Chapter 4 Decisive Action

The kiss came unexpectedly.

Khloe was caught off guard, unable to respond in time.

Henrik's subordinates stood frozen, their eyes wide with disbelief.

They had all worked for him for years, and never once had they seen him so close with a woman.

Henrik had always been the type to keep his distance from women. In the past, women who approached him either ended up as fish food or were sent to toil in the mines at his orders.

What kind of spell had this woman cast?

How was it that she managed to make Henrik abandon all his usual rules, and all on their very first meeting?

As the crowd remained stunned and puzzled, Khloe's thoughts swirled in chaos, making it impossible to think straight.

Henrik's kiss was overwhelming, like a storm crashing down on her, leaving her breathless and dizzy.

She found herself trapped in his arms, held so tightly it felt as though she were a flower caught in a violent storm. Yet she was anything but fragile.

Once the shock wore off, a surge of anger rose within her.

For years, she had endured humiliation, her fall from grace plunging her into the darkest depths. But giving up was never an option; she had always been plotting her revenge.

It was only natural that she refused to yield.

Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss with equal ferocity.

After all, what harm could a kiss do?

And the man was both devastatingly handsome and of high standing.

She would not suffer any losses.

She skillfully fought back with her tongue, refusing to let him dominate her entirely.

Instead of pulling back, she met his intensity head-on, taking the lead.

What began as a one-sided kiss quickly transformed into a fierce exchange, each of them vying for control, pushing and pulling in a heated battle for dominance.

The kiss was fierce and all-consuming, each second more passionate than the last, until they were both gasping for air.

When they finally pulled away, their lips were swollen and stained with blood, a testament to the intensity of the moment.

Henrik let go of Khloe, his hand brushing against the corner of his mouth where her teeth had left their mark.

His gaze was intense, locking onto her with a depth that seemed to pierce right through her.

Khloe held his stare steadily, not flinching or showing even the slightest sign of discomfort.

Her fearless attitude earned her the respect of those watching.

It was clear now why Henrik was drawn to her.

She was bold, with a courage that couldn't be ignored.

She had the audacity to bite Henrik's lips, unafraid of the consequences.

Henrik continued to gaze at Khloe, a growing satisfaction building within him.

The sting on his lips reminded him sharply of what had just happened.

The woman standing before him, with a face as stunning as an angel's, was no delicate flower. She was a thorny rose, and anyone foolish enough to underestimate her would undoubtedly pay the price.

But that was exactly what made her so captivating-it was the danger beneath the beauty that drew him in.

"Mr. Watson, is everything to your liking?" Khloe asked, breaking the stillness.

"Yes, let's go," Henrik replied with a smile. "Now, let's take care of your little issue."

Thirty minutes later, he led Khloe to the most lavish hotel suite in the city.

"Boss."

The moment they entered, the men in suits inside stood in formation, greeting Henrik with a reverence that carried an undeniable air of intimidation.

Every one of them was a formidable and highly skilled enforcer. Yet they all treated Henrik with the highest respect.

Henrik gave a nod, seated himself, and motioned for Khloe to take a seat beside him on the sofa.

Surrounded by curious, probing, and indifferent eyes, Khloe sat beside him composedly.

Given that she was already in such a precarious situation, hesitation was unnecessary.

Her calmness amused Henrik, and a glimmer of humor appeared in his eyes.

"Rhett, bring him in," he instructed.

His voice was steady, his noble presence making everyone else seem insignificant in comparison.

Shortly after, a man with glasses and a soft demeanor waved his hand, and someone hauled in a large sack.

As the sack was untied and pulled open, it revealed a disheveled man bound tightly with ropes.

His gray hair was matted, and his disheveled clothes were smeared with dirt and marked by footprints-evidence of a brutal beating.

Khloe's eyes widened in shock as she took in the sight.

The man before her was none other than Karl, the notorious underworld kingpin of the city.

For three decades, the Russell family had ruled the city, dominating the bar and nightclub scene while running an international arms trade. Even the powerful Evans family had to tread carefully around them.

Khloe had assumed Henrik's plan involved negotiating with Karl.

Given Henrik's overwhelming influence, she believed Karl would be forced to respect him.

What she didn't foresee was Henrik outright kidnapping him.

This made one thing clear-the Russell family held no weight in Henrik's eyes.

The instant Karl was tossed onto the floor, he wasted no time unleashing a barrage of curses. "Who do you think you are, dragging me here like this? Let me go this instant, or my men will find you and tear you apart!"

As soon as he finished his outburst, Henrik commanded, "Cripple him."

At his order, the man in glasses drew a silenced pistol and fired at Karl's limbs.

Four muffled shots, expertly severing the tendons in Karl's limbs.

In the blink of an eye, he had been reduced to a helpless cripple.