Chapter 79 Encountering Assassination, Crisis Night
I was the first to step out of the cable car when we arrived at the platform at the foot of the mountain.
I strode forward, as if trying to leave far behind the warmth and flutter from our embrace in the cable car, along with the cable car itself.
Lucas followed me. I couldn't help but turn and ask him, "Aren't you waiting for Alfred?"
Lucas walked calmly beside me, "He'll catch up on his own."
"What about Amelia?" My tone carried a hint of irritation.
Lucas wasn't worried at all, "She will too."
I rolled my eyes.
Night had completely fallen, and the roads around the dock were especially deserted, with street lamps casting dim, broken halos of light.
Seeing the car waiting ahead, Cole and Adrian's tense shoulders relaxed a bit. A series of hurried footsteps came rushing from the darkness.
I thought it was Alfred and the others and didn't pay attention, but Lucas suddenly said, "Something's wrong!"
Before he finished speaking, he hooked his arm around my waist and pushed me forward, "Get in the car, quick!"
Cole reacted quickly, rushing over to open the car door for me. The moment his hand touched the door, he immediately pulled back and shouted a warning, "There's an ambush in the car!"
Gunshots rang out. I instinctively dodged to the left, barely avoiding the first whistling bullet.
"Watch out!" Lucas held me as we fell and rolled. Bullets peppered the ground behind us, sending up sparks.
Lucas and I had survived several assassination attempts together and had developed an understanding. Without a word, we quickly got up and hid behind a car.
Bullets rained down on the car like a storm. The body shook violently, and the deforming metal made ear-piercing sounds.
These killers were after me!
Who were they? What was their purpose?
The trip to Whisperwind Isle was decided on the spot today, yet the killers had managed to plant an ambush in my car—this was unusual!
Thinking carefully, maybe the cable car incident wasn't an accident!
Just then, Alfred and the others entered the parking lot, doubling the chaos. Dense gunfire continued without pause.
Lucas pointed in a direction. I nodded, and Adrian immediately sprinted in the opposite direction to draw the enemy's fire, while Lucas and I ran at top speed toward the next cover.
The open parking lot was dangerous from all sides. The number of killers was uncertain—they hid in concealed corners. The noisy gunfire severely affected my judgment. The street lamps were shot out. As my eyes swept through the darkness, I felt enemies were everywhere.
"Don't make a sound," Lucas whispered in my ear.
I gently squeezed his hand back to show I understood.
Lucas carefully identified where the gunshots were coming from, then decisively pulled the trigger twice. Two killers fell.
I didn't completely rely on Lucas's protection—I watched his back while sending out a distress signal.
Lucas leaned out from behind the car to return fire, his movements clean and decisive.
"Hold on tight!" he growled, pulling me during a gap when the killers were reloading, quickly moving to a corner ahead.
A killer who had been deeply hidden rushed out from the shadows on the right corner, his dark gun barrel reflecting a cold gleam in the moonlight.
"Goodbye, Isabella."
For some strange reason, he bid me an elegant farewell before shooting, probably certain I couldn't escape.
I raised my hand and shot him in the head. My ears caught the sound of something rapidly approaching through the air. The next second, Lucas pushed me away hard.
I smelled thick blood, very close—coming from Lucas!
I reached out with trembling hands. Warm blood flowed from Lucas onto my hand.
"It's okay," Lucas said. He fired three shots in return, hitting the killer's thigh.
I saw the killer cover his wound with one hand and raise his gun again with the other, but Lucas used his back to shield my body, pressing me firmly into the narrow space between the car's underside and himself.
I tried in vain to use my hands to shield Lucas's back, but the crisis I anticipated didn't happen.
The killer was out of bullets. He cursed and turned to run, only to be captured by Alfred, who had arrived.
The situation was quickly brought under control. The remaining killers were either subdued or killed on the spot.
I didn't care about those killers' fate and urgently called for Alfred, "Alfred! Get the medical kit, quick!"
I had Lucas lie flat, his head resting on my lap. I turned on my phone's flashlight and quickly saw his injury.
The bullet had entered his left abdomen from the side. The bullet was lodged inside, likely stuck between his ribs. Blood kept flowing out, quickly staining my white suede jacket red.
"Don't move," I said, forcing down the sob and panic rising in my throat. I quickly pulled off the silk scarf from around my neck, roughly folded it twice, and pressed it hard on his wound, trying to stop the gushing blood.
The familiar, nauseating sweet smell invaded my nostrils. My heart felt like it was being squeezed hard by an invisible hand. The pain made me dizzy, and my whole body shook uncontrollably.
I knew clearly this was a sign my psychological trauma was about to kick in, but I couldn't collapse!
At least not now!
"Don't worry, you won't die. I won't let you die, Lucas! Lucas, do you hear me?"
Lucas's face was as pale as paper. He raised his hand to stroke my cheek. Warm, sticky blood from his palm smeared on my face. His voice was somewhat weak but very calm, "I hear you. Don't cry."
Alfred rushed over with the first aid kit, but I didn't know what to do. I shook my head hard, took out the hemostatic bandage, and then realized the ointment would work better than the bandage.
I hastily cut open Lucas's clothes and used an entire jar of Phoenix Blood Balm on him without hesitation.
My weak fingertips lost their accuracy. My teeth chattered. Lucas noticed my abnormality, "Bella?"
It took me several seconds to realize he was calling me. Lucas, ignoring the severe pain from his wound, forced himself to sit up halfway and put his arm around my shoulder.
"It's just a small injury. Don't cry like I'm about to die," he said. Thinking I was scared, even though he was sweating from the pain, he stroked my head to comfort me, his cool lips pressing gentle kisses on my forehead again and again.
Even though he didn't understand the real reason I was trembling, his whispers brought a trace of clarity to my chaotic mind.
"Bella!" Brian ran over with big strides, followed by many Caporegimes and Soldati. Seeing the blood on me, he gasped, "Are you hurt?"
His brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes burning with anger and anxiety.
"It's not me, it's Lucas. He took a bullet for me." I couldn't help crying out loud, "Brian, please save him!"
Brian saw Lucas's protective posture toward me and showed a surprised expression. He quickly recovered and directed Alfred and Cole to get Lucas into the car.
At the hospital, Lucas went into the operating room. Brian looked at me worriedly, afraid I would faint like last time.
"Don't worry, Lucas will be fine," Brian said, patting my shoulder with forced casualness. "I didn't expect him to care about you so much. I'm starting to see him differently now."
I forced a smile at Brian. Just then, Santos rushed into the hospital.
His eyes were blood red as he glared at me viciously, "It's you again! You're bad luck! You're going to get him killed!"