By now, the gunfire in the air wasn’t as rapid as before. Why? I wasn’t so sure.
Artur’s hands were trembling at this point. But not from fear. Anger. Sheer fury.
“I told Rocco I’d bring you in a wooden box,” the man said arrogantly, his rifle aimed at us. “But I guess I’ll add a little something extra.” His gaze shifted toward me. “Your little bitch will warm his bed just fine, don’t you think?”
Artur lost it.
He fired first.
The man dodged it and fired his own shot.
I dropped to the floor immediately as the two men fought, shooting at each other from such close range. Every shot was woven in and out, and soon they crashed into each other.
Guns were knocked aside, kicks were delivered, and heavy punches were exchanged. Their thick grunts filled the air as they fought fiercely.
The other man unsheathed a blade and began attacking Artur. The knife sliced through the air on each dodge as Artur deflected his advances.
I wondered where the other guards were now that we needed them the most. But then I figured they might be busy with the other assailants.
This man was fast and strong.
But unfortunately for him, Artur was faster, stronger, and angrier. I watched the brutal fight from the floor. He cut Artur a few times with the knife, and in exchange, he received blows that broke his ribs and his nose.
After his blade was kicked out of his hand, Artur tackled him to the ground. While the two wrestled against each other’s strength, I spotted a discarded gun on the floor.
Without hesitation, I grabbed it and called his name, “Artur!” before sliding it over to him.
He snatched it off the floor and aimed it at the man’s face. I looked away before the blast.
Then,bang!
Silence.
By the time I opened my eyes again, it was over. Artur was looming over the man’s motionless body with the gun in his hand. His shoulders were rising and falling with jagged breaths.
Quietly, I rose to my feet, my legs shaking beneath me. I couldn’t help blaming myself after realizing that the bastard was behind all of this. Directly or indirectly, this was all my fault.
I’d caused this mess.
Everything that happened today was on me. The death, the destruction, and even the blood of the deceased.
Tears blurred my vision as I stared at the blood on my hands. My heart was pounding as I sobbed, struggling not to have a nervous breakdown.
When he turned around to look at me, his face was stained with the blood of the enemy. I saw the anger in his eyes as he approached me with slow steps.
I lowered my head when he halted in front of me, unable to look him in the eyes.
“This is why we don’t spare traitors, Celine,” he growled, struggling to mask his rage.
“I’m sorry,” I whimpered, my voice cracking under the weight of my own guilt. “I’m so sorry.” I wept, shoulders shaking violently.
Heavy, hurried footsteps approached us, followed by some familiar voices speaking in Russian.
Still, I didn’t raise my head.
“The threat has been neutralized, Boss,” Konstantin said to Artur.
He hesitated and then said, “Escort Miss Hart back to her room.”