For a moment, everything felt… manageable.
Like maybe, just maybe, we could figure this out together.
But that feeling didn't last long.
Because just as I was about to say something—
Footsteps.
Behind us.
I turned first.
And my stomach dropped.
"They really don't know when to quit," I muttered.
Austin's expression hardened instantly as he followed my gaze.
Three of them.
Not four this time.
But still enough.
The same guy from earlier stood in the middle, hands in his pockets, looking way too relaxed for someone who had just picked a fight hours ago.
"Well," he said casually. "This saves us the trouble of looking for you."
Austin stepped slightly in front of me again. "You've got five seconds to leave."
The guy smirked. "Or what?"
I sighed under my breath. "They really love that question."
One of the others laughed. "You talk a lot for someone who just got dragged into this."
I stepped to the side, so I was no longer completely behind Austin. "And you show up a lot for someone who claims they're not desperate."
That earned me a look.
Not angry.
Interested.
"Careful," the middle guy said, tilting his head. "You don't know who you're talking to."
I shrugged. "And you don't know who you're underestimating."
Austin glanced at me briefly. "You're not helping."
"I'm not trying to," I muttered back.
The tension snapped again.
But this time—
It wasn't loud.
It was quiet.
Controlled.
And somehow… worse.
"We're not here to fight," the guy said suddenly.
I blinked.
"That's new," I said.
Austin didn't relax. "Then say what you came to say."
The guy took a step forward.
"Simple," he said. "You pay what you owe… or things get complicated."
"You already got your money," Austin replied sharply.
The guy smiled.
But there was nothing friendly about it.
"That's where you're wrong."
My brows furrowed. "Okay, I'm getting tired of this. He said he paid you. So either you're lying… or you're trying to scam him."
One of the guys scoffed. "You've got a mouth on you."
I smiled sweetly. "And you've got a problem with honesty."
Austin's hand brushed mine briefly—a silent warning.
But I didn't step back.
Not this time.
"You don't get it," the middle guy said, his tone dropping slightly. "It's not just about the money anymore."
That made my stomach twist.
"Then what is it about?" I asked.
He looked straight at Austin.
"Respect."
Silence.
Heavy.
Annoying.
"Respect?" I repeated. "So this is about ego?"
"It's about sending a message," he corrected.
Austin let out a quiet, humorless laugh. "You're not sending anything."
"Not yet," the guy replied. "But we will."
I stepped closer to Austin again, my voice sharper now. "You keep talking like that, but all I'm hearing is empty threats."
That did it.
The air shifted instantly.
One of them took a step forward.
Austin moved in front of me again—this time more firmly.
"Don't," he warned.
But the guy didn't stop.
And before things could explode again—
A loud voice cut through everything.
"HEY!"
All of us turned at once.
A security guard stood at the end of the path, walking toward us quickly.
"Break it up! Now!"
The tension snapped like a string pulled too tight.
The guys exchanged looks.
Then the middle one smirked again, backing away slowly.
"Guess we'll continue this another time."
Austin didn't respond.
Didn't move.
The guy's eyes flicked to me one last time.
"Tell your boy to make the right choice."
Then they turned and disappeared down the path.
Just like that.
Gone.
The guard reached us seconds later, looking annoyed. "What's going on here?"
"Nothing," Austin said quickly. "We were just leaving."
The guard eyed us for a moment, clearly not convinced—but after a second, he waved us off. "Then go. And stay out of trouble."
We didn't need to be told twice.
We walked away in silence, not stopping until we were far from that place.
Only then did I finally breathe.
"Okay…" I said slowly. "Now I'm officially worried."
Austin didn't reply.
I looked at him. "Austin."
His jaw was tight again.
"They're not going to stop," I said.
"I know."
"And this 'respect' thing?" I added. "That's not something you just pay off."
"I know," he repeated.
I stepped in front of him, forcing him to look at me.
"Then what are we going to do?"
For the first time since all of this started—
He didn't have an answer.
And that?
That scared me more than anything else.
Because now it was clear—
We weren't just in trouble.
We were stuck in something with no easy way out.