The Love From Vengeance

226: PAINS

ARIEL’S POV

Holding Janice, I couldn’t stop taking my eyes off Luke. The men had come out of nowhere and fired a gunshot at him. Luckily, the bullet went straight to his shoulder. I just hoped it couldn’t get worse

than that.

Luke fell to his knees, holding his shoulders. The pain was too much for him to bear.

“Luke!” I called his name loudly, and then I ran straight to him.

The men behind pointed their guns at us, ready to release more gunshots. But I wasn’t even giving them my attention.

I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to run towards Luke, making it look like I cared for him. But I couldn’t help it. Seeing him bring my daughter really brought this feeling within me. Something I couldn’t explain.

“It’s alright, Ariel. I’ll be fine,” Luke told me softly, holding his bleeding shoulder. You and Janice should leave before these people do something terrible to you guys.

“We can’t leave you,” I disagreed, looking into his eyes, and I had this worried expression.

“Just go. I told you, everything’s alright.”

“But if you die, it won’t be.”

“Why, huh? I thought you didn’t want me. I thought you came for revenge. So if I’m killed now, won’t you be satisfied?”

“Don’t say that, now. Can’t you see we’re in the middle of a terrific situation?”

“I can see that. But I just want you to be honest with me.”

“About what?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Okay, I think we’ve given you guys enough time to talk. Now it’s time to die,” one of the men spoke.

He did not move forward. “I know you people are doing this for money, but please, you don’t have to kill anyone. You

tough one. And I know you guys need money to offer your family. But will they really want this? They wouldn’t want you

you don’t

do know one thing: they won’t be in support of this. So I plead with you, just

We kill all of you now, and we’ll have enough money to feed ourselves and our

226: PAINS

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eyes as he begged the men not to shoot. But they just laughed and insulted him, calling him weak

need for anyone to die. But

onto Janice tightly, hoping for nothing terrible as I watched this scene unfold. I couldn’t lose Luke, not after witnessing what he had done. The

for that hatred.

I had to do something, even if I had no strength. I’d do my best, and luck would be on

around me. “I won’t let you hurt

continued, “I may have come here for revenge, but seeing Luke with

I could see the conflict in their eyes.

trying to get up and protect

pull the trigger, Andre jumped

watching him as he collapsed to

events took aback the men. Luke managed to get up and tackle one of

why did you do that?” I kneaded him,

you were an amazing friend, remember? And I’ll do anything to protect you, even if it means

guns off, even with his injury. He stood

right now; he needed to be taken to the hospital. I set my eyes

mercilessly.

again; their attentions were not even on the ground. I looked at Andre, his eyes closed, recalling his words before he zonked out. And I

direction. I quickly grabbed both guns from the ground and pointed them at the men.

me, surprised and terrified faces

PINS