886 Daniel Wept
Everything happened too quickly. One moment, Daniel swore the bastard got him and instinctively waited for the pain to come. But it never did because another person got in the way and was shot instead.
Daniel stiffened, his feet stuck to the ground with a scream in his mouth when he saw Angelica drop to the ground. It wasnât until now that Daniel knew real fear because it ran through his veins like wildfire. It was obvious that the shooter had not intended to harm her, because there was hesitation on his part when he saw what happened.
Anger like no other distorted Danielâs features and he rushed at the shooter like a beast unhinged. Daniel had never lost control. No, that is his strong suit, he never lets his emotions get the best of him, not when in the face of danger. But then, seeing Angelica on the floor made something snap inside of him and he felt the primal need to destroy. To avenge.
He couldnât tell if Angelica was dead or alive, she was unmoving on the floor, and that was what feared him the most. If she died, then it was on him. He shouldnât have brought her here, not when he knew how dangerous it was. But then, he was too selfish. He wanted her for himself and didnât think about the danger he put her in. No, that was what he was good at, putting his needs above the others â even at their detriment.
Even with his weapon, there was real fear on the shooterâs face when Daniel lunged at him, knocking him to the ground. And then he was on top of him, decorating his face with punches. It would have been a comical scene considering Daniel was in nothing but his boxers, he had not gotten the time to dress up before he was attacked. But then, the rage on his face made his features and he didnât fail to show it.
If Angelica diedâ¦. The thought tormented him. The guilt gnawed at him so intensely it was suffocating and he plundered the manâs face with his fist. He didnât stop, not even when the man begged; not even when his face was bloody and his knuckles were aching; not even when the man beneath remained unmoving, dead or alive. He didnât exactly care.
Daniel repeatedly punched the man until he couldnât move a muscle and then he remembered Angelica. Wait⦠Angelica⦠Daniel crawled over to her, his heart pounding hard in his chest. A huge relief washed over him when he saw her eyes were opened, she was alive. But not for long.
She was looking pale and losing a lot of blood, having been shot in the back. Daniel did not try to move her. He has been in this business long enough to know, doing such a move might end up worsening or even killing her instead. He needed to call the ambulance. At the moment, Daniel did not care if calling for the ambulance would lead to a police investigation, he only cared about saving this woman. Call it a hunch, but Angelica was going to die if he doesnât do something.
However, before he could reach for his phone, she grabbed his hand, attempting to say something but he couldnât hear a word.
.....
âSave your breath, help is coming.â
But she shook her head, hot tears sliding down her cheeks and he heard her say, âG-go,â
She wanted him to leave. Angelica knew there was more coming for him and wanted him to be safe. But his heart broke instead.
âYou foolish woman!â Daniel cried out, clasping her face tentatively, âWho asked you to get in the way, huh? Why must you always take the bullet for me?!â
He was an unfeeling monster as called by many, but at that moment, Daniel wept.
And he never cries.
Not even when Natalie left him.
Not even when Marcel was brought into this world and he was so full of joy.
Not even when his wife died.
Emotion was a weakness he never let out. But for Angelica, he let it all out. It was tears mixed with anger. With guilt. He should be the one lying on the ground, not her. He should be the one dying. Who made her his messiah?! He doesnât deserve to be saved. He doesnât deserve her mercy.
He couldnât help but recall the first time they met. How she had attempted to save him in the same way, except that she failed in the past. But this time, she won. Yeah, she must be a sucker for death. But how dare she die on him?!
âNo, I wonât let you! Iâm not going anywhere!â He said with resolve, going ahead to find his phone from the mess the idiot had made and pulled a call to the one person that could help him. Someone he never thought he would ever call for help. The ambulance would not find here on time, but she would.
âNatalieâ¦.â Daniel passed the message in one long breath before she had the chance to hang up on him.
âWhere is she?â n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âMy residenceâ¦.â Daniel was still saying when he felt a ripple in the atmosphere and turned to see they had found him.
Shit.
âHurry up.â He hissed into the phone and ended it. Daniel didnât care if they killed him, all he wanted was Angelicaâs safety. Although there was that niggling thought in his head that told him she was not going to make it. But Angelica was a fighter. She would overcome this. He hoped.
âDaniel,â One of the men stepped forward to say, âRichardo wants a word with you.â
Something flashed in Danielâs eyes, the bastard did this? He hurt Angelica. However, he reigned his anger in, this was not the time to lose control, but to act. He was outnumbered and he had no weapon. Not if he could get to the gun on the ground the other bastard had left behind.
But the men came prepared and the instant he made a move, both men were upon him and they tased him till he lost consciousness.
âGood thing Richardo warned us youâre a sneaky bastard.â chuckled one of them who was obviously the leader of the intrusion.
He instructed the others with him and they carried Daniel away. It seems others wanted Daniel as well because it had been a mess earlier with three factions fighting against one another. Richardoâs men only won by numbers and would be out of there before reinforcement came.