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…”

my neck stand up. Something in the air changes, and all my thoughts leave

“Run!”

happens

the sidewalks and the

window rolls down.

flashes. It looks metallic.

in the air.

I lunge

car speeds

to the

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

shirt is still

a pool of blood around her. Growing steadily in radius.

frightened eyes

her head hitting the hard ground.

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

Her thigh.

Right there on the sidewalk with hundreds of people milling along..

only moments ago that we were laughing and walking merrily

so many bandages soaked with her blood, crimson and bright, the oxidizing smell already permeating the air. Her face is ashen, her mouth twisted in agony, and her skirt is bloodied as well. Her hand in mine is so uncomfortably cold.

I cannot believe this is