Tae moved silently through the darkened corridors of the Italian mafia’s hideout. The air was thick with the scent of blood and smoke, the echoes of gunfire ringing from above as his team methodically eliminated the last of their enemies. BTS had already begun dismantling the Italian mafia’s empire, but Tae had a different mission—he was looking for her.

Ariana, Isabella’s sister, the one everyone had risked their lives to rescue. Tae had never met her, only heard the stories, but her connection to Isabella made her precious to them all. And now, she was somewhere in the depths of this hellish stronghold, waiting to be found. As Tae descended the stone steps into the underground cells, his heart began to race with a mixture of anticipation and dread. What if they were too late?

The cold, damp air of the underground cells hit him as he moved through the narrow hallways, each step echoing off the walls. His hand gripped his gun tightly, ready for anything, but he hoped it wouldn’t come to that. He hated the thought of Ariana having suffered at the hands of these monsters any longer than necessary.

At the end of the hallway, a heavy metal door stood ajar, the light from a single bulb inside casting a faint glow into the corridor. Tae stepped forward, bracing himself as he pushed the door fully open, revealing the cramped and squalid cell beyond.

There she was.

Ariana lay on the floor, bound at her wrists and ankles with thick ropes that had dug into her skin, leaving angry red welts. Her clothes were torn and bloodied, her long dark hair matted with dirt and sweat, but even in such a state, she looked striking. Her face, though pale and bruised, carried a quiet strength, a fierce beauty that made Tae’s breath catch in his throat.

For a moment, he simply stared, taking in the sight of her. His heart clenched painfully at the thought of what she had endured. How could someone so beautiful, so strong-looking, be subjected to this kind of brutality? The anger boiled beneath his skin, but he forced himself to calm down. She needed him now, not his rage.

Tae knelt beside her, his movements slow and deliberate, not wanting to startle her. Gently, he reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Ariana,” he whispered softly.

Her eyes fluttered open at the sound of her name, and for a moment, her gaze was unfocused, dazed. Then, recognition flickered in her eyes, and she tensed, clearly unsure whether he was friend or foe. Tae’s heart twisted as he saw the fear there, the instinctual reaction to protect herself.

“It’s okay,” Tae said softly, keeping his voice calm and reassuring. “I’m here to help. I’m taking you away from this place.”

Ariana didn’t say anything at first, but her eyes remained locked on his, searching for something. Trust. Reassurance. Hope. Tae didn’t know what she was looking for, but he willed her to see that he wasn’t like the men who had hurt her.

Carefully, he began to untie the ropes binding her wrists, his fingers working quickly but gently. Each time the ropes came undone, she winced, her raw skin now free but tender. Tae’s jaw tightened at the sight of the damage done to her body.

When he had freed her hands, she made no move to speak, only closed her eyes briefly, as though trying to regain some measure of control. Tae gently lifted her wrists, examining them with the softest of touches. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, as though his voice could soothe the pain she had endured.

He moved to untie her ankles, freeing her from the last of her restraints. Once she was unbound, Tae slipped off his jacket, wrapping it around her fragile form. She needed to be out of this place, away from the violence and darkness, and the quicker he could get her to safety, the better.

When Tae reached out to pick her up, she flinched slightly but didn’t resist. Slowly, he scooped her into his arms, cradling her against his chest as though she were the most delicate thing in the world. Despite her battered appearance, there was still something regal about her, like she was untouchable even in her current state.

As he carried her, her head rested against his shoulder, her breathing shallow but steady. Tae found himself unconsciously holding her closer, his arms tightening protectively around her. He could hear the muffled sounds of battle still raging above them, but down here, it was just the two of them. In this moment, all he could think about was getting her out of here and making sure she was safe.

She was Isabella’s sister, the last remaining member of her family. But as Tae held her in his arms, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was more than just the mafia queen’s sibling. There was something about Ariana, something that stirred a deep sense of protectiveness in him—a connection he couldn’t quite explain.

As they made their way back toward the exit, Tae glanced down at her again. Her face was relaxed now, the tension having eased as she lay in his arms, her body finally at rest after who knew how long of being tormented. Despite the dirt and blood marring her skin, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.

He would protect her. Not just because she was important to Isabella, but because he wanted to. There was something unspoken between them, a pull he couldn’t deny, even in this moment of chaos.

When they finally reached the surface, Tae’s eyes locked onto the carnage that greeted him. The Italian mafia was finished—every last one of them lay dead or dying, their empire crumbling. The rest of BTS stood triumphant, having taken down their enemies without mercy. But Tae’s mind was far from the victory; his focus remained solely on the woman in his arms.

Namjoon turned to Tae as he emerged, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of Ariana. “Is she okay?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Tae nodded, his grip tightening on her. “She’ll be fine,” he replied, his tone soft but firm. “I’ve got her.”

And in that moment, Tae knew that no matter what happened next, he wasn’t letting her go. She may have been the mafia queen’s sister, but to him, she was so much more. Ariana wasn’t just someone to be rescued—she was about to become his entire world.

As he carried her away from the battlefield and back toward safety, Tae couldn’t help but feel that this was the beginning of something new, something powerful. He had found her in the depths of hell, and now, he was going to keep her safe—no matter the cost.