Chapter 411: Two Teams IV
Chapter 411: Two Teams IV
Ewan had always wondered if he would be in this position again—before an onslaught of bullets, heart
hammering, adrenaline surging—after taking his place in his family’s company.
For years, he had convinced himself that boardroom negotiations, corporate deals, and endless paperwork had
replaced the days of ducking fire and leading missions. But sthings never left a man.
The thought had haunted him often during quiet nights, the question whispering: what if it happens again? What
if you find yourself before the barrel of a gun, and your team isn’t there to cover you? What if you're alone?
Now, with walls echoing with gunfire and shouts, with plaster chipping above his head from a spray of bullets,
that question was no longer hypothetical.
And strangely—he smiled.
Because as soon as the trigger pulled, as soon as danger pressed in on all sides, his body remembered. His
training calive in him like muscle memory. His hands and legs moved as if they had been waiting, itching for
this exact moment.
Everything synced: his breath, his eyes, the rhythm of his heart. He moved in one accord, in one flow, like a
current of water rushing through cracks in stone.
The first man cfrom the left, bursting forward, gun raised. Ewan didn’t even blink. His pistol lifted, barked
once, and the man crumpled, his weapon clattering against the tiles.
But Ewan didn’t stay in one place, not with the incoming angry men. He darted forward, boots striking hard
against the floor, then vaulted onto the wall in a smooth arc. His legs found grip where no normal man should
have found footing, and he kicked off, twisting his body midair.
Bullets sprayed beneath him, but his pistol spoke more than twice before he landed, each shot finding its mark in
the men below. Four bodies hit the ground, their fighting objects limp by their sides, before he even touched
down.
The moment his boots kissed the floor, he was already rolling, already firing backward at the enemies chasing
him from behind. His movements were so fluid it almost looked choreographed, like he had rehearsed every
step.
He crouched as bullets flew past, firing back, sparks flashing from metal scraping against concrete. He ducked
beneath a swinging baton, drove his shoulder into the assailant’s chest, and fired point-blank before the man
could even gasp. He didn’t linger, didn’t gloat. Every move was transition into the next, a dancer in a ballet of
death.
He pushed deeper into the hallway, every step measured, every breath controlled. Door by door, he moved,
shoulder against wood, gun raised. He kicked one open thereafter and froze for a fraction of a second.
Inside were things that made his stomach twist—obscene scenes, naked abused women forced into corners,
eyes wide with terror, the criminals using them like shields.
His finger tensed on the trigger, instinct screaming at him to shoot, but discipline held him back. He couldn't risk
hitting innocents.
The nearest thug smirked, thinking Ewan was hesitating in fear. He didn’t realize Ewan was waiting for the
perfect moment.
And when it came—when the criminals finally turned their focus away from him for a second, in order to leave
the bed to accost him, thereby leaving the women unshielded—Ewan acted immediately. His pistol spat fire,
clean and precise. Three shots. Three men down. He lowered his gun slowly, letting the ringing silence fill the
room.
The women blinked at him, trembling. One of them whimpered. Ewan’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t say a word.
He turned, leaving the door wide open, a silent invitation for them to run. To escape.
But even if they didn’t, the state security service would soon invade the building. Aiden had dropped a tip to
them, a late one, intentionally.
Ewan, meanwhile, repeated this through the rooms. Kick. Enter. Judge. Shoot. Leave. Always moving, always
flowing. Srooms stank of smoke and sweat. Others were dens of gambling or drugs. Each time, he found
criminals, and each time, he cut them down with the merciless precision of a man trained for this exact
nightmare.
Blood pooled on the floorboards, shadows stretched long under the flickering bulbs, and still he pressed forward,
one door after another, one body after another.
By the the reached the stairs to the last floor, his breathing was heavier, but his focus sharper. He climbed
step by step, his pistol steady, eyes scanning every corner.
The second floor greeted him with silence—a silence he didn’t trust. He walked slowly, almost crouched, the
muzzle of his pistol leading the way. And then...
A figure stood at the end of the corridor, just outside a heavy door. A girl. She couldn't have been more than
twenty, her hair tied back messily, a rifle steady in her hands.
She was pale under the hallway’s dim light, but her eyes were hard, defiant. She raised her gun, and Ewan froze.
Something about her stopped him cold. She reminded him of Heronica. The angle of her chin, the stubborn line
of her mouth, even the way her hands shook but held steady anyway.
For a heartbeat, he hesitated.
