Chapter 28: The Chase
The tires of the Maybach screamed loudly as Frans slammed the steering wheel to the left, dodging concrete debris scattered on the streets of Paris. The violent jolt made Agatha wince, her hands gripping the leather seat tightly until her knuckles turned white.
"Frans!" shouted Xavier from the back seat. One of his arms wrapped possessively around Agatha's waist, holding the woman's body so she wouldn't be thrown, while his other hand gripped a pistol ready to fire.
"Three tails behind, Xav!" Frans replied while glancing at the rearview mirror. His usually jovial face was now tense and serious. "Their driving pattern is aggressive and organized. They are professionals."
Xavier looked back. Through the dark car window, he could see three black SUVs speeding, trying to corner their car. Their headlights were blinding, as if they wanted to swallow the Maybach whole.
"Who are they?" hissed Agatha. Her voice sounded weak, but her hazel eyes still emitted a sharp glint.
"I don't know," answered Xavier flatly, but there was a hidden tone of frustration there. "The emblem on the helicopter earlier was removed. They are mercenaries without identity. But looking at their equipment, someone paid a very high price for our heads tonight."
Clang! Clang!
The sound of metal clashing loudly was heard as bullets rained down on the rear window of the car. The bulletproof glass cracked forming a spiderweb pattern, but did not penetrate.
"They are shooting at the tires!" cried Agatha.
"Frans, activate Smoke Screen," ordered Xavier coldly.
"Ready, Xav! Eat this!"
Frans pressed the red button on the dashboard. From the dual exhaust at the bottom of the rear bumper, a thick burst of white smoke spewed out with high pressure. In an instant, the street behind them was covered in thick fog, blocking the pursuers' view.
The sound of screeching brakes was deafening, followed by the sound of loud metal impact.
Crash! Boom!
Two pursuing cars that lost visibility crashed into each other, then hit a street light pole. One car rolled over, creating a small explosion behind them.
"One down, one left," reported Frans with a satisfied tone.
However, the last car managed to penetrate the smoke. A black sports sedan sped up, trying to overtake their Maybach from the right side to ram the rear side so their car would skid.
"He wants to ram us," muttered Agatha.
Xavier did not look panicked. He instead lowered the armrest in the center of the seat, opened a hidden compartment, and took a controller tablet.
"Frans, open the sunroof."
"Are you sure, Xav? The wind is very strong," asked Frans doubtfully.
"Open it."
The car roof opened. The cold night air of Paris immediately rushed in, messing up their hair and carrying the scent of gunpowder residue from the battle.
Xavier stood up slightly, his upper body emerging from the car roof. He was not holding a pistol, but his silver Desert Eagle. Calmly, in the middle of the car speeding at one hundred and eighty kilometers per hour, Xavier aimed.
Bang!
One shot. Missed. The bullet hit the hood of the pursuing car.
Bang!
Second shot. The pursuing car's windshield shattered.
Bang!
Third shot hit right on the enemy's front right tire.
The sedan immediately lost control. The tire bursting at high speed made the car swerve, spin wildly on the asphalt, then flung crashing into the concrete road barrier with a terrifying impact sound.
Xavier sat back down, closed the sunroof, and placed his still-smoking weapon on the leather seat.
"Threat neutralized," said Xavier flatly.
"Nice shot, Xav. We have entered the A6 toll road heading south. Estimated arrival at the Alps border is about three hours," reported Frans.
Xavier did not respond to the praise. His attention immediately shifted entirely to Agatha. He turned on the dim cabin reading light. Agatha's face was deathly pale. Her lips turned white. The woman's hands gripped her own knees, holding back pain.
"Turn around," ordered Xavier. His tone could not be defied.
"I am fine, Xav. This is just..."
"Turn around, Agatha!" snapped Xavier. This time his voice rose.
Agatha obeyed. She turned her back to Xavier. Xavier lifted the back of Agatha's wet black t-shirt. His breath hitched. The white bandage he applied this morning had now turned completely red. Fresh blood seeped profusely, dripping onto the car's leather seat.
