Claire was standing in front of the man while staring up at him.
His left eye was starting to turn purple thanks to one of her punches, his face was covered in blood from his broken nose and the stab wound on his leg should've been making him wail in pain, but none of those things could be seen in his eyes. They were as focused as they were lifeless. It was as if he was an empty vessel. Something Claire was very much drawn to.
"What? Not going to tell me?" Claire asked him after he didn't give her his name. Cameron started to approach them with the intent of making him answer, but she lifted her hand signaling him to stop. "It's okay. He doesn't need to say. I only asked because I would like to address my new pup as something other than Mr. Rat. It's rude to call your new pal by such a lame nickname. Since I'm going to keep him, he should have a proper name."
At that everybody's eyes grew wide. Cameron's almost bulged out of his head. He couldn't believe what she just said. She was going to keep him?! Wasn't he supposed to be tortured for information?! Wasn't he part of the group responsible for almost succeeding in killing her family?!
Nobody had the chance to clear up their confusion thanks to another voice traveling through the room's now obvious awkward atmosphere.
"Who are you planning to keep?" A booming masculine and authoritative voice was heard. Silencing everything and everyone at the same time.
Claire looked at who had spoken and saw Aiden taking long strides towards her. Unlike her, he was wearing a different outfit than the one he had on when they went out. He was wearing another suit with an all black color scheme while Claire's appearance was now seriously disheveled.
Although she didn't sweat during her fight, strands of her hair had fallen out of her bun, her dress wrinkled due to being used as inappropriate exercise apparel and it had stains from her opponents blood here and there. Topping it off with the fact that she had pink bunny slippers on while standing in a room full of heavily armored men and a blood stained floor, it almost made her look like the unstable mental health patient that tends to take the lead role as a dangerous villain in a superhero movie.
As soon as Aiden saw the blood on the floor he rushed to her side. He slightly panicked when he noticed that she had some on her making the temperature in the room drastically drop. His men tried to avoid shaking in their boots as the murderous glint in their boss's eyes started increasing. They knew having taken so much time in finding her would not go unpunished.
Aiden quickly grabbed her by the shoulders and looked her up and down checking if she was injured. Seeing as she wasn't he sighed in relief. He didn't expect to be so shaken up by the mere sight of blood, but he couldn't help himself. When he saw her standing in the middle of the room he felt his heart skip a beat.
When Cameron disappeared from his radar he found it odd. But when more than an hour had passed and he still hadn't re-appeared or contacted him in any way he started to feel his anxiety and panic reaching levels he didn't even know he had. After finally finding a woman who made him feel human again, she vanished the moment he took his eyes off her. It was as if the world was playing a cruel trick on him. So as soon as a signal from Cameron was received, he personally went out with his team to see why and how they had vanished as if they were ghosts. And more importantly to make sure she was okay.
"Hi Mr. Villan. No need to fret. Both me and Cameron are fine. I'll explain later so don't go punishing him before I do." She greeted him as if they coincidentally bumped into each other at the super market. Making Aiden doubt if she had hurt her head or not. How could she be so casual in such a situation?
"But first I need to name my new pup." She said gesturing to Mr. Rat. "Since he apparently isn't in the mood to tell me his real name I'll have to think of one." Claire explained to Aiden as she started to think of a name to give the man that was just as confused as the rest of the men in the room.
But before she could turn to face the man in question again, Aiden had abruptly picked her up making her yelp for the second time that night.
"That can wait." He said to her and then faced his men. "Take the lady's pet to the base and clean up this mess." Turning around he started to leave with Claire in his arms when she stopped him by putting her hands on his chest.
"Wait! Tell them to treat his wounds. I don't want him treated like a prisoner. Don't let them beat him of starve him while he's out of my sight. I'll raise all living hell if they do." Claire said as she looked Aiden in the eyes. He could tell she was being serious. Since he was desperate get her out of the villa he decided to ask her about everything later and avoid wasting anymore time. Turning around he addressed his men again.
"You heard her. Do as told." Having said that he turned around and left the villa with Cameron hot on his trail.
They made their way out and Aiden was surprised Claire just went along with him carrying her. Most women were bashful and self conscious of being to heavy. But she seemed to be fine with it. He even felt her resting her head on his shoulder, confirming she was more than comfortable with him doing so.
Aiden stopped next to Cameron's Jeep and placed Claire in the backseat once Cameron held the door open for him. He then made his way to the other side and got in. He sat next to her while Cameron was in the drivers seat.
"Where to Boss?" Cameron asked as he started the engine.
"Imperial Hospital." Claire answered him before Aiden could.
Seeing as she left no room for argument, Aiden simply went along with her decision. He took out his phone and sent a few messages before putting it back in his pocket. He had wanted to take her to get cleaned up and fed. They had left their food untouched on the restaurant table when they raced out earlier that night. And judging by the way she doesn't like to waste time, he knew she wouldn't have stopped to eat until she accomplished what she set out to do. But it was already past midnight and they were headed towards the hospital so he had to modify his plans.
He looked at Claire and saw how she was lost in thought while looking out the car window. The street lights covered her face in different colors while her eyes were glazed over thanks to whatever she had going on in her head. A few of her red locks framed her face as the rest of her fiery hair had already started to slip from her hair tie's hold. Aiden couldn't help but admire her. He was convinced she was truly a fallen angel. No mortal woman had ever made him feel the way she did.
He took out a handkerchief and gently turned her by the chin so she would face him. Gesture to which she didn't resist. Although he had made sure that the small dots of blood on her face weren't hers, he couldn't stand the idea of such a dirty thing touching her smooth and delicate skin. Let alone her perfect face.
As he softly but thoroughly cleaned her face, he could see her eyes slowly closing shut. Seemingly enjoying what he was doing. He silently continued while memorizing every single detail about the dainty face he held in his hands. It was a work of art that the world was yet to know of.