Chapter 2 You Have no Idea

The drive from the club was a haze of neon lights reflecting off wet asphalt, the pulsing bass still echoing faintly in Talana's mind. Her hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles had gone pale. Her heart still raced, a mix of adrenaline, fear, and a thrill she couldn't quite name.

"Who... who is Max?" she whispered to herself, voice trembling. "Why does he care so much? Why... why does he call me angel? He doesn't even know me."

The memory of him was a flame she couldn't extinguish: the steady intensity in his gaze, the warmth of his hand against her back, the slow possessiveness in the way he'd held her. The kiss they'd shared, soft yet demanding, played on repeat in her mind. Her stomach fluttered at the thought, and she shivered despite the night air.

But then the dark, sharp and cold memory of the bathroom incident returned. The hand gripping her arm, the stench of alcohol, the fear and hatred in that stranger's voice. "Why me?" she thought, stomach twisting in knots.

The driveway appeared through the windshield, eerily quiet. Talana killed the engine and leaned back, letting the silence swallow her. Her pulse gradually slowed, but the tension in her muscles refused to release.

She stepped out of her car and headed towards her porch. She was accustomed to arriving home to an empty house, her father and step mother were probably at the casino gambling and drinking as usual.

Just short of getting to her porch she heard a rustle from the bushes that made her freeze. Her breath hitched, and she swung her head toward the sound. Heart hammering, she stumbled backward. "Who's there?" she called out, voice trembling.

A low, sinister chuckle slithered through the air. "Miss me, bitch?" The voice made her blood run cold. Familiar, predatory, it was him, that same man from the club, same face amd same twisted hunger in his tone.

Talana's throat tightened. "Stay away from me!" she shouted, but the words sounded weak, betraying her fear.

The figure stepped into the faint porch light, each movement deliberate and menacing. Even in the dim light, his face was partially shadowed, but she knew, knew, without a doubt who he was.

"Why so scared?" he taunted, stepping closer. "I didn't get to finish what I started. Now... I take what I want. And no one can stop me now." He lunged suddenly, and Talana tumbled backward. She scrambled, claws scraping against the concrete, trying to twist free.

"Stop!" she screamed, the sound echoing across the driveway.

The man laughed, cruel and guttural. He leaned over her, his weight pressing down, hand moving dangerously close to her body. "Scream all you like. No one's coming. You're mine."

Panic surged, choking her. Her heart felt like it would burst through her chest. Just as his hand reached for her, headlights cut through the darkness like a blade.

The sudden light startled him, giving Talana the opening she needed. She bolted, sprinting toward her car. Her heels clacked on the wet asphalt as adrenaline fueled her flight.

The car door slammed open. Max emerged, tall and lethal, eyes blazing with fury. Every muscle in his body coiled like a spring, ready to strike. "You son of a bitch, get the fuck away from her!" he roared, voice low and commanding.

"This doesn't concern you," the man sneered, advancing toward Massimo, but the confidence faltered under his presence.

"I don't care. Touch her again, and you'll regret it," Max hissed, fists tightening. His voice carried the chill of ice and the weight of authority.

The assailant took a step back, teeth clenched, before disappearing into the shadows with a final, spiteful threat, "this isn't over!"

Talana collapsed against the car, shaking, unable to catch her breath. Massimo was instantly at her side, steadying her with hands that were firm but gentle. His presence radiated protection, a fortress of raw power she could cling to.

"You're okay," he murmured, voice low and soothing, though his jaw was tight with barely contained rage. "I've got you, angel. No one will hurt you again."

Her knees threatened to give way. Max lifted her effortlessly, cradling her against his chest. His heartbeat hammered against her ear, steady and grounding. She let herself sink into his warmth, letting go of fear for just a moment.

"You're safe now," he whispered, brushing damp strands of hair from her face. The scent of his cologne mixed with the faint smoke from his cigarette, a dangerous perfume that made her shiver.

He guided her into the car. "I'm taking you to the hospital. You need to be checked for injuries," he said firmly.

"Max, I..." she began, but he cut her off with a sharp shake of his head.

"No arguments, angel. Now."

The drive was tense, quiet except for the low hum of the engine. Talana's hands rested in her lap, trembling slightly.

