Sophia jolted awake from her nightmare.

A rough hand slithered up her waistline.

Her entire body erupted in goosebumps. She twisted upright in one swift motion, grabbing the bedside lamp to hurl at the shadowy figure.

A dull thud echoed.

The attacker groaned but lunged forward with renewed hunger.

"Get away!" Sophia's voice cut through the darkness like shattered glass.

She scrambled desperately for the light switch.

When the room flooded with brightness, a grotesque face leered at her.

Deep wrinkles carved through swarthy skin. Clouded eyes glinted with obscene desire.

"Don't be scared, pretty thing..." The man's thick accent dripped with saliva that nearly splattered her cheek.

Just as his filthy hands reached for her, something cold and metallic pressed against the back of his skull.

"One more move, and I'll paint the walls with your brains."

That icy baritone voice made Sophia's breath hitch.

She'd recognize it anywhere.

Kyle Grant.

The intruder slowly raised his hands, visibly shrinking when he saw who stood behind him.

Kyle's black tactical gear outlined his razor-sharp silhouette. He kept the gun steady with one hand while swiftly draping the bedsheet around Sophia with the other.

"It's over." Those two quiet words made her eyes sting.

Bruno Dimucci's knees knocked together. "P-please have mercy..."

Kyle's gaze turned lethal. He jammed the barrel harder against the man's temple. "Who sent you?"

"N-no one! I swear—"

The audible click of the safety disengaging froze the air.

Bruno collapsed to his knees, a dark stain spreading across his pants. "Okay! I saw her at the cemetery today...so pretty I couldn't resist..."

A humorless smile curled Kyle's lips as his leg snapped upward.

The scream that followed could've shattered windows.

Bruno writhed on the floor, clutching his groin, face bleached of color.

Frantic footsteps pounded down the hallway.

The bodyguard skidded to a stop, meeting Kyle's arctic stare.

"Mr. Grant..." Beads of sweat dotted the guard's forehead.

"Dereliction of duty." Each syllable fell like a guillotine blade before Kyle's backhand sent the man reeling, his cheek already swelling.

Sophia clutched the sheet tighter, studying Kyle's granite profile.

Why was he here?

Before she could voice the question, Kyle hauled Bruno up by the collar. "Police station. Now."

The precinct buzzed with fluorescent lights despite the late hour.

The officer on duty went rigid at the sight of Kyle's firearm.

"License." Kyle tossed over a small booklet.

The policeman flipped through pages filled with English text. His suspicious gaze traveled over Kyle's imposing frame. "Foreign permits aren't valid here."

Kyle's eyes narrowed to slits. "Call your commissioner."

Twenty minutes later, the precinct captain personally returned the documents with both hands.

In the interrogation room, Bruno whimpered from his cuffed chair. "I just thought she was pretty..."

Kyle stubbed out his cigarette. "Turn off the cameras."

"That's against protocol—"

"Now." Two syllables that turned the room into a freezer.

The moment the red light died, Kyle seized Bruno's hair and smashed his face into the wall.

"Who. Paid. You?"

Blood streamed down Bruno's forehead as he finally broke. "A m-man in sunglasses...promised fifty grand..."

Kyle's expression darkened.

Someone was definitely targeting Sophia.