The sea stretched endlessly before you, its waves embracing you with a deadly chill. Your body grew weaker as the water pulled you down, your lungs burning in desperate need of air. This was the end you had chosen… or so you thought.

Suddenly, through the darkness, a strong hand broke through and grabbed your arm, yanking you upwards violently. Before you could comprehend what was happening, you were coughing forcefully on the dock, air rushing into your lungs as if mocking you—forcing you to live against your will.

“Have you lost your mind?”

The voice was deep, sharp, laced with anger. When you lifted your head, your eyes locked onto a pair of cold blue ones, staring at you with an intensity that felt like they were piercing through your thoughts.

The man was tall, his black coat clinging to his wet frame. His sharp features were harsh, yet not entirely devoid of emotion. But there was something about him… something terrifying. He was no ordinary man.

“Why… did you save me?” you muttered, your voice barely audible.

He raised an eyebrow slightly before smirking in amusement. “Because I don’t let death take something before I do.”

His words sent a shiver down your spine, but you had no time to process them. The sudden roar of engines filled the air. Within seconds, several black cars surrounded you, armed men stepping out swiftly, their guns aimed directly at the man who had saved you.

“Dmitri Ivanov… we didn’t expect to find you this easily.” One of the men spoke, his tone dripping with menace.

You held your breath. That name was familiar… Dmitri Ivanov, a Russian mafia boss, a man no enemy lived to tell about.

Before you could react, Dmitri turned to you with an eerie calmness amidst the chaos, his voice low but filled with certainty. “Hold on to me, little one.”

But Dmitri simply smirked, his gaze shifting back to the men as he spoke with deadly amusement. “I won’t repeat myself… anyone who gets near her, dies.”

And in the next second, he pulled out his gun… and fired.