Her phone rang, piercing the silence. Gianna. Max took the call, listening briefly before ending it. "We're almost there. Stay put," he instructed, voice tense but controlled.

Talana glanced at him. "Why are you helping me?" she asked softly, curiosity mixing with something deeper, something she couldn't name.

"All will be revealed soon, angel," he said, eyes flicking to hers with an intensity that made her pulse quicken.

"Max?" she pressed, searching his expression.

"Yes, angel?" His voice, low and commanding, made her heart stutter.

"Why do you call me that?"

"Because that's what you are," he said simply, eyes darkening. "An angel, bright and dangerous, and still you don't even know the effect you have."

Talana felt heat spread through her, both from the memory of his touch and the weight of his words. Even in danger, even with her body trembling, she was acutely aware of his presence, of the promise in his every glance.

Max thought, "I care for her more than I should. More than anyone should."

The hospital came into view, stark white lights cutting through the night. Talana whispered, "Max... that man's voice... it's familiar. I don't know why, but I'll make him pay."

"We'll get him together, angel," Max promised, thumb brushing hers in a brief, grounding touch. The tension between them was palpable, coiling around her like a live wire.

Her gaze met his, noticing the struggle in his eyes, the barely restrained desire. "If you keep looking at me like that, I might forget where we are," he murmured, voice dropping low. Lips brushed her forehead, a fleeting, possessive gesture.

"Damn it," he whispered, "angel, you have no idea what you're doing to me." His desire battled against his restraint, a war raging behind his calm exterior.

"Then show me," she whispered, voice trembling but daring, defiant and needy all at once.

"No. Not yet," he admitted, voice rough with control. "You need to see the doctor first. Then... maybe."

Talana nodded, heart racing. Every nerve was alive, caught between the remnants of fear and the spark of something dangerously exciting.

As they stepped into the hospital, Max's hand lingered on hers, fingers brushing lightly, sending shivers through her. Outside, in the dark driveway, a shadow moved. Watching. Waiting. Eyes gleaming in the distance, a silent vow that this night was far from over.

The danger wasn't gone, and neither was the pull between them, fierce and impossible to ignore.

Inside the hospital, the fluorescent lights were harsh, sterile, and uninviting, a stark contrast to the dark heat of the night she had just survived. Talana's legs trembled as she followed Max down the hallway. Every step brought a strange mixture of relief, terror, and a lingering, undeniable tension that made her stomach twist in ways she hadn't expected.

Max's hand never left hers. His grip was firm, protective, and possessive in a way that both terrified and thrilled her. He led her to a private room, shutting the door with deliberate finality.

"Sit," he said, nodding toward a chair. "I'm going to check you over while we wait for the doctor."

Talana sank into the seat, exhaling shakily. She couldn't help but notice the way his broad shoulders filled the room, the way his gaze lingered on her as if memorizing every detail, the blood smudge on her jaw, the disheveled strands of her hair, the way her chest rose and fell in anxious rhythm.

"You're shaking," he observed, his voice low, threaded with concern. "You're safe now. No one can touch you while I'm here."

"I... I know," she murmured, though her heart refused to slow. "It's just..."

He cut her off, leaning slightly closer, his presence heavy, suffocating, intoxicating. "It's just what?" he prompted, his blue eyes darkening. "You're not used to someone caring about your safety? Or are you afraid of what you feel?"

Talana's breath hitched. The question was direct, unflinching, and it made her pulse spike. She opened her mouth, but no words came. Her body already betrayed her, the memory of his hands, his lips, the way he had held her, the way he had claimed her, even if just for a fleeting moment, still thrummed through her veins.

"I... I don't know," she admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

Massimo's lips twitched, a smirk flirting with the corners of his mouth. "That's okay, angel. You don't need to know yet, you just need to trust me."

The doctor arrived, a soft-spoken woman who barely glanced at Max before tending to Talana, but even as the medical examination began, Talana felt Max's hand hover over hers. Every brush of his fingers sent sparks crawling along her nerves. She tried to focus on the cool antiseptic scent, the gentle probing of the nurse's hands, but her mind refused.

Massimo noticed her distraction. His thumb stroked the back of her hand, rough and calloused. "You have no idea what you're doing to me," he whispered, almost to himself, though she heard it clearly.

