Chapter 149 Sending the Opponent a Foolish Teammate
Gunshots erupted everywhere.
The first shot didn't come from Clarence's side, but from the sniper I had positioned in advance on high ground.
With just one shot, Clarence's trusted aide was killed.
A mixture of blood and brain matter splattered across Clarence's face. He cursed and immediately dove into his car.
As both sides exchanged fire, the gunshots from my side were clearly louder and more intense.
Because we had more people.
Lucas sat beside me with a faint smile, saying casually, "It'll be over soon."
The streetlights around us were hit by stray bullets, gradually dimming, and visibility inside the car became unclear.
In the darkness, Lucas took my hand.
Though it wasn't the right moment, the atmosphere felt somewhat intimate.
Marcus, who had insisted on riding in the same car as me, sat in the passenger seat. He turned to look at us, waving his gun at Lucas a couple of times. "Bastard, let go!"
Lucas reluctantly released my hand.
Ten minutes later, the fight ended, and the Soldati methodically cleaned up the scene.
Albino came to report, carrying Clarence's body on his shoulder.
Clarence had tried to run when he saw things going badly, but Albino had followed him like a shadow and killed him two streets away, then brought him back.
About half of the men Clarence brought tonight were provided by Michelle—supposedly hired killers from the black market at considerable expense.
She was determined not to let us shine at the hunting competition, though Clarence didn't have her nerve.
With a dull thud, Albino dropped the body at his feet and looked at me. "He's definitely dead."
I nodded, my eyes sweeping over his blood-stained face. "Cut him up and make him into a gift. I want to send it to someone."
Albino looked surprised, then a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes. "Leave it to me. I'll make sure you're satisfied."
As Albino carried off Clarence's body, Lucas asked me, "Who are you giving a gift to?"
I glanced at him. "Michelle."
Lucas nodded. Marcus asked sarcastically, "Why so quiet? Feeling sorry for him? After all, she almost became your mother-in-law."
Lucas gave a fake smile, his voice cold and hard. "Marcus, you said it yourself—'almost.'"
The two started fighting. The cramped space limited their movements, so they mostly traded insults. I didn't find it entertaining, just noisy.
I really regretted letting them ride in the same car with me.
I was leaving for Dawnharbor tonight.
I had someone bring Amelia over.
The notebook listing Michelle's crimes had grown much thicker. After filling an entire notebook, she refused to give it to anyone else, insisting on delivering it to me personally, but I only had time to see her tonight.
When Amelia saw Lucas, she stared at him in a daze, forgetting to blink, though tears kept streaming down her face.
I said nothing, calmly picking up my thermos.
Marcus grinned wickedly at Lucas. Lucas ignored both Marcus and Amelia, took the thermos from my hand, unscrewed the lid, poured half a cup of water, and handed it to me.
I didn't take it, saying with a half-smile, "Too hot."
Lucas held the lid and gently blew on the water.
Then he tested the temperature with the back of his hand, and satisfied, handed the lid back to me. "There."
Amelia watched in a daze.
I still didn't take the water. "Too cold."
Without hesitation, Lucas poured the water out the car window, poured a fresh cup, blew on it for a while, then handed it to me.
This time I took it. Marcus pursed his lips. "Not bad."
Amelia's face darkened. She stopped crying, stopped acting.
"Why did you want to see me?" she asked hoarsely.
"The five-year hunting competition is about to begin," I said.
"So what?" Amelia asked impatiently. She didn't even want to stand, squatting on the ground. If the ground weren't covered in blood, she probably would have sat right down.
With all pretense stripped away, her emotions were completely transparent.
Seeing that she genuinely didn't understand, I couldn't help but wonder—what was I competing with this idiot for all that time?
What about Amelia had captivated Lucas?
"I'm going back to Dawnharbor, and you're coming with me," I said.
Amelia looked up, her eyes widening with delight, then quickly asked suspiciously, "Why would you be so kind? What are you planning?"
"I want you to go back to Michelle's side and be my spy," I said with a smile.
"Really?" Amelia stood up, leaning toward me in the car. "You're really letting me go back?"
"As a spy," I reminded her.
"Yes, yes, yes, no problem," Amelia agreed immediately.
From her expression, I could tell she hadn't listened to a word I said, thinking only about returning to Michelle's side.
Amelia had never experienced much fatherly love growing up. Though Michelle constantly used her, they had depended on each other for years. Michelle had never let her go hungry, gave her money, bought her pretty clothes and bags, and helped her seduce and manipulate men.
Even though Michelle favored Byron more, even though they'd had a falling out, deep down Amelia still longed for her mother.
Especially after suffering so much recently—hearing she could go back, she immediately started thinking about how to get Michelle to help her get revenge.
I waved my hand, having someone take Amelia to another car. Amelia went obediently, unable to hide her excitement.
She seemed not to have considered at all what it meant that Michelle had ignored her all this time.
"Can she really work as a spy?" Marcus asked, puzzled.
"Doesn't matter. I'm sending her back to cause trouble for Michelle anyway," I said with a smile.
Marcus laughed too. "Amelia's good at causing trouble. A difficult opponent isn't scary—a stupid teammate is much worse. Let Michelle enjoy having this stupid Amelia around!"
"What do you think?" I asked Lucas with a sidelong glance.
"A very wise decision," Lucas said earnestly.
That wasn't what I wanted to hear.
Marcus was practically my spokesman. He asked, "Don't you have any feelings seeing Amelia?"
"What feelings?" Lucas asked back. "Before, she pretended to be my savior and acted all innocent and sweet. She fooled me, but now I'm clear-headed. I consider her dead. Once she's no longer useful to Bella, I'll kill her myself."
Marcus snorted. "Easy to say, as if you weren't the one who let her go before."
Lucas stopped arguing with Marcus and put on an act of being hurt but trying not to show it. "Bella, do you believe me?"
I didn't answer, instead asking, "So you like the innocent and sweet type?"
Lucas blinked, remembering what he'd just said.
I silently looked away, gazing out the window.
"No," Lucas said. "I don't like that type."
The car window reflected our shadows.
His gaze was focused intently on me.
"Bella, I only like you."