"How did you do that?!"
"What just happened?"
"Ughhhh…"
Nico and his men groaned, their voices tangled with shock and confusion.
The room that had once been filled with their mocking laughter was now heavy with fear and disbelief.
Moments ago, they were armed, confident, and in control. Now, they lay bound and helpless, as if the world itself had flipped in an instant.
All 17 of them, seasoned criminals, stared at Ross as if he were a ghost—a specter that defied their understanding.
Ross chuckled softly, his casual demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos around him.
"It's a secret," he said, his words laced with a playful mockery that only added to their frustration.
With an unhurried stride, Ross walked toward Maya, who was still strapped to the wheelchair.
She watched him approach, her heart pounding—not out of fear, but from a mix of relief and awe.
He looked so calm, so in control, as though the room full of enemies had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Ross knelt beside her, his hands working swiftly to undo the ropes binding her to the chair.
The knots seemed to fall apart at his touch, as though even the ropes dared not resist him.
Then, with a light brush of his fingers, he touched the handcuffs on her wrists.
They fell away with a soft click, the metal clattering onto the floor.
Maya didn't even notice the impossibility of it. She had no time to.
The moment she was free, she launched herself into Ross's arms, her body colliding with his as if she had been holding back a flood of emotions.
"I knew you'd come for me," she whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of gratitude and raw emotion.
Tears streamed down her face, her sobs muffled as she buried her face in his shoulder.
Ross held her effortlessly, his arms steady as if she weighed nothing.
Her legs wrapped tightly around his hips, her grip on him unyielding.
"Of course I came," he murmured, his voice steady and soothing.
"How could I not come? You're the only Maya in my life. Not even a million armies could keep me away from you."
His words pierced through the fear and uncertainty that had gripped her heart.
Ross tilted his head, pressing a gentle kiss to her tear-streaked cheek.
For a moment, the chaos around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in the quiet bubble of their embrace.
Maya clung to him tightly, as though letting go would mean losing him.
"I was so scared," she admitted in a broken whisper. "I thought—"
"You don't have to think anymore," Ross interrupted softly. "I'm here. I'll always be here."
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They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's arms.
Ross whispered soft reassurances, his calm voice a balm to Maya's frayed nerves. Slowly, her trembling subsided, her breathing steadying.
When she finally loosened her grip and slid down from his arms, she glanced around the room, her gaze landing on the dozen women sprawled across the beds.
They were motionless, their bodies weak and lifeless. Maya's chest tightened at the sight, her mind racing with thoughts of what they must have endured.
"What about them?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern. "They look so weak... I can't imagine what they've been through every night."
Ross followed her gaze, his expression softening.
"Don't worry," he said gently. "They're all sleeping right now."
Maya furrowed her brows, her eyes darting back to the women. She stepped closer to one of the beds, leaning down to check.
Sure enough, they were breathing deeply, some even snoring softly. Relief washed over her, but it was quickly replaced by curiosity.
"How?" she asked, turning back to Ross, her tone both skeptical and intrigued.
Ross gave her a small, almost sheepish smile.
"It's a new technology I hacked from overseas," he said with a shrug. "You don't need to worry about it."
Maya's brow arched, her skepticism growing.
"And that same 'stolen technology' just happens to knock out, tie up, and handcuff 17 armed men in a matter of seconds?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest.
Ross's smirk widened, unfazed by her disbelief. "What can I say? It's pretty useful tech. But trust me, the less you know, the safer you'll be."
Maya opened her mouth to protest but stopped when Ross's expression shifted.
He turned away from her, his gaze locking onto the gangsters still sprawled on the floor.
The playful glint in his eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating intensity.
"What should we do with them?" Ross murmured, his voice low and dangerous.
Maya followed his gaze, her eyes settling on the defeated men. They squirmed under his unrelenting stare, their earlier bravado shattered.
For the first time since Ross entered the room, they truly understood the depth of their mistake.
"They don't deserve mercy," Maya said, surprising herself with the steel in her voice.
She thought of the women on the beds, the horrors these men had inflicted, and felt a surge of anger.
Ross tilted his head slightly, as though considering her words. Then, without a word, he stepped forward, his movements as silent as a predator's.
The air in the room grew heavier, a suffocating tension filling the space.
"Let me make one thing clear," Ross said, his voice slicing through the silence like a blade. "You don't get to walk away from this. Not unscathed. And not alive."
The gangsters recoiled, their fear palpable. For the first time, Nico—once so cocky and self-assured—looked genuinely afraid.
"You can wait outside, Maya," Ross said calmly, his voice even as he approached the gangsters. He didn't even glance back, already focused on the task at hand.
He knew exactly what she would say.
"No," Maya replied, her voice firm, though she felt a slight tremor in her chest. She straightened in her seat, refusing to look away.
"I'll stay. It's not like I haven't seen you work before."
***
Huge shoutout and thanks to ddecoen for the gifts!
You are awesome! Thank you! ^_^