Letting out a cry, I got up from the floor and ran to him. His strong arms wrapped around me like protective wings as soon as I reached him. I shook in his chest as hot tears ran down my cheeks. With my heart still pounding from panic, knees weak, I clung to him as if my life depended on him.

“Rosebud?” he called out. “Hey, hey! Baby, look at me, are you all right? What happened? What did he do? Tell me.” Cupping my face, he attempted to make me look at him, but I hid my face in his warm chest again, still trembling.

“He… he…” I hiccupped between sobs, unable to form any words. His arms tightened around me.

I felt him turn rigid, his muscles tensed. His breathing came out heavy.

“WHAT DID YOU DO?” Deep Greek accent echoed in his voice, tone darker and rougher than I had ever heard. “What have you done to my Rosebud?”

The malice in his voice would’ve sent a shiver down my spine if I wasn’t too absorbed in my own shock. My hold only tightened around him.

“She’s not yours! She’s my girlfriend! You stole her from me!” Warner’s slurred reply reached my ears. “I was just trying to get what’s rightfully—”

He didn’t get to finish the line as Ace untangled me from him and stormed towards him, connecting his fist with Warner’s jaw. A faint crack reached my ears. With a hiss, when he fell to the ground, Ace grabbed his collar and pulled him up.

“You fucking piece of shit! You dared to touch my Rosebud!” His thunderous roar echoed throughout the hotel room, making me flinch. His almost dark orbs flared with untamed rage, redness spread across his face and neck when the veins of his temple stood up with him shaking with anger.

“Let go of me, you bastard! I’ll kill—” Warner let out a cry when Ace’s polished shoe met his stomach. And as if a demon was unleashed inside him, he didn’t stop.

“You’ll regret the moment you were born in this world! How dare you touch her! Even after I warned you twice, you still dared to come near her!” Blinded with fury, he continuously punched Warner’s already bloodied face. Warner’s whimpers and yelling out in agony went unheard by him as he twisted his arm and kicked him in the stomach again, making Warner cough out blood.

“I’ll fucking destroy you!” he roared again.

Clutching the door frame to stand straight with my wobbling knees, I called out for him. “Ace… stop!”

But my voice didn’t reach him. Employees of the hotel rushed inside the room, hearing the chaos. But no one seemed to have enough courage to get close to him.

Warner whimpered as Ace delivered another punch against his jaw.