And that hesitation cost him.
The crack of a gunshot ripped through the corridor, and searing pain tore into his thigh. He groaned, staggering
back, hitting the wall with a grunt, settling behind it, just close to the stairs. His pistol nearly slipped from his
hand, but he gritted his teeth and held on.
The girl kept shooting, each round tearing into the walls around him. From the sound and rhythm, he knew she
was getting closer, step by step.
"Are you scared to fight, old man?" she shouted, voice shaking but loud. "Cout, sot!"
Him? A sot?
Despite the burning pain in his leg, Ewan almost laughed. Not because it was funny, but because of the
absurdity of it—here he was, bleeding, hunted, cornered, and still his pride found the insult ridiculous.
He touched the wound at his thigh, grimacing. The pad he'd worn had taken the worst of it, but blood still seeped
through. A surface wound, maybe, but no less painful.
His eyes flicked to his pack. Only one cartridge left.
"One bullet," he muttered under his breath. "Better be worth it."
He inhaled slowly, counting seconds, mind calculating, heart steadying. He needed her to take position—
somewhere predictable, somewhere he could end it with precision.
And then he saw it: the broken glass scattered on the floor, catching faint light, reflecting her shadow as she
stepped closer. Her boots crunched against it, revealing her exact spot without her realizing.
Perfect.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHe steadied his hand, lined up the shot, and fired—not at her chest, not at her head, but at her right leg; mercy
prevailing.Chapter 412: Two Teams V.
Chapter 412: Two Teams V
Ewan left the bleeding girl where she writhed on the floor, clutching at her wounded leg, her defiance still
smoldering in her glare even through the pain. He ignored her spit, ignored her muttered curses, and pressed his
ear to the heavy door she had been guarding.
Silence.
He tilted his head, listening harder. No shuffling. No voices. Nothing that betrayed what lay behind the barrier.
His jaw tightened. The silence could mean one of two things: the room was empty, or someone inside was
waiting—poised, breath held, gun raised.
"Not even going to say anything when your life’s already hanging by a thread?" he muttered, half to the girl.
He turned his head slightly, his voice carrying the sharp edge of a threat. "One word could save you from
bleeding out. Say nothing, and maybe I will blow off your other leg."
She glared, lips pressed into a thin line. Not a sound. Not even a flinch.
Loyalty.
Ewan breathed out slowly. Sometimes he hated the word."
He reached up, fingers tugging on the strap of his helmet. It was still snug, but he adjusted anyway, tightening it
until it pinched at his jaw. The last thing he needed was a stray bullet glancing off and knocking it loose.
He tested the chin-strap twice, ensuring it was secure, then rolled his shoulders, loosening the tension in his
muscles.
With one last breath, he lifted his boot and drove it hard into the door.
The lock splintered, the door swinging open violently, banging against the wall. His pistol was already raised,
finger curled on the trigger.
And then—he froze.
A man stood in the middle of the room, gun pressed firmly against the head of a boy no older than twelve—
Ciara's little brother.
The boy’s wide eyes were glassy with terror, tears streaking his cheeks, his small chest heaving with shallow
breaths. Behind them, Ciara’s parents trembled, both bound, both crying, both whispering prayers that seemed
to go unheard.
"Move," the criminal snarled, pressing the barrel tighter against the boy’s temple, "and a bullet goes into his
head."
Ewan’s eyes narrowed. His gaze flicked quickly over the man. It-was-white singlet. Faded blue boxers. Feet bare.
His hair was unkempt, sweat beading on his forehead.
Not a good shooter or thug. Not even ready. Ewan concluded.
The latter must have rushed here when the shooting started, too desperate to save his life. He had chosen to
make a last stand with the nearest leverage available—innocents.
"You wouldn't want to do that," Ewan said evenly.
"Oh?" The criminal grinned, though his lips trembled. "Trust me, it would be my utmost pleasure. But | want to
know who you are first."
Ewan tilted his head, gun still trained. "So you think Ill answer your questions if you keep them alive? Trading
their lives for information?"
The man nodded, quick, eager. "Exactly. My boss would appreciate that more than their dead bodies. They're not
useful—just pawns to keep spies under control."
"Spies?" Ewan’s tone was cold. "You mean Ciara."
The fellow smirked at the recognition. "So you found her out, then. Stupid girl who can’t get anything right. She'll
pay for it, don’t worry..." He paused, a cruel light flashing in his eyes. "That's if you haven't punished her already
for aiding and abetting a cragainst the state."
