Ashton approached us with narrowed eyes.
A bullet whistled narrowly passed his head.
“Ashton, stay where you are if you want her to live,” Abe shouted. “Her life is far more valuable than yours. I’m not going to exchange you for her. It would be in your best interests if you allow us to leave, or I would not be able to promise that she won’t bleed to death.”
Ashton froze, his eyes locked on my arm and the ghastly pool of blood that had gathered on the ground.
“Let them pass!” he commanded his men as though it was an easy decision for him.
Joseph stared at him in surprise; he was prepared to capture Abe once and for all. “Mr. Fuller, this is our only chance to…”
“Let them pass!” Ashton repeated with his pained gaze on me.
Abe kept his grip tightly on me and walked towards a junction that led towards another path.
At the sight of Ashton lowering his gun, Abe cackled with delight.
He tossed me in the car with Danny at the wheel. He sped off as soon as the doors slammed shut.
Abe grinned down at me. His eyes were reduced to slits in his malice. “Ms. Stovall, much obliged to you for getting me out of that.”
I glared at him as fiercely as I could. The blood that I had lost was making me dizzy.
Abe laughed at my fury. “To Marshville!” he ordered Danny.
Danny opened his mouth to speak but caught sight of the bloodstains upon my arm. He frowned and nodded without a word.
“We are still being followed!” Danny said, with a glance at the rear-view mirror.
“Lose them!” Abe barked. He then glanced at me and his lip curled into a cruel sneer. “If Ashton enjoys my company so much, I’d say let him come. We can show him around the city if he likes. He should know that a life is at stake here.”
It was obvious that he was referring to me as my arm was still bleeding steadily.
I felt dizzy due to the excess loss of blood. I leaned against the door and panted heavily.
Danny went several more rounds. He glanced back at me and said, “Sir, she might not make it.”
Abe had been laying back with his eyes shut. At Danny’s remark, he cast a lazy glance toward me. “Are they still on our tail?”
“No, sir. I think they’re gone.” Danny shook his head.
“Hmm! Bummer,” Abe said with amusement. “No matter, to Marshville.”
Danny switched routes. Instead of heading back to the villa, we headed toward a well-hidden building.
I had passed out before making sense of our destination.
When I next awoke, the white sheets that I lay on were unfamiliar.
The first thing that I had noticed was the pain in my arm which seemed to have spread. Even the slightest movement was too much for me.
After several painful attempts, I slumped back into bed, drenched in a cold sweat from exertion.
My throat felt dry as if I hadn’t had anything to drink for ages.
My eye fell onto several glasses of water on the table next to me but I was unable to muster the strength to grab one.
Out of nowhere, a slender hand reached out and grabbed a glass. I glanced up at its owner instinctively.
A familiar face swam into view. “Armond!” I cried, stunned. My throat seared with pain from the mere utterance of his name.
Armond nodded, a thin smile across his lips. “Would you like a sip?”
“My throat’s parched,” I croaked.
He shifted his position and sat on my bed next to me. With his hands around my waist, he held me up and leaned me on his body against my will.
Armond must have sensed my reluctance. “You’re not well. Don’t even think about it,” he chastised.
Stunned, I had no choice but to go along with him. He held the glass of water near my lips.
I lapped several mouthfuls. “Thank you, I felt much better.” I sighed in relief.
Armond set down the glass and gently lay me back down.
“Would you like something to eat?” He stood gazing down at me.
“I’m not hungry.” I shook my head.
Armond frowned and slumped into a corner in silence.
I could no longer bear my curiosity. “Mr. Murphy, why are you here?” I blurted. “Do you know Abe?”
“This is a private hospital belonging to the Murphys,” he said calmly.
“The Murphys?” I repeated, feeling bewildered. “The Murphys of K City?”
“The Murphys who saved your life,” he said with a frown.
“Why did you save me?” I asked suspiciously.
“No particular reason,” he replied with a cold glare. “I did not intend to save you. You just happened to come across one of my establishments.”
“You came to Marsingfill for me. That counts as a rescue mission.”
Armond laughed. He was a handsome man and looked much more attractive when he smiled. “Did you forget what you had promised me when we were in A City?”
I really forgot.
