Page 20

Khalid
Inoticed the bus stop close to the gallery and held her close as I led her towards it. I felt a little guilty for stopping her from enjoying in the rain, but the carefree look on her face still remained.
My eyes averted to the couple of drunk men leering at women as they passed by. My hold tightened on Valeria’s hand, the sound of rain falling on the ground and her cane tapping surrounding us.
“Look at that wet little thing,” one of the men whistled, walking towards us. They blocked our path. Two of his friends surrounding us, reeking of cheap beer.
Valeria pressed closer to me, my hand tightening as I felt how tense her body had become. She was afraid. Her icy fingers squeezed mine as she whispered, “Let’s go, Khalid.”
“You heard the lady.” I eyed the three men. “Let us pass.”
But they were too drunk to process what I said as one of them lifted his hand towards Valeria. I grabbed his wrist and glared down at him.
Drawing a slow, steady breath, I said in a controlled tone, “I said, let us pass. I won’t repeat it again.”
“She’s so fucking wet for us!” the other guy cackled.
My jaw clenched and before I could call the police to let it end smoothly, I heard the smallthumpbehind me. Valeria gasped as they pushed away her cane and grabbed her arm.
My pulse sped up, muscles and veins straining against my skin as I violently pushed the man I was holding towards his friend.
Adrenaline rushed through my head as I prowled towards the man who was holding her arm. I grabbed it and pried away his hand from her. My nose flared at the red markings on her pale arm.
“K-Khalid, let’s go, please,” she stuttered, her voice small as she fetched her phone, trying to call for help even though her body was shaking.
My head threw back as pain coursed through my cheek. I shook my head and spit out blood, glancing at the man who had punched me. I held him by the collar of his shirt, rewarding him with a punch, relishing in the crunch of his nose breaking. My knuckles zinged with pain, but I ignored it and kicked his stomach.
“Khalid,” Valeria called for me to stop, but I couldn’t.
I wanted to hurt him.
He coughed, blood spluttering out of his mouth as I took the cane he had taken away from my Valeria. I hit him with the cane, sighing when it broke after hitting his back, a scream tearing out of his mouth.
“Stop it, man! We will leave you alone.” His two friends held my arms, but I wasn’t done yet. I thrashed against them, kicking and punching the sensitive points of their body, their ribs, the back of their knees, their faces.
Huffing a breath, I leaned down on the previous man, who had grabbed Valeria. I punched him, holding him up by his collar.
I snarled, “Howdareyou touch her.”
Rage simmered through me, flashes of my father grabbing Zara’s dainty wrist erupting in my head.
I hit him again, his eyes swelling shut, blood pouring out of his nose and lips.
“How dare you touch what’smine,” I said, my voice cold and guttural. I held his head, ready to smash it against the pavement.
“Khalid!” Valeria cried out, grabbing my arm. “Please. Stop.Please.”
I took a deep breath, the man whimpering as I let him go. “If I see you out here leering at anyone again… Iwillkill you,” I threatened, standing up and wiping my face on the sleeve of my shirt as police glanced at the three beaten men and at me.
A sense of release washed over me when I glared at their cowering faces and the shocked glances of people surrounding us. Some of them had their phones on, taking videos and pictures. Somehow, I didn’t give a shit about the consequences of being a Prince of Azmia and getting into a fight.
They had touched Valeria. Even when I warned them to let us pass. They deserved it.
My eyes zeroed on her, her wide eyes, her shaking hands and her wet clothes. Removing my shirt, I draped it over her, my blood smeared over the sleeve as she tugged it closer to her.
“Come with me,” I said to her, holding her hand.
I would deal with the fight, the police. My guards had been notified about it as myRolls-Roycestopped to a halt. I asked her to sit inside, telling her I would be back in a minute and demanding one of my guards to bring her some water.