The Blood Contract
Chapter 69: He’s hit

Chapter 69: He’s hit

Instead of the seat which she had initially taken when they started the journey to Oma’s Palace, Serena decided to take the owner’s corner this time, quietly shifting to the luxurious seat that gave her a clearer view of the surroundings and some privacy to think.

Adrian noticed her sour mood but decided not to comment. He commenced the ride, only occasionally glancing at her from time to time, his eyes flicking between her and the road ahead. The silence between them stretched, growing thicker with every passing second, yet he respected her space.

After a while, he broke the silence. "Would you like to go anywhere else, madam? Or should I just drive to the house?" His voice was calm, low, and almost hesitant, like he didn’t want to overstep.

"Just drive to the house," Serena said flatly after a while of thinking. She would have loved to take a stroll around the city, maybe clear her mind and breathe in the evening air, but for some reason, her heart was strongly suggesting she return to the house. And she didn’t have the energy to fight that urge, so she just followed with it.

After the answer dropped, Adrian said nothing further and just continued to drive, with the house as his focus destination.

A while later, they arrived at Kruger crescent, and as they neared the house, an unsettling feeling washed over him.

He gripped the steering wheel with one hand, eyes narrowed in focus, as the sleek black vehicle cruised silently down the private road leading to the mansion.

The soft hum of the engine was the only sound breaking the quiet. Serena sat beside him in the owner’s seat, lost in thought, the weight of her conversation with Vincent pressing heavily on her shoulders. Her fingers traced the embroidery on her sleeve as her mind drifted.

The gates loomed a few meters ahead, but Adrian knew something was wrong when he saw a strange car parked in front of the gate.

Then came the crack-crack-crack — sharp, sudden bursts in the distance.

Adrian’s jaw clenched. He immediately slowed down, the car easing into a cautious crawl, his instincts taking over with a practiced calm.

"Did you hear that?" Serena asked, already leaning forward, her frown deepening with alarm.

"Gunshots," Adrian confirmed, his tone suddenly cold and alert. His hand dropped subtly to his side, near the compartment beneath the seat.

They were just meters away from the gate when two figures sprang out from a narrow path flanking the outer perimeter — one limping, clutching his bleeding side, the other moving fast, gun drawn, face wild with tension.

Adrian jerked the wheel to the right and slammed the brakes hard.

The car screeched and slid to a stop, angled sideways as bullets sprayed across the windshield, spiderwebbing the glass.

"Madam, down now!" Adrian barked as he reached under the seat for his weapon, voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.

Serena, heart pounding like a war drum, shrieked and obeyed, dropping down to the floor of the car just as bullets shattered the passenger-side window in a spray of glass and violence.

Adrian flung the door open and slid out, crouching behind the metal body of the car. "Get out and stay low," he instructed sharply but respectfully. "Use the car as cover!"

Trembling, Serena slid out, ducking low behind the door as adrenaline surged through her body like a wildfire. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps as she tried to make sense of the unfolding nightmare.

The air was thick with gunfire. Echoes bounced around them, drowning out the sound of her own panicked breathing. The scent of gunpowder filled her nose. She dared not look up, praying that the people inside the mansion were still safe.

Adrian, now crouched with his gun raised, peered over the hood. The uninjured attacker was flanking left, trying to get a better shot. Adrian squeezed the trigger — bang. The man staggered, dropped his weapon, and collapsed in a heap.

From the mansion’s guard tower, a second shot rang out — a single, clean shot that sliced through the tension.

The wounded man dropped instantly, blood spraying across the gravel as he hit the ground with a lifeless thud. His limbs sprawled out grotesquely as silence swallowed the grounds again.

The gunfire ceased.

Silence fell, thick and heavy, broken only by the ringing in Serena’s ears and the soft rustling of leaves in the wind.

Adrian stood slowly, scanning the area with sharp eyes before turning to Serena. "You okay, madam?"

Serena nodded shakily, though her body still trembled. She clutched the edge of the car for support, her knuckles white. "I—I think so," she whispered, barely trusting her voice.

Adrian holstered his weapon and moved to her side, gently guiding her up. "Let’s get you inside." His hand on her’s was steady and grounding.

Behind them, the guards from the mansion were already rushing out, weapons drawn and expressions grim, their boots thudding against the earth.

They moved at a half-run pace until they were safely within the walls of the mansion. Serena’s eyes stretched to the maximum when she saw men with guns everywhere, and three injured guys lying on the floor being attended to by others. The sight was surreal, like something from a war zone.

She sighed, just as Darrell came into view — at the same time he sighted them, and they moved toward his direction. He looked nothing like the composed assistant who used to laugh with her whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Now he looked something close to what Lucian looked like — cold eyes and demeanor, a gun in each hand, and delivering instructions to the men standing with him. His shirt was torn on one side and his hair disheveled. There was blood on his cheek — not his, she hoped.

"Welcome, madam," he greeted when they arrived at his side, voice clipped and tight.

"What the hell happened here?" Adrian threw the question before Serena could say anything, his jaw tight with frustration.

"Warehouse attack. They followed us here," Darrell explained, eyes darting between them and the chaos around.

"Where’s boss?" Another question rang out of Adrian’s lips — one Serena was very interested in. She had looked around, hoping to catch sight of him, but he was nowhere to be found around the premises. A chill crept into her bones.

"He’s inside with the doctor," Darrell answered, a grave expression settling on his features, which made Serena’s heart race. "He is hit," and Darrell hesitated for a moment before continuing, "You will know the rest when you see him."

The moment he left off talking, Adrian moved toward the entrance of the house, and Serena followed without being told. Darrell, however, continued with the man he was speaking to before they arrived, barking more orders.

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