Lost Me Gained Regret

I caught myself glancing at Mark, the question slipping out before I could think better of it.

This Kane, a new player in the game, clearly wasn't aligned with Jarrod's crew, judging by his henchmen.

Mark's brows furrowed slightly, just as he was about to reply, Kane's smirk deepened, sending a shiver down my spine. "The famous Mr. Larson, who hasn't heard of you? Besides, if I'm going after you, I'd naturally need to know who's in your circle."

Mark, usually the picture of calm, now looked menacing, his voice ice cold, "Let her go."

"Let her go?" Kane wiped his bloody lip, casually sauntering back to his seat with an eyebrow cocked at Mark. "Mr. Larson, how about a deal instead?"

Mark's voice was steady, "What kind of deal?"

"Let's join forces. You help me take down the Myers family."

Kane glanced at me, his tone loaded with implication. "I can deliver Ms. Webster to your doorstep right now, erase all traces so seamlessly that neither the Fords nor the Fergusons would find her. How about it?"

"As far as I know, you've had a thing for her for years, haven't you?"

"Guarding someone in silence only ends up moving yourself."

Kane's smirk turned sinister. "Why not claim her sooner rather than later, what do you say?"

of fear struck

no doubt Kane could

the hospital, with

he refused without a

me. How sensitive

Mark who stood by me, yet here I

of his men. "But, Ms. Webster, I do

"Simply..."

the moment before suddenly jabbing the needle

any ordinary medication and dashed forward,

"Bang-"

who had led us here suddenly fired at me, but in the nick of time, a strong hand

of a bullet

went blank,

scanned me quickly, ensuring I was unharmed before

was already seeping through

gasped. "You've

"It's nothing."

me before quickly seizing the moment to coldly aim his preloaded gun at the shooter