If Bella had reacted a second later, she would have been a sitting duck.
âHeh.â
A sinister snicker echoed through the darkness.
âShow your face, Winston!â
Having trained with Asher and Drew, Bella was great at picking up sounds.
She determined the direction of the noise. Clutching her gun, she pulled the trigger at the lurking
shadow.
Holy cow.
Drenched in sweat, Bella shivered.
With adrenaline pumping in the earlier intense crossfire, she did not realize she had run out of bullets.
She reached back and noticed her spare clip was missing
Thrown into a fluster, Bella glanced around for the clip an several steps away. She must have dropped
it when rolling av the trap.
When she went to retrieve it, two shots were fired near her feet, she stopped in her tracks,
âI had the pleasure to see you in action, Ms. Thompson. Youâre truly a force to be reckoned with.â
Following the eerie laughter, Winston walked out of the darkness, armed with a bow. The arrow,
glistening grimly, was aimed straight at Bella. âNo one has ever escaped the cage. I cannot be any
more impressed with you, Ms. Thompson. Youâre beautiful, wealthy, and a fighter. No wonder you hold
a proud man like Justin in your clutches.â
âCut the bullshit.â
Bella hid her fear behind her stoic face. âWinston, thereâs only one way out for you. You should come
with me back to Savrow, take a plea deal, and testify against Shannon. Otherwise, itâs time to die.â
âHahaha! Ms. Thompson, why donât you ever learn? Youâre just like Justin. Do you think you are all
that, and I wonât kill you?â Winston guffawed.
âHa! Lay your finger on me, and I can guarantee my family will wipe you and your little people off the
face of the earth,â Bella hissed through clenched teeth.
Winston had no words.
âShoot me once, and my brothers will rain bullets on you until Swiss cheese. Do you want to attempt
that?â
Bellaâs threat gave Winston something to think about.
Unlike Justin, Bella would carry out her threat. The Thompson brothers spelled trouble. Even the royal
family would not diss the head of the Thompson household.
Amid Winstonâs distraction, Bella sprung to grab the clip and load it onto her gun in a swift motion.
Startled, Winston fired the arrow at Bella without a second thought.
Swoosh!
Bella froze. Even her flight-or-fight mode could not save her now because it was too late to run or fire
back at Winston.
She closed her eyes in terror, her blood running cold.
A powerful embrace-strong and sincere-shielded her from the shot.
Bella opened her eyes in shock, meeting Justinâs soaked, pale face.
He gazed into her eyes. His eyes, though red-rimmed, were as intense with love as ever.
âAre you alright, Bella?â
Bella stared blankly at him, her tears rolling down her cheeks.
âDonât cry. Iâm alright. Itâs alrightâ¦â Justin touched her shaking back and murmured words of comfort.
The drained man collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
âJustin⦠Justin!â