"Where are the others?" I asked in a slightly hoarse voice, the woman in front of me was wearing a black t-shirt, pants and boots. A gun tucked into her belt along with two knives. She wore a black leather sash that resembled a belt over her shoulders, peeking over her shoulder.Her face and appearance look so … mismatched. With a face like hers, she is suited to wearing dresses and high heels, makeup and diamonds, like other normal women in this city.But it wasn't the weapon or her odd appearance that caught my attention the most, it was her pale bluish-gray eyes that stunned me the most, for a few seconds.She wasn't even looking at me at all. I've seen eyes as clear as the woman in front of me, my eyes drifting to her bleeding arm and then back to her face."The others are outside?" I asked again after she did not answer my first question. She returned her clean knife to the cover. Then tilts her head towards the door without even looking at me and walks out.For the first time a
Paul Sedgewick doesn't look like a typical government intelligence staff member. His short stature goes well with his round face and friendly smile, making him look more like a restaurant chef than an ex-intelligence staff member. His partially graying hair and beard don't have the intimidating effect he hoped for at all."Ah, Luke. Just got back from your vacation, huh?" He adjusted his glasses that slipped off his nose and smiled.He always refers to my kidnapping as a vacation, his private joke. I leaned against the closed door, staring at him as he packed his bag."I didn't see the usual rescuer," I said, furrowing my brow at him. I folded my arms and took a sharp breath when my hand accidentally touched my broken rib."We've decided to terminate our contract with their agency. Mr. Oswealth thinks hiring fifteen people just to rescue you every time is... wasteful. You know we pay enough for each rescue mission. They charge twice my salary for a single job, with your frequent vacat
Humbert Bale was a classic enthusiast, from music, watches, clothes to his torture tools. He was a 41-year-old man with no family. Paul had gathered some information on him.We walked through a dark hallway towards a large room lit only by a lamp in the center. I think we were in a warehouse this time. He had prepared a chair for me, and a table of neatly arranged tools stood not far from it.Humbert walked in front of me humming a classical tune, his large body slowing his steps. They tied me to the chair and pulled my hair up to make me look up. Humbert smiled widely like a kid ready to open his present.I tried to wipe all expression off my face, thinking that the woman would be here in 17 hours. At least this time, I had to get her name.Humbert pointed to his collection of tools on the table, his hands moving to decide which one to use first.I knew this sick man's favorite instrument, he liked his extractor. It was a tang-shaped tool made of stainless steel, used of course, to p
Humbert Bale ordered his two henchmen to guard the door.He quickly took off his plastic coat and pulled out his phone, walking away from me towards another door muttering angrily.I tried to pull at my restraints with my still weak hands, unsure who could be coming at this moment as Paul was only supposed to realise I was missing tomorrow morning.Two gunshots echoed through the door followed by a cry of pain. Damn it. With a queasy stomach and weakened body, I pulled at my binds.My focus was on the door opposite me.Waiting for whoever would emerge from behind it.Black smoke slowly seeped through the cracks in the door, likely from the fire outside. My heart raced faster as the handle turned. A silhouette entered the warehouse along with the thick smoke.Of course, from the feminine silhouette, I could already guess who it was. I couldn't help the corners of my mouth from tugging upwards as she stepped in and paused, our eyes locking in a stare.She tilted her pretty face slightly
Chapter 97: Crossfire"What's wrong?" I asked as I turned my body towards her.With a pained expression, she looked at me icily. Her right hand still held her gun, while her left hand was pressed against her shoulder. Blood oozed out from between her fingers.She swore under her breath and took a step forward. My hand pressed against her back, helping her to lean against the wall. "We have to go to the hospital," I said as I pulled her past the door.She took a deep breath and winced in pain. "I can handle it. Your car's out front-""We need to go to the hospital," I repeated, leading her through the dark hallway."No hospital." Her accent was clear and followed by irritation.I understood. She couldn't go to the hospital. Maybe, she was afraid her identity would be in the hospital database which could attract the police's attention. I didn't know this woman, but she could be an international assassin or a criminal. I nodded my head and said, "I know a surgeon. We don't have to go to t
I took a deep breath to steady myself, then stepped out of the bathtub to grab some bandages from the cabinet.Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I saw that blood had soaked nearly the entire white shirt on my hands. Even a few drops on my face were visible.I looked like Dexter, freshly mutilated a victim.I grabbed two boxes of bandages and adhesive tape, as well as a new pair of scissors, and headed back to her. Alice still hadn't opened her eyes.A sense of panic crept over me. Could she have bled to death?Kneeling beside her, I opened the bandages. I took a towel that was slightly stained with blood from her shoulder and was shocked when I looked at it. The wound on her shoulder was already closed.I blinked a few times, but I couldn't see the wound gaping anymore. There was only a slight wound that didn't look like a gunshot wound at all. I stared at it for a minute, hoping it would suddenly open again.Did Humbert hit me in the head earlier?Why was I only focused on gett
"So, where do I need to drop you off?" I asked as Alice was busy strapping her katana belt on her shoulder.Alice glanced at me for a moment, this time she smiled, a genuine smile at me. For a moment, I couldn't take my eyes off her face. Alice turned around and walked towards the basement exit door. I blinked, looking at her back as she walked away, "Alice, wait-"I walked out of my car while cursing as Alice walked faster."Alice!"But she didn't stop or even look back. I ran after her while she disappeared from behind the basement exit door. The sound of cars and honking greeted me on the street. But she was gone. There were only a few pedestrians, and none of them carried a samurai sword on their back. I stood there for five full minutes looking at the entire street around my apartment, but she disappeared into thin air.I smiled to myself and walked back into the basement. At least this time I knew her name.***For a week, the Crossfire Tracking Device had kept me busy with its f
Two full days...For forty-eight hours, I tried to find out and track his whereabouts. But there wasn't a single clue leading to him. I had checked everything related to him, even asking for Dean's help to track him. After finding the initials left in his encryption program, I decided to postpone the first CTD launch for a week.Tonight is the Crossfire Inc. charity night. An annual event held to raise charitable funds that will later be distributed to various charity organizations owned by Crossfire Inc.As the CEO, I have to attend it with Mr. Oswealth, who is the organizer. This is the only upscale social event that I regularly attend.Or rather, I am obliged to attend.I don't mind events like this, except for the first two hours. Socializing with the upper class is not my favorite job. Their conversations always revolve around money, sports cars, botox, gossip, and other things that almost make me think that spending time with Humbert Bale would be better."Mr. Lancaster!" a scree