Chapter 2: Hands Off the Lady, Let Me Handle This

Words : 2845 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

"Who are you people?" Dexter and Bella Doyle stood tense, wariness etched in their eyes. Of the four men, the leader was a hulking brute, muscles bunching like coiled steel. He looked big enough to make Dexter and Bella both look tiny. "Who we are doesn't matter. What matters is you two are coming with me." He squeezed his fists. Crack, crack, crack-the sharp sound of his knuckles echoed as he stalked forward, the pressure on Bella and Dexter mounting like a physical weight. A thousand meters away, Fabian Farrell was running when his gaze locked onto the scene ahead-a Maserati pulled to the roadside, four thugs closing in on Bella and Dexter. "A girl in trouble? I can't just stand by." That was his only thought. He picked up speed. Oddly, even as he blurred past, there was no roar of wind, no sonic boom-he moved in absolute silence. In a flash, he closed the gap. Just as it was about to kick off, he shouted, voice slicing through the heat, "Hands off the lady, let me handle this!" Everyone jerked in surprise, heads snapping around. Bella's lips parted in shock. They'd been driving for over ten minutes-they should have left him far behind. How had he turned up out of nowhere? Even running flat out, it should take an hour. Was he Superman? The burly leader glared at Fabian. "Kid, beat it. This has nothing to do with you." Fabian gave him a quick once-over and sauntered over to Bella, cool as a cat. "I'm not butting in. I'm with them." "You got a death wish, huh?" The brute's patience snapped. He flicked his hand, and three henchmen surged forward. "No one is taking my cousin Bella!" Dexter stepped up first, fists raised in a boxer's guard. "Idiot," one of the goons spat, and the three lunged at him. They'd underestimated Dexter. He dodged and landed a sharp right hook that cracked into a jaw-teeth flew. But another thug slammed a boot into his ribs. "Back off!" Dexter braced himself, spun, and whipped a roundhouse kick into the second thug's face. The guy went flying, airborne. The third was bowled over by his buddy. Limbs tangled everywhere. Bella clapped, eyes shining. "Wow, cousin, you're awesome! All those years kickboxing abroad paid off! Go, go, go! None of them can take you!" Dexter puffed up, struck a cocky pose, and flashed a taunting look at the hulking leader. "Hmph." The leader snorted, then moved-fast, low, and predatory, like a tiger on the prowl. "Tough guy, I'll take you down!" Dexter shouted, shoulders rolling as he charged. Next instant- Smack! They collided. The leader's punch slammed into Dexter's chest. It wasn't that Dexter hadn't blocked; the difference in power was just too great. The blow crashed through his guard like it was nothing. "Ugh!" Dexter, moments ago so confident, shot backward and hit the ground hard near Bella, clutching his chest. His face went pale, pain stealing his breath. "Ah!" Bella's face drained of color. She hadn't expected her strong cousin to get flattened by a single punch. "Know your limits. All show, no go," the leader scoffed, striding toward them. He reached out, and Bella's heart jumped into her throat. "Hey-hands off. She's with me." Fabian was suddenly in front of her-no one saw him move. The leader's eyes narrowed. "Didn't I tell you to get lost? You got guts, stepping up. Don't blame me for what happens next." He whipped a blade from behind his back and swung it hard at Fabian. This kid who'd come out of nowhere was getting under his skin. He'd come for his target, and the kid had the nerve to play hero. The blade sliced through the air with a howl. Steel flashed-before anyone could blink, it was at Fabian. Bella's heart leapt; she even forgot to scream. Then, in a split second, Fabian moved. He raised two fingers and pinched the blade. Everything froze. The knife, close enough to graze him, stopped dead-like it had locked into a sheath. The leader stared, eyes bulging. His full-force swing was caught between two fingers. "Get out." Fabian's gaze went ice-cold. No one saw him move-the leader was sent flying. Splurt! He crashed down and spat a mouthful of blood. His breathing turned ragged, and his face was all terror and awe when he looked at Fabian. Bella finally screamed, "Wow, Fabian, you're incredible!" It felt like a roller coaster. Thugs had jumped them and panic swallowed her; then Dexter took charge and she dared to hope; next, Dexter was flattened and despair set in. But then Fabian, who she'd just met, wiped the floor with everyone and defused the situation in no time. Now, when she looked at Fabian, her gaze had changed-gratitude mingled