Ewan’s lips pressed into a hard line. He didn’t blink. Didn't lower his weapon.
"I think that’s for us to decide," he replied quietly. "Now tell me, do you want to do this the easy way—or do you
want to lose a leg like your comrade outside?"
For a moment, the criminal’s bravado cracked. His brow furrowed. "You cut off her leg?"
The man’s grip tightened on the gun. Ewan could see the tremor, the unstable pulse of his hand. The wrong
word, the wrong twitch, and the little boy would be gone.
| have to put him away now. Ewan thought, jaw clenched.
His thumb brushed against the cool steel of his pistol, but an idea sparked in his mind. Slowly, deliberately, he
loosened his grip on the gun.
"Wait," he said. His voice softened, dipped into something persuasive. "I'll make you a trade. Information—for
their lives."
The criminal’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Ewan tilted the pistol away, lowering it slightly. "You want to know who | am? Fine. But you'll have to let them
live. I'll even throw my gun down."
The man’s lips curved into a shaky grin. "Now you're talking. Drop it. Slowly."
Ewan nodded, keeping his movements smooth, deliberate. He crouched, lowering his pistol to the floor, inch by
inch, making a show of compliance. His heart hammered, but his face betrayed nothing. The gun clinked softly
as it touched the ground.
"Good," the criminal said, his grin widening. He shifted his gun from the boy’s head and pointed it squarely at
Ewan. "Now stand up. Slowly. Hands where | can see them."
Ewan obeyed, rising to his feet, palms open, expression calm.
The criminal took steps forward, eager to claim the discarded weapon. His focus was split—on Ewan, on the gun
he was bending to retrieve, on his own arrogance. And that was enough.
Ewan’s thumb tapped fast, the small button on the strap at his thigh. A sharp, high-pitched chirp echoed in the
room—the alarm for backup. The sound made the man flinch, head snapping toward the unexpected noise.
That was all the distraction Ewan needed.
In a fluid motion, his hand darted to his waist, fingers wrapping around the hilt of the knife nestled there. His arm
whipped forward, muscles flexing, and the blade spun through the air with deadly precision.
The knife buried itself into the man’s throat with a sickening thunk, before the latter could realise what had
happened.
His eyes widened in shock, mouth opening soundlessly as he dropped both weapons, hands clawing at his neck.
Blood spilled over his chest, bubbling from his lips as he crumpled to the floor.
Silence fell. Only the sobs of Ciara’s family remained.
Ewan bent, picked up his gun, and slid it back into his grip with the familiarity of a man who had done this too
many times before. His chest rose and fell with steady breaths, though inside, the adrenaline still burned like fire.
He strode toward the family. "Are you okay?" His voice was softer now, steadier.
He crouched, tugging at the ropes that bound their wrists. The cords cloose, and he tossed them aside.
Ciara's mother clutched her son, tears wetting her face. The father rubbed his wrists, his lips parting as if to
speak.
"Follow me," Ewan said firmly, helping them to their feet. Their legs were shaky, their faces pale, but they
obeyed. "Keep your questions for later. We need to leave."
He glanced toward the shattered window. Sirens were wailing in the distance, faint but growing louder. The police
were coming. And so, no doubt, was the backup for the gang.
He ushered them out into the hallway. Sandro stood there, backing them, gun raised, his head jerking here and
there, eyes wide as if expecting shadows to leap out.
Ewan chuckled, a low rumble in his chest. "They're all gone."
Sandro spun at the sound of his voice, weapon still aimed.
"You going to shoot me?" Ewan teased dryly.
Sandro scoffed, lowering the gun to his side. Relief flashed across his face, though he tried to mask it with
irritation. "Let’s go. The police will be here any second. Neighbors must have tipped them off."
"Probably," Ewan said, falling into step. He motioned for Ciara's family to walk ahead, keeping himself at the
rear, every sense alert.
As they hurried down the stairs, he asked, "Did we lose any of our men?"
"No," Sandro replied quickly, though his brow furrowed. "But we have a lot of injured. Good thing you insisted on
the truck. You really do make plans like your ex-wife—first the helmets and army gear, now the transport."
Ewan snorted softly, lips quirking. "Like you don’t know what attacking the gang entails."
"And Zane?" He asked, seconds later.Chapter 413: Being Present
Chapter 413: Being Present
"Your mind seems occupied. And you have barely touched your food. Is the food not to your liking?" Antonio's
voice was able to coax Athena from her thoughts about the mission she wasn’t present in.
