"Madam, please, you can’t go back in there!" One of the n tried to stop Lola, only to freeze when she handed Second into his arms.
"We can go back in there!" another one argued, stepping to her side. "It’s very dangerous. The attack is deliberate, and from what we know, this has been planned for a long ti."
Staying here, waiting for their comrades with Lola and the twins, had been enough for them to assess the situation. These people chose tonight as if they knew Atlas would be away — and many others, too. Most concerning of all was that these people didn’t co from within the Order.
They ca from outside the territory and managed to get in without being noticed. Or rather, even if they had been noticed, it was easy to assu they had already taken care of those watching the ins and outs of the territory.
"Madam, please," another one urged. "Stay here."
Lola paused as she gazed at her son in the man’s arms, then at Chacha, still secured on Renny’s back. She bit her lip, knowing she couldn’t leave her children behind. However, she knew this part of the territory. Atlas had already shown her this path, sothing not widely known or used by many.
If they took this route, her children would be away from danger. And she knew these n. Every single one of them had tornted her for so punishnts, after all. She trusted them and their skills. The fact that they didn’t fall into this trap and were quick enough to get here before she did spoke volus about their competence and presence of mind.
"Kiara is family," she whispered, eting their eyes. "My husband trusted and left here to take care of things. I’m not going to save myself while my people and my family are still inside."
Not to ntion, Henrik was still inside. And his son.
"Take care of my kids," she ordered, breathing out heavily. "Once you reach safety, contact my husband and tell him your location."
She then reached for the man standing beside her, grabbed his vest, and pulled him closer. "I trust you with my children’s lives. Don’t let anything happen to them."
The man gulped under the intensity of her burning gaze. Lola released him and looked at the rest, watching their grim faces as they nodded.
"We’ll take the young master and the young miss," said the man holding Second. "Even if it costs our lives, we’ll get them out of here."
"Good," Lola nodded, glancing up as she spotted a chopper hovering above the island. "That’s not ours."
Everyone fell silent. They all knew that wasn’t one of their aircraft.
"Stay undetected!" the man holding Second turned and shouted. "n! Be ready to fight with your lives. We’re taking the young master and the young miss out of here!"
The n tightened their grips on their weapons, standing upright, their minds focused on a single goal. With silent agreent, they turned to Lola and nodded.
She nodded back. Taking a step toward Second, she planted a kiss on his head. Then she went to Chacha, still secured on Renny’s back, and kissed her as well.
"Once you contact Atlas, make sure to tell him I’m alright," she ordered through gritted teeth. "And tell him that I said... no rush. I might need his help, but I’ve got this."
With that, she watched the n prepare to leave with her children, along with Renny and Chunchun. Since Chunchun was perched on Chacha’s back, one of the n carried the white cat.
Lola kept her eyes on them as they headed toward the exit path leading to the other island.
Taking a deep breath, she glanced at her rifle before turning back toward the path she had co from. By now, she knew the intruders might have already discovered this route. So of them could be using it at this very mont to catch up.
But even so, Lola chose to go back through the secret passage instead of approaching the mansion from another direction.
There was no way in nine hells she would let these people catch up to her children.
*****
Inside the Order...
Gunfire began echoing beneath the wail of the ergency alarm, making the walls tremble.
Kiara rushed through the hallway.
A loud burst of gunfire made her freeze mid-step. Her breath hitched as she looked back toward the source of the sound.
"God..." she whispered, panic rising as her eyes darted around. When they landed on a nearby door, she didn’t hesitate and rushed inside. She locked it and looked around before dragging one of the stands against the door.
Once she secured it, she stepped back, staring at the door in dread. She had no idea what was happening. Kiara had just been about to sleep when she slled sothing strange. So she went to open her window.
However, as soon as she did, she noticed movents outside. Ard n were carefully approaching the mansion. Panic had already begun creeping in at the sight, though she had tried to convince herself she was mistaken.
Then the alarm rang so loudly it nearly made her soul leap out of her body.
Right then and there, Kiara knew she had to run.
She went to Lola first, of course, but didn’t find her or the twins in their room. Knowing Lola had likely secured the children already brought her so relief. At the sa ti, she had to find a way to save herself.
"Hugo said when things like this happen..." she trailed off as she heard a faint sound sowhere in the room.
Whipping her head toward the direction, her brows drew together when she spotted a boy squeezed into the corner.
It was only then that Kiara realized this room was... Henrik’s son’s room.
"Oh my god," she whispered, rushing toward him. But the second she got closer, the boy stiffened and pressed himself deeper into the corner.
Kiara stopped.
She glanced at the window above him. It was open, the curtains flowing with the wind.
"I... I don’t know what’s happening," she said softly, refocusing on him. "But I won’t hurt you."
She slowly squatted down, forcing a smile even though she was terrified herself.
"So bad guys are here, so we have to leave. Do you want... to co with ?"
The boy studied her in the dim light. Kiara reached out her hand, but he didn’t take it imdiately. He kept his eyes on her, noting the fear and panic there. But none of it carried the familiar cruelty he had seen in others before.
After a mont, he finally reached out and took her hand.
She helped him up, squeezing his hand briefly before loosening her grip.
"Just stay close to , okay?" she whispered, guiding him with her. She paused to grab a pillow from the bed. "Here, use this."
"Huh?"
"It slls odd outside," she said, referring to the strange scent and the mix of gunpowder in the air. "Hug it and cover your nose with it, okay?"
The boy nodded, clutching the pillow and burying half his face in it.
He watched as Kiara moved the furniture blocking the door. Then she peeked outside to make sure no one was there before turning back to him.
She offered her hand again, and he took it.
But just as they stepped outside, he tugged her hand, stopping her.
When Kiara looked back, she saw him pointing in another direction.
"No, we can’t go there..."
"My uncle," the boy muttered.
The realization struck her instantly.
"Henrik," she blurted, rembering he was recovering in another area of the family wing.
"We can’t..." she trailed off as noises echoed from the direction she had originally intended to go. She bit her lip and looked at the boy.
"Screw it — let’s go."
Reviews
All reviews (0)