Chapter 311 Gunman
‘Mira?‘ Ashton answered on the first ring.
‘Someone’s been tailing us and they’ve just hit our car. Twice now,‘ I said, trying to steady my voice.
‘Send me your location,‘ Ashton ordered, his tone going grim.
I shared my location with him at once.
The Camry struck us again, with such force that I gasped and shouted, ‘Faster!‘
‘I’m going as fast as I can,‘ Kit said, hands shaking. ‘Any faster and we risk flipping.‘
‘Head for somewhere with people,‘ Ashton said through the line. ‘Get to a crowded area.‘
I relayed the instruction to Kit. He slammed the accelerator harder, but we were on a quiet stretch and the Camry had a clear run. We were originally heading out of town, and to turn back towards civilisation would take time we did not have.
The Camry struck us two more times in rapid succession. I lurched up in my seat and banged my head on the ceiling, stars exploding behind my eyes, a sharp, panicked pain.
‘Mira, what’s happening? Are you all right?‘ Ashton asked, his voice urgent.
‘I’m fine… just knocked my head, a bit dizzy,‘ I managed, rubbing the throb at my forehead.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Were those gunshots?
I had never fired a gun in my life, though TV had taught me enough to recognise the sound. Belatedly, I regretted not taking Ashton up on his offer to teach me to shoot, but there was no time for regrets.
Kit had floored the accelerator and the engine was screaming.
‘They’ve got a gun, they’ve opened fire,‘ I shouted into the phone.
Before I finished, Kit swore.
‘What?‘ I cried.
From the driver’s seat he hollered back, “They must’ve hit the tank! We’re leaking fuel. The car’s slowing!‘
‘Damn it!‘
Another jolt slammed my forehead into the back of the seat. It didn’t break the skin, but my head spun and pain flared.
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Chapter 311 Gunman
+15 BONUS
Kit wrestled with the wheel and the car swerved to the right. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you,‘ he shouted, and at that moment we were struck hard again.
We were losing speed.
‘I think the car’s busted. I’m going to pull into the car park, then we get out and run, understand?‘ Kit said, flinging his door open as he spoke.
I nodded.
‘We’ll take the service paths. Their car won’t be able to follow us in,‘ he added.
I was grateful for those boxing lessons in high school and for keeping fit. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to keep pace with him.
‘Car park ahead!‘ Kit yelled. It was the only sizeable structure nearby where we might hide.
I gritted my teeth and pushed myself to keep up. I heard the Camry’s engine cut out as it pulled up, but I knew the shooter would not be far behind.
We dashed across a patch of grass and a shortcut, then ran into the multi–storey car park. Our footsteps echoed ridiculously loudly in the cavernous space, where cars sat covered in dust sheets. Kit kept up a hard pace until he ducked us behind a massive concrete column, with nothing but a wall behind us.
My throat felt like sand, my legs had gone to jelly, and I collapsed onto the cold floor, sitting down hard. Kit dropped down beside me, breathing heavily.
‘Shh, someone’s coming,‘ he whispered.
My heart slammed. ‘The Camry?‘ I whispered back.
‘Not sure,‘ Kit said, swallowing hard.
I hauled myself forward on my backside, peered out, and exhaled. ‘It’s not them.‘
Kit let out a small, shaky breath.
Time dragged. We slowly caught our breath and the adrenaline began to ebb, restoring a little strength.
Another car arrived, and from the screech of its tyres it was coming fast.
My nerves tightened. Kit craned his head out, saw the car and said, excitedly, ‘It’s Mr Laurent’s car!‘
I stuck my head out and immediately recognised Ashton’s Rolls–Royce. I had kept him on the line
throughout, sending live updates of our location, but I waited until the car stopped and Ashton stepped out before I revealed myself.
‘Ashton!‘ I cried, jumping up and running to him.
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Chapter 311 Gunman
+15 BONUS
He quickened his pace and sprinted towards me. For a split second, his expression changed; his eyes widened with alarm and he threw his arms out. Instead of pulling me into him, those arms shoved me
back.
Bang.
A shot. The gunfire cracked across the space and my ears rang. Time stretched as I watched a fine red spray bloom from his body.
Ashton made a strangled sound, his knees buckled and he went down.
‘Ashton!‘ I screamed.
Kit leapt up, half–carrying, half–dragging Ashton back to the Rolls and yelling, ‘Get in, get in!‘
‘Hospital!‘ I sobbed, tears falling onto Ashton’s face as I cradled him in my lap.
‘I’m fine,‘ Ashton said, pale as paper. He forced his hand up and wiped my tears away, lips moving with
effort. ‘I’m fine.‘
‘Don’t talk. Save your strength,‘ I urged, voice shaking. I felt him struggling to breathe. ‘Rest now. We’ll get you to the hospital.‘
‘Don’t cry. It’s okay. I’ll be fine,‘ Ashton kept saying, trying to soothe me. ‘I won’t let anyone hurt you.’
‘You’ll be okay,‘ I told him. ‘Lean on me. Hold on to me.‘ I pulled him closer, hoping the contact would ease
the pain.
‘Call Harry. Tell him… I’m shot. He’ll know what… to do,‘ Ashton said, reaching slowly for his phone and
passing it to me.
I took the phone with hands sticky with blood. ‘What’s the passcode?‘
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