Khloe's POV
Even though I had wished for a savior, I never expected Nevian to be at the station. Maybe I was just imagining things; surely, he couldn't be there for me. He must have come to report something else entirely.
"Why are you holding her hostage?" His rich baritone snapped me back to reality as he approached, a commanding presence in the dim light.
"She stole these from me," the shop owner spat, shoving the snacks in Nevian's face.
With a flick of his wrist, Nevian relieved the man of the items and inspected the labels. "You should conduct an inspection on your store; these items are expired." He shoved the snacks back at the shopkeeper and pulled me up from my seat.
Wrapping an arm around my waist, he addressed the sergeant. "Delete whatever data you have about her. She isn't the thief he claims." With that, he guided me out of the station, his touch both comforting and infuriating.
Once outside, the cold night air hit me like a splash of ice water, jolting me back to my senses. I pulled away from him, scowling. "Thank you," I muttered, attempting to walk away, but he stepped in front of me, arms crossed defiantly.
"You wouldn't want to return to your parents, would you?" he asked, his gaze piercing through my defenses.
"What are you talking about?" I frowned, confusion washing over me.
"Khloe Marshall," he said, smacking his lips as I clutched the t-shirt I wore tightly. He knew my name. Clearly, he had done his research, which explained how he found me so quickly.
Tears threatened to spill as I blinked rapidly. Then he pulled out his phone, showing me a picture where I had been tagged as missing, a bounty placed on my head.
"What am I going to do now?" I cried, biting my lip and darting my eyes around in panic.
Without thinking, I moved towards his car and slid into the passenger seat. If I had been in a better position, I would have thought twice about accepting his help.
During the drive, I stared out the window, tears flowing freely. The grim look on Tyler Greene's face loomed in my mind, and I fiddled with my fingers, dreading what awaited me.
When Nevian parked in the garage of the mansion I had escaped from earlier, panic surged through me. I pushed the door open and exited, following him back to the room I had fled. Once inside, I sank against the wall to the floor, my legs pulled to my chest.
Tears streamed down my face as the events of the past twenty-four hours replayed in my mind. The betrayal, the forced marriage to a septuagenarian, and now finding myself at the mercy of Nevian Allerick—someone I already feared.
Moments later, there was a knock, and Nevian stepped in, clad only in shorts. Despite my distress, I couldn't help but notice his chiseled physique. His abs and toned arms were captivating, and I found myself imagining running my fingers over his skin.
Before I could indulge in those thoughts, he cleared his throat and sat at the foot of the bed, looking at me with a serious expression. "What's your plan?" he asked, but I remained silent, feeling lost.
After what felt like an eternity, I finally spoke. "I'll stay here until the heat dies down, then I'll leave."
"Heat, you say?" He chuckled, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "You're up against Tyler Greene, a notorious old man. He may be in a wheelchair, but he's not someone to gamble with; you'll lose."
"Can't you help me?" I blurted, my heart racing at the thought of hope.
"Why don't we strike a deal that benefits us both?" he replied, rising to his full height, revealing his V-line.
I gulped and turned away, trying to suppress the thoughts swirling in my mind. "What deal?"
The tension in the room thickened as I waited for his response. "Be my contracted bride for a year, and I'll protect you from Tyler."
His words ignited a fire within me. I stood, defiance fueling my resolve. "You must think I'm desperate to accept that. I can survive out there without your help."
"If you say so," he replied casually, but his indifference made me hesitate for a moment.
Just as I reached for the door, he said, "I should lay claim to the bounty."
I turned back to him, startled, as he lifted his phone to his ear.