Chapter 5

Chloe POV

I jerked my head up, crashing right into his bottomless dark eyes.

In that instant, I felt transported back to that stormy night five years ago.

"Don't understand?"

River chuckled softly, not moving, letting me crouch at his feet.

My line of sight directly faced his straight legs and... that supposedly dysfunctional area.

My face exploded in heat as I grabbed the measuring tape and stood up-too quickly. My vision went black and I fell straight into a hard embrace.

His arm tightened around my waist, a scorching palm locking me in place.

"Throwing yourself at me?"

The teasing voice exploded above my head.

My palm pressed against his taut abs-even through the shirt I could feel the explosive power.

This was a broken man?

"Let go!"

I struggled like a frightened rabbit.

River only tightened his grip, forcing me closer until our noses nearly touched, his presence suffocating.

"Chloe, your hands kept shaking when measuring my waist. Afraid of me? Or reminiscing?"

He was testing me!

I closed my eyes and deflected.

"I have trauma! My ex used to hold me like this too, then hit me!"

The air froze.

River's large hand stiffened for a moment, his expression shifting from playful to shocked, finally settling on disgust.

"Hit you? That waste even beat women?"

He released me, straightening my wrinkled shirt, his tone cold.

"Terrible taste. That kind of garbage should be buried at sea."

I silently lit a candle for the nonexistent man while verbally agreeing.

"Yes,you're absolutely right. I've got the measurements, I'll go select fabric!"

I fled the fitting room to find Madison pressed against the door grinning. Just as she opened her mouth to ask, the main door suddenly slammed open.

Liam, playing with blocks in the corner, jumped in fright.

Three thugs in garish shirts swaggered in.

The leader had bleached yellow hair, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his eyes sweeping the shop shamelessly before landing on me.

"Miss Sullivan, business looks good."

The thug blew a smoke ring, looking completely shameless.

"So? How about that protection fee we discussed last time?"

My heart sank.

These were local punks who'd been harassing businesses on this street.

We'd called the police before, but since they never got physical, just came to be annoying every day, the cops couldn't do anything.

"I told you, we don't need protection."

I pulled Liam behind me, face cold.

"Please leave, or I'm calling the police."

"Police?"

The thug sneered, stepping forward and reaching out to shove me.

"Don't want to cooperate, huh? Believe me, I'll smash this dump today!"

That dirty hand never reached my shoulder-a long, powerful hand shot out and caught his wrist mid-air.

"Crack."

A crisp snap of bone.

The thug let out a pig-like squeal, his whole body instantly contorting like a shrimp.

River had appeared at my side without warning.

One hand in his pocket, the other casually gripping the thug's wrist-it looked effortless.

But the expression on his face was cold, like something that had crawled straight out of hell.

"Smash the shop?"

He tilted his head, looking at the yellow-haired thug breaking out in cold sweat with detached eyes.

His voice wasn't loud, but it made everyone present shiver.

"Who gave you the balls to touch my wo-my niece's shop?"

I stared blankly at his profile.

In that moment, his tall frame blocked everything in front of me.

That damned sense of security washed over me again.

I was falling for him again.

But...