with curiosity, and a small, undeniable flicker of admiration. Fabian glanced at her and curled his lip. "City girls-always freaking out. Haven't seen much of the world, huh?" He'd just swatted a few punks. He hadn't even broken a sweat. Bella didn't take offense. She smiled. "Thank you for saving me, Fabian. I won't forget it. I'll pay you back." Dexter needed a moment to catch his breath. He stood and gave Fabian a solemn nod. "Thanks." "Cousin Bella, the tire's shot. What do we do?" Dexter's face tightened. "The tire's flat. Looks like we'll have to walk," Bella said, matching his grimace. Dexter shook his head. "We're still a ways from the city. Walking could take forever. We could patch the flat, but I wouldn't know how. What now?" "Let them patch it." Fabian strode over to the leader, kicked him in the shin, and said, "Hey, spitting a little blood won't kill you. Get that tire fixed. You've got twenty minutes. If you can't do it, I'll fix you instead." The leader scrambled upright and nodded. "Yes, yes, boss. Right away!" That two-finger trick had scared him witless. Disobedience wasn't an option. "Move it," Fabian said. The leader nodded frantically, then ran to his two henchmen who were sprawled like corpses. He hefted his blade and booted each. "Get the hell up and get to work! Quit playing dead. Want me to give you a real reason?" The two scrambled up, all nerves, and hurried to the tire. All four crowded around the Maserati to patch the flat. When no one was looking, one of the younger thugs sidled up to the leader. "Boss, why fix the tire? Let's just bail." He earned a series of ringing slaps. Crack, crack, crack. Blood streaked his cheek. "Run my ass. Get to work!" "Y-yes!" The lackey stumbled back to the job. "You two, too. Move. If that tire's not fixed in twenty minutes, you're meeting the King of Hell." The four of them set to work, muttering their misery. They didn't expect to fix the flat tire they had slashed just now. In the shade of the trees, Fabian, Bella, and Dexter sat in the cool. "Fabian, I'm sorry," Bella said, leaning toward him. "I misunderstood you earlier. Don't be mad." Fabian chuckled. "You said it yourself-a misunderstanding." "You're generous. Still, thank you for saving me. If they'd dragged me off, I don't even want to imagine what could have happened." She spoke from the heart-she'd been scared out of her wits. Fabian suddenly leaned in with a cheeky grin. "No need to be so formal. If you're really grateful, you could always marry me. Then we can go wild in bed and have a great time." Bella's cheeks turned scarlet. This guy-who says things like that out loud? Even if you think it, keep it to yourself! She shook herself, "What are you even thinking, Bella Doyle?" Dexter, meanwhile, stood frozen by Fabian's words. Shock turned to fury. He planted himself in front of Bella. "Bella, this guy's trouble. He's up to no good. He only saved us because he wants something." Fabian narrowed his eyes. "Hey, I saved you too. And now you're accusing me of having an agenda?" "You do! Why else didn't you step in earlier? You waited until I was down to make your move!" Dexter shot back. Fabian clasped his hands behind his back, totally matter-of-fact. "You're not a pretty girl. Why would I bother? I only rescue pretty girls." "You-" Dexter nearly fainted from rage. He had no comeback. "Enough, enough. Fabian isn't a bad person," Bella said quickly, tugging Dexter aside. "Fabian, you're heading to Haltoria too, right? Once the tire's fixed, ride with us." Dexter's vision went dark. Though he called her "cousin," they weren't blood relatives-barely related at all. He hung around her because he liked her. Now she brushed off his warning and warmed up to this Fabian, even inviting him to join them. His chest tightened, as if something precious had slipped away. Soon, the tire was patched. Fabian climbed into Bella's car and they set out for the city. Dexter drove, listening to the chatter in the backseat between Fabian and the woman he adored. It felt like his heart was bleeding. "You two are having the time of your lives, and I'm stuck playing chauffeur. Agh! This is killing me!" His misery peaked. Right then- "Fabian, what are you going to Haltoria for?" "I'm planning to settle in Haltoria. Want to see what city life's really like." Fabian didn't mention his real reason. "That's great. First stop: my place. You saved me, so I have to thank you properly." "I shouldn't impose." "It's fine. It's settled!" Pffft- Dexter just about blew a gasket and choked at the wheel. "Dexter, what's wrong?" Bella yelped.

Chapter 2: Hands Off the Lady, Let Me Handle This

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