Standing Before Love (Myra and Sean)

Myra tried to grab onto the doorknob, but Thomas was already pulling her further from the door. Hot tears were streaming past her cheeks, but she gritted her teeth and kicked harshly at the door, even as she was being hauled away.

Meanwhile, he felt a rush of anger and frustration at the girl’s relentless struggle. He brought his hand up, but just as he was about to slap her hard across the face again, the door was kicked open from the outside.

Thomas was startled as the door slammed open with a violent ‘bang’. Almost instantly, a man with a thunderous expression strode through the entry and landed a harsh kick against Thomas’ sternum, sending him flying backward.

“Y-You…” His eyes widened when he took in the familiar face before him and he faltered as panic rose in him.

Thomas knew the man. He knew him so well that the recognition itself made his bones tremble with fear. This was the man who haunted the urban legends of Bradfort City—Tony Hart, the fourth son of the Hart family and younger brother to Deputy Mayor Hart.

Falling in step behind Tony were two other men whose faces were equally stormy. One was Deputy Mayor Hart himself and Thomas recognized the other as Young Master Elliot, the head of Zion Club.

Thomas winced as soon as he met Deputy Mayor Hart’s furious gaze. I’m as good as dead this time. The next moment, a fist was hurled toward Thomas and it landed hard on his chin. He could taste copper in his mouth and two of his front teeth were loosened.

Shawn reached out and restrained Tony. Then, he said in a low voice, “Let me handle this. Go and get Miss Stark out of here.”

was holding onto Myra as they stood to the side. She looked miserable. She was so relieved at having been saved that her legs caved in under her weight and she almost skidded on the floor. Before

figures in Bradfort City. Any delay in bringing an end to this debacle would

at her trembling body and he grew grim when he saw that one of her cheeks were swollen. He had come to pick Myra up from the club today, but upon his arrival, he heard that she was still engaged in a discussion with those from the Management Department. With some time to spare, he had decided to wait for

private room, informed the three of them that there was something wrong that they rose

his grip on her and shot a cold, baleful look toward Thomas. He then said, “There’s

of those words. Meanwhile, Shawn clapped Tony

the rest, he turned to leave the room with Myra cradled in his arms. Myra’s slender frame was hidden under his suit jacket and half of her face was obscured as well. All that peeked out were her reddened eyes and she gazed up at

knife, but she swallowed and looked

lay unconscious behind it and he swiftly carried her from the ground. Upon seeing him holding Tilly, Myra let out a

to him and marched out of the room in a few long strides. After they made their way out of Zion Club and into the car, he bent and silently fastened her seatbelt. She reached out suddenly and clasped her fingers around his wrist. She bit her lip and said softly, “I’m okay.” Her voice was hoarse and her hands were shaking even as they held onto his

gaze and she could see the dark fire that burned in his eyes. He looked like a panther who had been thoroughly provoked—dangerous and unpredictable. He looked

her grip on Tony’s wrist, but in the next moment, she found herself being pulled into his arms. “Damn it! Damn it! Goddamnit!” he cursed under his breath, his voice rough and punctuated with rage. He had cursed thrice, she dimly noted. He was beside himself with fury. Her face was pressed to his chest and she could hear

so that their eyes met. He might have saved her, but it did not seem like he would let her off the hook

plain sight. She was afraid to imagine what could have happened if Tony and the others had not gotten to her in time. Her heart clenched at the thought of how terrible things could have turned out to be and her eyes rimmed