Chapter 159 The Last Leap of Faith
\[Lilia\]
“Linda, come on.”
I tug on the terrified woman’s hand right after I shot those men dead. I am still trembling, my fingers could barely hold the handle of my gun, but I keep my head leveled, knowing that if I gave in to my panic, we would both likely be killed.
Fortunately, Linda was too terrified to even ask me a question. She just obliged, nodding excessively as we both wade along the wall. I keep my vigilance high, gun right before me, the safety pin unlatched, and with the knife poised, ready to stab anyone that would jump right in front of us. Linda creeps closely behind me, holding the hem of my dress like a little child to her mother.
As we rounded the corner, three more men emerged through my line of sight. However, before I could pull the trigger, a hand clasps around my gun, knocking it out of my grip. My quick reflexes took over me, slashing the knife into his face. He hadn't anticipated my attack and he stumbled backward, clutching his bloodied face, but I didn't let him recover.
I ignored Linda’s startled scream and riveted my attention on my assailant.
I swept down, tripping his ankles, and right after, I plunged the blade into his chest, twisting, wedging it through his rib and stabbing his heart. Blood surges through his mouth, eyes wide open as life flees his body.
The back of my neck tingled and felt a direct attack from behind. I snatched the blade off the dead body, rolling on my back just in time for a hand shot to grab me. Pivoting on my heels, I stood up, drawing my right leg, delivering a hard kick directed at his jaw. A loud sickening crack ricocheted, satisfied as he instantly went still with his neck bent at an awkward angle.
Dumbass. They really shouldn't mess with a small-looking woman. They wouldn't know what’s coming for them. Sasha’s rigid training truly paid off.
Docking from an attack coming from my side, my feet slide, switching the blade on my palm and pummeling it to his side. A loud startled grunt filtered in my ears just as the warm liquid trickled on my hands while I still had my knife embedded in his flesh.
I killed not only one but five of them. I was scared at first, but as I thought about my unborn child, my heart went numb without empathy for Ronan’s men. I know moving too much exerted great effort on me. I was panting really hard, my arms strained, and my heart felt like it was about to jump out of my chest.
I listened to my belly, relieved that there wasn’t any pain twisting inside me. My baby is safe, in the meantime, but I have to find Kael before things turn against my side. I'm already exhausted and bloodied as well, but fortunately, it wasn't mine. I pulled the blade out from my enemy, dropping his body limp with the others.
“Signorina.”
Linda’s shuddering voice reminded me that I wasn't alone. I turned around and was about to grab her hand, but I froze on my spot. The grip on my knife instantly tightened, my heart plunging to my feet. A man wearing a tear gas mask, covering his face stood behind her. Gun pointed at the side of her temple, finger poised at the trigger, threatening to pull.
“Drop the knife, signorina, or I'll blow her head.” He said, cocking his head, pertaining to the knife I held dearly.
Linda’s tears streamed endlessly on her cheeks, audibly sobbing, staring at me with her eyes wide in sheer terror.
Suddenly, clobbering footsteps surrounded us, and more guns pointed in my direction. My heart clamored violently in my chest, cold beads of sweat pelting down my spine.
I'm drained. There are too many of them. I know when I'm going to pick my fight and now isn't the right time.
Slowly, I lifted my weapon-wielding hand to the side of my head in an act of surrender. Letting them watch as I dropped the blade and clinked into the floor.
“Let her go, I’ll come with you,” I said, steeling my voice while keeping my gaze on Linda, wordlessly reassuring her that everything will be alright despite the tremor wreaking havoc inside me.
The man removes the gun from her head, letting her go. For a transient period, relief washes over me seeing her run towards me. However, a gunshot ricocheted from behind me, startling me off my skin and clasping my hands to my ears.
At first, I thought I was the one getting shot, but the pain didn’t come, but my heart stopped beating for a second, watching the bullet whirred through past me faster than lightning speed, puncturing a hole straight through Linda’s chest all the way to her back.
“No!” My scream sounded deafening in sheer bewilderment. Time seemed to have slowed down while I choked on my own cry.
Linda reached her arms for me, her steps faltering just as her blood spurted from her mouth, gargling and choking for her last breath. I was too stunned to move. I didn’t even notice my tears falling in a steady stream while my mouth hangs wide mutedly.
Everything went in a flurry as I watched her fall face first. Hands went all over my body, dragging me roughly away from the scene. I didn’t even know where they were taking me, the only thing that kept on replaying inside my head was Linda’s death.
I was in a daze, not seeing a thing even though my eyes were wide open. I was lost in words, my conscience was in shambles. But I was suddenly snapped out from the bubble of disorientation when I heard a laughing voice in the distance.
The devils laugh.
Ronan. The reason for this mayhem. The spawn of a monster.
A hot flow of anger blossomed inside me, incinerating the grief. Fury ran red behind my eyes. I wanted him dead.
“Let go of me! You filthy bastard!” I screamed.
I bowed my head low, slamming the back of my skull into the chin of the man holding me. I heard his jaw dislocate. In his confusion, I seized the knife from his belt and drove it into his neck. The thick, hot blood gushed down to my elbows. I watched him drop to his knees, but I was too consumed by rage to notice the presence behind me.
A hand yanked my hair back, a sharp cry ripping from my throat.
“You can’t really stay in one place, can you?”
Ronan spun me around, tugging my hair to keep me pinned against his chest. The cold barrel of his gun pressed against my temple. I was out of breath, my vision spotting, acid burning my throat.
“Lilia.”
My heart skipped. I looked toward the pillar. Kael was there, his gun leveled at the bastard holding me. Pa was in front of him, hands raised, gasping in pain. I saw the dark red blood drenching Vittorio’s side.
“Ronan, please,” Pa begged. My heart broke to hear the Signore stoop so low. “Release my granddaughter.”
“What’s that, old man?” Ronan sneered, clicking the hammer of the gun against my head.
“Release her.”
I took a deep breath. I looked at my husband, meeting those hardened mossy eyes. He was terrified for me, even if his grip on his gun was steady. This madness had to end. If I was the catalyst for this war, I would be the one to finish it.
I had to take a leap of faith. For Kael. For the baby.
“I love you,” I mouthed to him. I managed a forlorn smile as my hand slid down to my belly, a silent signal that I was protecting our love.
Kael’s eyes went wide. He read my thoughts instantly.
“Lilia, NO!”