Chapter 119: Give me the gun
The attacker was clearly a professional-calm and skilled. This was a different approach from the attempt to create an accident in the lounge. Who sent him? Was it Rachel, or maybe one of the wealthy rivals who disliked her?
She dodged several more crossbow bolts and quickly ran towards the stairwell. The attacker followed relentlessly, shooting as he went, until they reached the empty corridor.
The attacker cautiously advanced, scanning the area while keeping his eyes downward.
“Hey.”
Paige’s voice came from behind him. The attacker spun around in surprise, raising his weapon to shoot, but Paige kicked his arm, sending the bolt into the ceiling.
Paige swiftly turned and launched a spinning kick aimed at the attacker’s head.
“Thud.”
The attacker, caught off guard by the young girl’s formidable skill, fell heavily to the ground. But he recovered quickly and fired another bolt upward.
Paige was taken aback-why shoot upward instead of at her? Before she could react, something exploded above her head, showering her with a large amount of liquid.
The sharp, stinging smell hit her. It was alcohol.
Looking up, Paige saw bottles filled with clear alcohol hanging above. Her opponent had anticipated her move and prepared alcohol in advance for this very scenario.
Meanwhile, the attacker sprang to his feet, grinning at her, and pulled out a lighter to ignite the tip of one of his special bolts. The bolt’s tip immediately burst into flames.
With the flaming bolt released, Paige dashed down the stairs, narrowly avoiding the attack.
The attacker lit another crossbow bolt and continued to pursue Paige as she hurriedly fled.Content © NôvelDrama.Org.
“Slide down!” a commanding voice suddenly rang out.
Paige looked down and saw Enrico at the bottom of the stairs, gripping the railing and staring intently in her direction. He looked grim. Paige knew that sliding down the stairs was the fastest way to escape, but it was also the most dangerous. Sliding made it harder to dodge, making her an easier target for the attacker.
In that moment, she considered that using the door to buy some time might increase her chances of escaping.
She hesitated for a moment, but Enrico’s voice cut through her uncertainty. “I’m right here, what are you afraid of?” His shout echoed through the empty corridor, startling Paige.
The force of his shout shattered something inside her. Without further hesitation, Paige grabbed the railing and jumped up, sliding down the stairs as fast as she could.
She felt like a butterfly spiraling out of control, as if she might fall from a great height any second.
The smell of alcohol clung to her. Enrico’s figure drew closer. Paige saw him pulling out a gun with one hand while reaching for her with the other. His gaze was intense and focused.
For a moment, Paige felt as if the antlers tattooed on his hand were growing like vines, trying to ensnare her and prevent her from escaping. She didn’t understand why she felt this way, but there was no time to think. She knew she was heading into Enrico’s protective zone.
The attacker aimed his crossbow at the descending Paige, analyzing her speed to strike her accurately.
A silenced gunshot rang out suddenly.
Enrico had fired.
The attacker, startled, immediately moved to avoid the bullet. Realizing that Paige was sliding down and that the shooter below would hesitate to fire for fear of hitting her, he concluded that the gunshot was merely a scare tactic.
Understanding this, the attacker quickly refocused on Paige, recalculated, and shot another flaming bolt.
The bolt sped downward, the flames intensifying rather than dying out.
Paige heard the crossbow bolt whizzing by and realized she was sliding right into Enrico’s arms. She tried to dodge but was too late.
Enrico grabbed her wrist, yanked her forcefully, and spun around, pulling her tightly into his embrace.
Paige’s face was pressed against Enrico’s chest, and the warmth and rapid heartbeat there left her stunned.
She looked up in disbelief and saw his face suddenly turn pale.
“You’re hit? Are you insane?”
The attacker, still on their trail, wasn’t giving up.
“Run!” Enrico fired a couple of shots upward with his gun, then dragged Paige down the stairs. He kicked open a door, pulled her inside, and slammed it shut behind them.
A bolt had embedded deeply in his left shoulder blade, leaving only the tail visible, with scorch marks around it.
Paige looked at his sharp profile, her emotions in turmoil…
They had taken refuge in a dinosaur fossil exhibition hall, which was empty and lined with display cases stuck to the walls, leaving no place to hide.
Enrico pulled her toward the central display area and backed them both up against a high railing, preparing to face the attacker.
Behind them, giant dinosaur fossils stood in the sand.
Enrico quickly removed the magazine from his gun and replaced it with a full one. Throughout the process, he didn’t let go of her hand.
It was as if he feared she would vanish if he did. Paige watched as her hand was dragged along with his, his grip on the gun tightened, and his breathing grew heavier. Paige could see the pain from the arrow wound affecting him. She said, “Give me the gun.”
“Are you trying to get yourself killed? You’re covered in alcohol, and you want to face him alone?” Enrico snapped, glaring at her fiercely.
Paige frowned. She was worried that he got injured, he might not be able to fight the attacker. She lowered her voice and said, “Where are your people? The bodyguards? Why isn’t anyone here?”
Enrico leaned against the railing, gritting his teeth. “If it weren’t for you not wanting to make our relationship public, would I be here alone?”
Paige was at a loss for words.
Enrico suddenly gasped in pain, his gaze becoming unfocused.
Paige persisted, “Give me the gun. As long as I can make a single shot count, I’ll be fine. It’s better than you trying to fight while injured.”
Enrico didn’t respond, sweat dripping from his forehead.
The attacker was getting closer.
“Enrico, give me the gun…”
“Can you just stay behind me?”
Enrico shouted in frustration, his voice filled with desperation.
Paige was taken aback by his outburst, her mind going blank.
Enrico pulled Paige closer, “Paige, can’t you just ask me for help?”
Paige saw her own disheveled reflection in his eyes. He was so close that she could feel his unsteady breath against her face, making every pore of her skin tremble.
The attacker had entered.
Enrico, leaning against the railing, slowly raised his gun.
The attacker, with his crossbow raised, silently moved into the dinosaur fossil exhibit, cautiously searching for them, step by step…
Paige remained still, feeling Enrico’s hand gripping hers tightly. After a moment, the tip of a shoe came into her view.
Enrico’s gun slowly extended, aiming at the direction.
The attacker’s shoes shifted, perhaps sensing that they were close.
“Bang.” A side door near Enrico and Paige suddenly swung open. Rachel stood in the doorway, looking at them in confusion, “What are you doing here?”
Enrico’s expression turned cold.
In the next moment, Rachel saw the attacker’s position and the crossbow he held, her eyes widening in shock.
“Don’t hurt him!” Rachel suddenly dashed towards them, disregarding her safety.
Enrico stepped forward.
“Bang.”
Everything fell silent.
There were two heavy thuds as the attacker fell to the ground with a bloodied wound in his chest, while Rachel lay on the floor between him and Enrico, an bolt embedded in her chest. Blood stained her blue dress, spreading from the wound.
She blocked a bolt for Enrico…
She lay there, clutching her wound, gasping in pain. Her eyes weakly fixed on Enrico as she struggled to smile.”Great, you’re okay …” With those words, her eyes slowly closed, and she passed out.
Paige turned to look at Enrico, who was staring down at Rachel in shock. Paige thought to herself, he must be moved. Who wouldn’t be touched seeing someone sacrifice themselves to protect you? While Paige could only bring him harm, Rachel was willing to give up her life to protect him. Rachel’s timing was impeccable, At that moment, Paige couldn’t help but admire Rachel a bit; she always knew exactly when and how to act…