Talana froze, her breath catching in her throat. Her cheeks burned, but she couldn't look away. His gaze held her, demanded her attention, claimed her without touch, and she felt a pull so powerful it nearly shook her to the core.

"Max..." she started, but the words faltered, leaving her vulnerable.

He leaned closer, lowering his voice to a near growl. "Don't, don't say anything. Just let me protect you tonight. Let me show you that you're not alone."

The words were simple, yet heavy with promise. Every syllable seemed to press against her chest, stirring something wild and unrestrained inside her. Talana's mind raced, danger, desire, the thrill of a man who could destroy her yet offered safety in equal measure.

The nurse finished her examination and left the room, giving them a private silence that was suddenly too loud. Talana's hands twisted in her lap, and Massimo noticed, sliding his hand around hers, capturing her fingers.

"You shouldn't be trembling, angel," he murmured, pressing her hand to his chest. The solid weight of him beneath her fingers grounded her, yet stirred the fire within.

"I can't help it," she admitted, voice quivering. "After tonight... everything."

"Everything..." he echoed, his lips barely brushing her temple. The warmth of his breath made her shiver, and a flush crept up her neck. "You don't even know what 'everything' is yet, but I promise I'll show you."

His intensity pressed against her, a dangerous, magnetic pull. Talana's resolve wavered. Part of her wanted to flee, to retreat to safety, to pull away from the danger and the fire, but another part, one she hadn't acknowledged, yearned to lean into him, to give herself, if only a fraction, to this man who terrified and thrilled her in equal measure.

A sudden noise from the hallway made her flinch, a door slammed, footsteps echoing. Massimo's head snapped up, eyes scanning the corridor. He was always alert, always on edge, always prepared for the world to intrude. His hand tightened around hers.

"You're not alone, angel," he said firmly. "I won't let anything touch you. Not tonight, not ever."

She met his gaze, eyes wide, heart hammering. She wanted to believe him, to fall into the warmth of his protection, to surrender just a little to the electricity between them, but danger was never far behind. Even in this sterile sanctuary, Talana felt the shadow of the man from the club lingering, a promise that this night, the night that had started with a red dress and a dance, was far from over.

Massimo leaned closer, his lips brushing her ear. "Tell me to stop," he whispered, voice low, husky, teasing in the way only he could manage.

Talana's breath caught. Her fingers twined in his shirt, holding on, silently daring him not to stop. Desire and fear warred inside her. "I... I don't want you to," she admitted, voice barely a whisper.

He smirked, lips brushing against the curve of her jaw. "Good, because I won't, not tonight, not when it's you."

They sat in tense silence for a moment, breaths mingling, hearts racing, caught in the precarious balance of danger and desire. Outside, the night waited, dark, unpredictable, and full of threats that only Max seemed prepared to meet.

Talana swallowed hard, leaning into his strength without words. He was a force she couldn't resist, a storm she didn't want to outrun, and for the first time, she realized the world wasn't just dangerous, it was deliciously dangerous with him by her side.

The hospital room became a cocoon, shielding them for now, but the memory of the attacker's grin, the echo of his voice, and the unrelenting pull of Massimo's gaze reminded her that the night's trials were far from over.

Even as she let herself take a shaky breath, a new awareness settled over her. She had survived tonight, but survival was just the beginning. The game had started, and the players were only revealing their edges.

Massimo's hand brushed hers again, thumb stroking slowly. His eyes held hers, dark, promising, and undeniably possessive. "Whatever comes next, angel," he murmured, voice like molten steel, "we face it together, but... you have no idea what this is going to mean for you, or for me."

Talana's pulse spiked, a mixture of anticipation and dread coiling tight in her chest. Outside, shadows stretched and twisted, waiting, watching. Inside, her heartbeat raced with desire and fear, and one thing was clear, that nothing would ever be the same again.

The door to the hallway creaked. Footsteps. Slow. Measured. Too deliberate to be anyone else.

Talana froze, breath caught in her throat. Massimo's hand tightened over hers. His body pressed closer, protective yet warning her that danger lurked closer than she realized.

The shadow at the door paused, then disappeared into the hall, but the message was clear, tonight had only been the opening act, and the war for her safety, for her heart, for their desire, was just beginning.