have their fun first.

Her stomach twisted in horror.

Her hands, still bound, clenched into tight fist.

Dean took a step forward.

Ann braced herself.

Then—

Bang!

A loud crash echoed through the air.

Everyone’s heads snapped toward the noise.

A car.

Something had hit a car.

Their eyes darted toward the direction of the sound.

A stone.

It had rolled across the ground, colliding with the side of an old, rusted vehicle.

For a brief second, everyone was distracted.

And when they turned back—

Vanessa was gone.

And so were her guns.

Dean’s eyes widened slightly.

Rick cursed under his breath, his entire body tensing.

"Where the hell—"

But before he could finish—

At the back of a nearby car—

Liam’s body was pressed against Vanessa’s.

His arm was wrapped tightly around her waist, his other hand raised to her lips, silently motioning for her to stay quiet.

Vanessa’s breath hitched.

Her heart was still racing from the adrenaline, but now—

Now it was for a different reason.

Liam’s face was inches from hers.

His body was flush against her own.

She could feel his warmth.

His scent—**masculine, fresh, intoxicating—**filled her senses, making her dizzy.

But what stunned her most—

Was his expression.

It was calm.

Deadly calm.

His eyes were like ice—sharp, calculating, unwavering.

It was the look of a man who had seen far worse things than this.

And survived.

Vanessa’s breath was uneven as she stared at him.

But Liam?

Liam didn’t even look at her.

His focus was solely on the men ahead.

And in that moment—

She knew.

They were all dead.