"Your stitches are all torn," hissed Xavier. His jaw hardened holding back anger. Angry at the anonymous enemy, and angry at himself for failing to protect his woman.
Xavier took the emergency first aid kit from the drawer under the seat. He poured alcohol directly onto the open wound to clean it from explosion debris dust.
"Sshhh!" Agatha hissed long. Her body jolted, her hand reflexively squeezed Xavier's thigh tightly.
"Sorry," whispered Xavier in Agatha's ear. He kissed the top of his wife's head while his hand continued to press the wound with a thick gauze pad. "Sorry I let you get hurt again."
"It is not your fault," muttered Agatha weakly.
After the bleeding was slightly controlled, Xavier rebandaged the wound with fresh bandages makeshiftly.
"Xavier," called Agatha softly. "The man on the balcony earlier... he had a tattoo. A red-eyed wolf circled by roses."
Xavier was silent for a moment. "I don't know it. That is not an official emblem of any mafia family. I will find out later."
"Xav," interrupted Frans suddenly. "Surveillance drone detected a blockade at the Italian entry border. Border police are on high alert because of the helicopter crash news. We cannot pass the main toll road."
Xavier looked at his watch.
"Take the old route at the foot of the mountains," ordered Xavier. "We will enter through the border forest."
"Hold on!"
The Maybach car slammed the steering wheel out of the smooth toll road, entering the pitch-black rocky dirt road at the foot of the Alps. Pine forests towered high on their left and right.
Crash!
The car hit a hole covered in mud. A hard jolt occurred.
"Argh..." Agatha groaned stifledly. The shock tortured her newly bandaged back. Her face grew paler, cold sweat pouring down.
Xavier saw his wife's suffering. He could not tell Frans to slow down because they had to arrive before dawn.
"Come here," ordered Xavier suddenly.
"What?" Agatha opened her droopy eyes.
"Move here. Sit on my lap."
Agatha shook her head weakly. "Don't be ridiculous..."
"The shock will kill you slowly. My body can dampen it. Quick."
Without waiting for approval, Xavier pulled Agatha's waist. He lifted the woman's body carefully yet firmly, then positioned Agatha sitting sideways on his lap.
Xavier rested Agatha's head on his broad chest. One of his arms wrapped strongly around Agatha's waist, while the other hand held his wife's head so it wouldn't bump when the car jolted. Agatha's legs were bent on the seat, giving her a much more stable position.
"Better?" whispered Xavier in Agatha's ear.
Agatha let out a long breath. The pain indeed decreased drastically. Xavier's warm and sturdy body absorbed all the rough vibrations from the damaged road. Xavier's regular heartbeat could be heard clearly in her ear, giving a calming effect.
"Hm... much better," muttered Agatha, closing her eyes and inhaling Xavier's masculine scent. "Thank you."
Xavier kissed the top of Agatha's head. "Sleep. We will be safe soon."
"Where are we going?" asked Agatha softly.
"My private Safe House in the Alps valley," answered Xavier. "That place is remote, not on the map. Even Mommy doesn't know that place. There is complete medical equipment there to stitch your wound properly."
The car hit a large rock again. Xavier's body jolted withstanding the shock, but his arms remained firm locking Agatha, ensuring his wife didn't feel the impact at all.
"Xavier," called Agatha softly, her consciousness starting to thin due to exhaustion.
"Yes, Darling?"
"If we survive... give me that golden pistol."
Xavier chuckled softly, the vibration of his laughter felt comfortable on Agatha's cheek.
"You are dying but still thinking about weapons. You are truly crazy."
"It is mine," muttered Agatha before her eyes closed tight, surrendering to drowsiness.
"Yes," whispered Xavier while staring at the dark forest road ahead. "The pistol is yours. And the owner is also yours forever."
The black car continued to speed through the cold Alpine forest, taking them to a hiding place where great secrets waited to be unraveled.