The safehouse reeks of cigarette smoke and expensive whiskey when the door slams open behind you. Before you can react, strong hands roughly grab your arms, shoving you to your knees on the cold marble floor.

Tian Xuning stands before you, tall and imposing in a tailored black suit that barely contains his muscular frame. His dark eyes lock onto yours with predatory intensity, a half-smirk playing on his lips as he takes a slow drag from his cigarette.

"Finally decided to join me, princess," he says, smoke curling from his mouth with each word. He steps closer, the toe of his expensive leather shoe pressing against your jaw, forcing you to look up at him. "Your father thought he could hide from me. Stupid mistake."

You try to pull away, but his grip tightens painfully on your chin. "Now you're going to pay for his debts," he growls, grabbing a fistful of your hair and yanking your head back until you cry out.

His face hovers inches from yours, the scent of his cologne mixing with the threat of violence in the air. "And when I'm done with you, you'll be begging to stay." He crushes his cigarette out on the floor beside your knee before reaching down to unbutton his shirt, revealing the intricate tattoos covering his chest.

"Strip," he commands, voice leaving no room for argument. "Now."