Natalie’s hands trembled as she dialed Max’s number with one hand, the other pressed tightly over Nora’s bleeding shoulder. Her voice shook, but she kept it low and urgent.
"Max, it’s Natalie. Nora’s been shot in her office. Emma said it’s the work of a sniper. Her right shoulder is bleeding profusely and she is losing her consciousness. Hurry, I am afraid sothing bad might happen to her." she wanted to control her but tears started falling and she stifled.
Max stood up at once, his voice falling with urgency.
"Stay hidden. Do you have oher security?"
"We do not know. We ran to the other back room of her office building, fourth floor. She is losing blood fast. Please get here, now!"
Max didn’t ask more questions.
"I am on my way. Keep pressure on the wound. Lock the doors."
The call ended with a sharp click and nat stared at Nora.
"Nora, everything would be fine. Please do not sleep. He will be here soon."
At the sa ti, Emma had her phone out, fingers moving with chanical precision. She didn’t bother with pleasantries.
"Alric. It’s Emma. Nora had been targeted. A sniper from the front window across the street hit her on her right shoulder. By the angle, he must be on the roof thirty six degrees from the right. Do you have soone else posted nearby? Contact them. Get your n here, now and seal the other building."
There was a deadly silence on the other end for half a second.
Then, Alric’s voice, cold and sharp, "how is she?"
Nora gasped, collecting her voice. "Strong enough to fight you when you co here." she whispered and the man sighed.
"I will be there to fight you in the bed, Nora." his voice softened and full of vulnerability but it was gone just in the next second as he spoke to Emma.
"Keep her safe and hold your position. I am coming."
Within minutes, the sound of screeching tires filled the street below. A dozen black SUVs pulled up like shadows descending. Alric’s security team fanned out in formation, heavily ard, moving with frightening coordination.
The building was sealed with the order of the military. Four guards went to Nora’s office. They have Max with them. He ran inside while the guard emptied the building and helped the other staff.
"There is no need to panic. The culprit is already found by our team. We will escort you out safely. You can take two days off at ho to rest. It must be straining. Please cooperate with us and do not push each other." As the guard took control, people started to calm down and followed their instructions.
The elevators were full of people going down. He could not pass them. So he took the stairs but even there, people were running at full speed. Max, who was having difficulties in reaching Nora, felt better when they announced. People stopped panicking and walked in line as instructed. He took the elevator on the sixty floor and had already reached the top floor by the ti the building was emptied.
He had been to her office before, so he easily reached her room. When he ca, Nat opened the door with shaky hands. Her clothes were covered with blood.
"Are you going to stare at her for a long ti, Max?" Nora teased him with a shaky voice. He sighed looking at her awake. He was afraid that she would lose consciousness.
"Did you boil the water as I had instructed?" Nat nodded and went to retrieve it instantly.
"I brought the bag but I could not find anestesia. I am afraid you will be in pain, Nora." the man sighed as he crouched beside her.
Nora raised a brow, amused. "Is it you did not find it? Or you just want to feel the pain beaue i teased you last night?" He had already taken out a scissor and cut her top. It fell to one side. Max took the cotton and cleaned the wound so that he could find the bullet.
"Oh! I just forgot about that. Should I be rough then?" he tried to tease but his voice. He was not as thick skinned as her. Looking at her pale face and the pool of blood near her, he felt like his hands were trembling for the first ti. But her eyes carried fire. She shook her head.
"Do as you please, just save before he cos." she looked at the distance as if she could already see Alric killing the world for her.
Natalie had already brought the water for him and Emma had stood up and left the room silently. She could not sit still, she must kill the man with her own hands.
—-
Snipers had already reached Nora’s building. They spread all over the rooftops and scanned every window.
Alric himself erged from the vehicle, face carved from stone. He didn’t speak but his face was so dark that everyone kept a distance from him. He took every stop with the intention to burn the world.
Within the hour, the sniper was dragged down the stairwell by Alric personally followed by Emma cursing him and then kicking the man from behind to get so relief.
his face bloodied and one shoulder dislocated from the forced takedown. His smug grin was gone, replaced by dazed panic.
.Alric threw the man on the ground as he rushed to the other building. Before he knew, he was already kneeling beside Nora.
Her eyes fluttered open just as his hand touched her cheek.
"You idiot," he breathed, voice low and broken with fury. "How bad is it?"
"Not... fatal," she managed with a ghost of a smile. "But it really hurts. Did you get him?
Alric’s gaze snapped to the door and the sniper was brought inside by Emma. he was held by her at gunpoint.
"Is it Chris?" she asked the man with a knowing look. The man’s eyes widened. He wanted to bla Chris, too but he could not because of his bet.
"I did it on my own."
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