Rise of Ryan Conner

chapter 3

Ryan was confused why people were chasing such an innocent looking girl. "Who's after you? What happened?" he asked, trying to make sense of the situation.

Her words were cut short by distant shouts echoing through the rain-soaked streets. Some people were approaching in the distance.

"Come with me," Ryan didn't bother to ask why they chased her anymore. He grabbed her delicate, slender hands running towards the opposite direction.

They hurried into the dark alley, he held her close as they hid in a tight corner. The girl clung to Ryan. She looked into his eyes as her cheeks flushed red, she was embarrassed being held by a man that way.

Ryan, glancing over his shoulder, assured her, "We should be safe here for a while. But we need to figure out what to do next."

He suddenly realized his lips were so close to hers that he could feel her breath on him, she had cherry red plump lips and Blue eyes like calm seas.

"She hasn't gone far to search the area!" A hoarse voice sounded as the gangsters approached.

Ryan instinctively pulled the girl into a tight embrace, shielding her in the shadows of the narrow alley. He placed a gentle finger on her lips, signaling for silence.

They both heard the echoes of the gangsters' footsteps as they scanned the area looking for her. Ryan and the girl held their breath as the gangsters passed by, oblivious to the pair concealed mere inches away.

The girl's eyes met Ryan's as they stood pressed against the cold brick wall, he felt her heartbeat as her chest rested on his torso.

Ryan, noticing the gangsters retreating, whispered, "Looks like they're gone. We need to stay cautious." He slowly loosened his grip on her.

The girl stuttered as she took a deep breath, "T..Thank…you very much."

"You're welcome." Ryan nodded his head as they cautiously emerged from the alley, "Let's find a safer place now and get far from them."

"So, how long do you plan on holding me like that?" She suddenly asked as she looked up at him.

Ryan awkwardly scratched his head, "Well, as long as it takes to keep you safe." He turned his back to her without looking at her eyes. "Let's get going."

They had only taken a few steps when she spoke up again, "I'll pay you for your protection, name your price." She said in one breath as her footsteps echoed behind him.

Ryan lips curled into a wrly smile. Even if she gave him money it would be barely enough for the medical bills of his Lung cancer. He hadn't also helped her with the thought that she would pay him.

Ryan, continuing down the dimly lit alley, turned to the girl with a weary smile. "Thank you but I will pass."

Her expression turned to one of suprise and then anger as her lips parted, "Why? It's just…" A voice suddenly interrupted her.

"Thought you could escape, huh? We knew you didn't get far," Footsteps approached them from all sides.

"You thought you could escape?" The burly leader said with a taunting voice as his eyes glinted with malice.

Ryan took a step back to stand in front of the girl as the gangsters closed in.

"Who are you?" The leader's sneered at Ryan shielding the girl, tightened his embrace.

Fear etched across the girl's face as she clung to Ryan. "What do you want with her?" Ryan clenched his feets as he fired the leader a fiery gaze. "Let her go."

The leader scoffed, signaling his goons to encircle them. " We have business with the girl but I see you want to get hurt."

"Please, just let him go it's me you want." The girl suddenly stepped forward as she bent her head low.

"No, I would protect you." Ryan said as he stepped in front of her. The gangsters, fueled by aggression rushed towards him, throwing their fists towards him.

He couldn't dodge it, it might as well hit the girl behind him so he hugged her as the blows landed on him.

"Get lost!" He yelled at them and the whole gang burst into a mocking laughter.

He hugged her tightly as he wiped the edge of his mouth that dripped out blood. He felt his head swirl and the pain on his head increased, his Lung cancer. He held his head as he staggered on his feets.

"That's enough you don't have to get hurt because of me!" The girl called out with fear laced in her voice.

"I…I can't leave you to them." Ryan looked far in the distance hoping somehow help will come, his eyes glazed over.

One of the gang members punched him making him cough out blood, another kicked him. In a moment he was beating into a pulp, blood oozed out of his mouth and nose as the girl sobbed into his arms.

A gang member with a long scar on his right cheek picked up a stick from the ground and grinned at the unconscious Ryan who held tightly to the girl. "We warned you." He walked towards him as he tightened his hold on the stick.

He raised it to Ryan's head, "I guess this is really where it ends." Ryan thought, he resigned to his fate as he clutched his chest, convulsing in a fit of torturous coughing.

As the gang member was about to bring the stick down on his head, a sea of light lit up the alley. A convoy of cars with headlights screeched into the dark alley. The cars pulled up beside them and the doors flew open. Over 20 men in black suits emerged from the cars.

"Boss," A gang member turned to the leader as he was about to grab the girl behind Ryan.

The boss looked up at the black suited men, "This girl refused to warm my bed so I have to teach her a lesson. Don't dare interfere fellas."

The face of the black suited men turned sour as they approached the gang. Sweat suddenly poured down the leader's face and his heart began to race.

He knew the men in black suits didn't mean well so he fired out a threat. "My brother is a Mafia boss, you don't want to get into trouble." He shouted furiously realizing that they didn't bother about his first warning but they still approached.

"Dang it!" He yelled as he stepped back getting behind one of his gang members who was rooted to the floor in fear.

"Help me, Uncle Mateo!" The girl suddenly cried out surprising the gangsters, she knew them!

An old man stepped out of one of the cars with an icy gaze. "You dare offend the daughter of the Caden family!" He bellowed as he looked up at the leader whose eyes widened in realization.

"The daughter of the Caden family?" He repeated as he fell on his knees, his face turned pale white and his hands shook in fear. "I'm sorry" The leader said as he bowed his head.

The other members of the gang seeing their leader on his knees fell on the knees too. "Forgive me please!" Tears fell down the leaders eyes as he bowed his head to the ground in front of the old man.

Ryan was now unconsciously lying on the floor but he saw the gang leader who was haughty a few moment ago bowing down to someone.

"Pardon me please," The gang leader crawled towards the old man's feet but one of the gang members kicked him.