ARIA'S POV
As the door slammed shut, Kael instinctively positioned himself in front of me, shielding me from harm. I peeked around him, my eyes widening in horror at the sight before us. Three figures stood in the coffee shop, each wielding swords.
But it was the third figure that made my heart sink. Mr. Patrick, my former boss, was being held captive with a knife pressed against his throat. I let out a desperate cry, "Mr. Patrick!" and tried to rush towards him, but Kael's grip on me tightened. He pulled me back, holding me firmly in place. I struggled against his hold, my mind racing with fear.
Not again. I'm not letting another person get hurt because of me. "Let me go!" I whispered urgently, but he only shook his head. "You are going nowhere," he growled, his eyes fixed on the figu
