Revenge of The Furtive Billionaire Heir by Ryker Helios

36. What’s wrong?

When we leave the restaurant after our meeting, we have scored a client.

“Woo hoo!” Coraline whoops while pumping a fist in the air, grinning widely, “that’s one in for team COO.”

“Wait, we got a team name?” I ask, amused. We walk down the sidewalk to where our car is parked from the restaurant. There is a spring to Caroline’s step, and she looks downright radiant. It had been a while since I saw her this happy. No, scratch that, I do not think I’ve ever seen her this happy.

And it looks really, really good on her.

“Hell yeah, we got a team name. We make a good team, and good teams need team names,” she replies in a no-nonsense tone, and I can’t help but smile.

“I think I agree with the sentiment,” I shoved my hands into my pockets, letting myself relax, “Gerald is going to be pleased. Finally, some good news”

“Yep.”

We walked a few yards in silence, enjoying the cool air of the night and the moving vehicles Distantly, music was playing from another restaurant that was fancier than the one we were at People chattered away as they walked, going on with their days

I turn to say something to Coraline but notice that she isn’t next to me Startled, I look back to see her standing near a wall, staring at it There is something written on the wall, surely graffiti, with white and light red paint Coraline squints at it.

“What’s wrong?” I ask. She’s only a few paces away from me.

“This sentence,” she mutters, her eyes tracing the letters I look at it closely. With all the curls, it’s hard to read but I can make out the words.

“I will turn her virtue into pitch,” I read, and glance at Coraline, “what does that mean?”

“It is a quote,” she replies, her eyes narrowing. I’ve heard it before Somewhere, I don’t remember…”

Something in the air changes, and all my thoughts leave my mind. All but one.

“Run!”

all happens so

sidewalks and the street stare at the speeding vehicle which just turned the corner.

window rolls down.

shiny flashes. It looks metallic.

sounds ring in the

start to scream. I lunge

speeds

to the

a scream lodged in my throat as i sink to my knees next to

shirt is still white.

of blood around her. Growing steadily in radius.

eyes hold

head hitting the hard ground.

time I ride the ambulance to the Northeastern General Hospital, which is closer to us than Clandestine General, so the paramedics take her there. They do not question me when I tell them that I need to be with them, they see that I am in too much shock to leave me there all by myself. I do not even remember the aftermath of the whole incident. All I remember are people screaming and running for their lives, while some approached Coraline and me to help us. Then the ambulance arrives, and the paramedics administered a tourniquet to Coraline’s leg because she was shot in

Her thigh.

those previous Zelt Tech employees. Right there on the

moments ago that we were laughing and walking merrily down the street,

now we are in an ambulance. Her, unconscious with an IV hooked to her wrist while the paramedics did their best to lessen the blood loss. There were already so many bandages soaked with her blood, crimson and bright, the oxidizing smell already permeating the air. Her face

believe this