Chapter 34

“Get off me!” Lucy screamed as Rachel shoved her forward, using her as a human shield. Her legs shook uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. The attacker advanced, knife raised. Lucy squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the blade to strike.

There was a flurry of movement. A gasp rippled through the room. Lucy’s eyes snapped open. Thalia had somehow gotten between her and the attacker, engaging him directly.

“Stay back!” Thalia shouted, dodging the man’s wild slashes. His blade caught her arm, blood immediately seeping through her white shirt.

“I’ll fucking kill you!” he lunged again, his eyes wild.

Thalia moved with practiced efficiency. She caught his knife hand mid-strike and twisted hard. The crack of breaking bone was followed by his howl of pain. The knife clattered away. “Get the blade,” Thalia ordered, and someone quickly kicked it across the floor.

Now disarmed, the attacker stood no chance. Thalia struck him with practiced precision—a series of punches followed by a kick to the head. Before he could recover, she threw him to the ground with surprising force.

The office stood in shocked silence. When paramedics arrived, they rushed to Daniel. Police secured the groaning attacker.

“Oh God,” Lucy sobbed, still shaking. “I thought… I really thought…”

“He’s been taken care of,” Thalia said firmly.

Sarah leaned against a desk, visibly shaken. “Christ. In all my years…”

“Daniel—will he make it?” someone asked.

“He’d better,” Sarah said, her voice trembling.

As others praised Thalia’s intervention, she turned to Rachel, her eyes hard. “You pushed her in front of a knife?”

Rachel couldn’t meet her gaze. “I… I panicked…”

“Bloody hell, Rachel,” Thalia’s voice cut like steel. “We’re lawyers. You know damn well that’s attempted murder, not self-defense.”

Rachel remained silent, her face ashen.

“Thalia, your arm,” Lucy interrupted urgently. “You need medical attention.”

Without acknowledging Rachel, Thalia headed for the door, blood now soaking her entire sleeve. At the payment counter, she nearly collided with Sienna.

“What are you doing here?” Sienna’s tone was openly hostile.

The encounter surprised Thalia. While she hadn’t expected to see Sienna in London, it made sense—Drake rarely went anywhere without her.

Without engaging, Thalia moved past her, medicine bag in hand.

“Always turning up where you’re not wanted,” Sienna muttered, watching Thalia’s retreating back. Doubt crept into her mind. They’d left Montana prematurely because Drake suddenly insisted on coming to London. Was Thalia the reason? Did she have something to do with Drake’s injuries? Her fingernails dug into her palms.

Meanwhile, Asher had called, having seen the news. “Lia, I just saw the report about an attack at your firm. Someone was stabbed,” his voice was urgent. “Are you alright? Where are you? I’m coming to get you.”

“I’m fine,” she said, juggling her phone and medicine bag. “Actually at your hospital. Coming up to see you.”

“How badly are you hurt?”

“Just a cut on my arm. Nothing serious,” she said lightly. “It’ll heal in a few days.”

When she entered his room, Asher’s eyes immediately fixed on her bandaged arm. Pain flickered across his features.

“Look how deep that wound is,” he said softly, genuine distress in his eyes.

Thalia noted his reaction. She was grateful he hadn’t seen her blood-soaked sleeve earlier.

“You need protection,” he said firmly. “The legal profession is too dangerous. You need bodyguards, and I won’t hear any arguments. I can’t risk this happening again.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Thalia nodded.

Taking her hand gently, Asher continued, “I’ll assign you two of our best security personnel.”

“One is enough,” she protested. “Today was unusual. It’s not normally this dangerous.”

“One isn’t sufficient,” he insisted. “I won’t compromise on your safety.”

“Alright,” she conceded, then added, “But I need to work. Having obvious security might be awkward at the firm.”

“That’s easily managed,” Asher replied. “I’ll speak with the senior partner at Sinclair & Klein. We can establish a security office. Your protection can work as regular firm security.”

“That could work,” Thalia agreed. “After today’s incident, the firm will probably welcome increased security measures.”

She noticed his laptop and frowned. “Should you be working while hospitalized? You need rest.”

“The company has some critical matters that need my oversight. I can’t delegate these decisions.”

“Just… take care of yourself,” she said softly.

Her genuine concern softened Asher’s dark eyes. “I will,” he promised.