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.

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

money to offer your family. But

up, you don’t know

they won’t be in support of this. So I plead with you, just let us go. Trust me, you’ll see the changes in

“We’re already seeing the changes. We kill all of you now, and we’ll have enough money to feed ourselves and

226: PAINS

2/3

the men not to

tried to reason with them, telling them that there was no need for anyone to die. But they were adamant, their greed for money

held onto Janice tightly, hoping for nothing terrible as I watched this scene unfold. I couldn’t lose Luke, not

for that hatred.

these men harm the people around me. I had to do something, even if I had no strength. I’d

surprising everyone around me. “I won’t

and continued, “I may have come here for revenge, but seeing Luke with my daughter…it changed everything. I

do. I could see the conflict in their eyes.

trying to get up and

trigger, Andre jumped in front of me, shielding me

watching him as he collapsed

managed to get up and tackle one of them to the ground while I ran to Andre’s side.

him, trying to stop the bleeding from his wound.

friend, remember? And I’ll do anything to protect you, even if it means sacrificing my life,” he

He managed to knock their guns off, even with his injury. He stood strong for me, for Janice, for us. I

to the hospital. I set my eyes on Luke once again; the men had now

mercilessly.

I looked at Andre, his eyes closed, recalling his words before he zonked out. And I

eyes back on the guns and stood up, walking in that direction. I quickly grabbed

paused immediately, turning to me, surprised and

PINS