Were her people okay? Were any injured? Especially those that had gone to the gang’s hideout. Were they hurt?
She swallowed, her throat bobbing as she forced her focus back to the present, and picked up her cutlery with
slightly trembling fingers.
Herbert would not be pleased if something happened to Zane, unhappier if he got to find out that they had gone
on a mission to retrieve Ciara's parents—she wasn’t sure if Zane would be able to keep the truth from his father
if he cback injured.
She mumbled a prayer of protection mentally, her lips pressing together as she glanced at the ton her
wristwatch. They should be rounding up the mission by now.
However, Athena looking at her watch passed the wrong message to Antonio. He frowned, his brows knitting
together.
"Am | boring you? Do you want to go home?"
Athena frowned back, finally meeting his gaze. The cutlery, which had been dancing aimlessly on her plate,
stilled in her hand.
"What do you mean, Antonio? | never said you were boring me."
Antosighed, leaning slightly away from the table and looking aside, his jaw tightening. "You act like I am. |
have been the only one talking, and even then, your attention isn’t witha hundred percent."
Athena rubbed the middle of her forehead with the tips of her fingers, wishing she could tell Antoeverything
—because then he would understand. But the need not to burden him with problems, the need to obey her
grandfather, triumphed over that wish.
So, she sucked on her lower lip and scooped food into her mouth thereafter, after a second of silence.
"I'm not bored, Antonio. I'm just occupied with solving the recent case ravaging the state, or will soon be. You
should understand my place in the situation of things... | have to find the cure to the new virus..."
"It's possible there isn’t any yet. It’s possible that you finding out the location had upended their plans. You
should think about the positives only. Or did you find something else to prove that they already have a working
drug with them to release mayhem?"
Athena shook her head slowly, her eyes lowering to her plate. "Just a hunch."
Antosighed again, softer this time, and reached across the table for her left hand, engulfing her soft hand
with his warm, steady one. "Quit worrying too much, Athena. It’s not good for your health. You are a doctor, so
you must know this. You should always be in the present."
"Yes, | should be." Easier said than done. "Thanks, Antonio."
She scooped another portion into her mouth, but even as she did so, even as she tried to focus on Antonio
talking about his day at work, even as she tried to forcefully take spoonfuls of food so as not to trigger Antonio's
questions again, her mind kept derailing before she could help it—toward the mission, toward Ewan.
She hadn’t gotten an update from him since the last one where he had informed her they would be going into
position in the next five minutes. She had wished him well before returning to her task. But now, she was
wondering why she hadn't called him. If things did go awry...
"So, tellabout yours? What did you do at the lab if you had nothing to work with?"
Athena licked her lower lip nervously, counting herself lucky that she had heard her boyfriend this time.
"Just working with my hunch... adding and subtracting chemicals to the Grey virus compound, should anything
happen..."
Antodidn’t look like he believed her. His brows arched slightly, his lips pressing in a thin line.
Athena bit her lips, then decided to bite the bullet. "Okay, we invaded a certain hideout of the Demon Vipers
gang..."
"What!"
Antonio’s shout attracted the attention of the other diners, seventy percent of whom had just been to the cinema
which was just close by moments ago, like the couple.
A few turned to look, whispers starting at nearby tables.
"Antonio, calm down."
"Calm down? How can | calm down? My girlfriend went into a gang’s hideout without lettingknow!"
But his voice had gone considerably lower now, his hand leaving hers to clench into a fist against the tablecloth.
"I never said | did go..."
Antoraised a brow sharply. "Then what do you mean by ‘we’? Who went for the mission?"
Athena shrugged lightly. "Members of the state security. They received a tip-off."
She lied through her teeth, making
the drastic decision to keep the
matter too from Aer affef 3e&ing
his reaction’ The last thing she
needed tonight was to feel the need
to defend her actions, or try to
appease her boyfriend. The content
is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
She just wanted to hear from Ewan,
to know if everything had gone well,
to know if he was Yer fingers
Akl te(touch fet one, but she
had kept from reaching for it because
then Antowould get curious if she
turned away to make the call—if he
knew it was Ewan. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
"Oh..." Antoexhaled, relief washing over his features. "When you said we... | thought that meant you..." A
pause. "So continue your story..."
Athena drank water from a glass cup, taking deliberate, careful sips. She cleaned her mouth with a serviette,
folding it neatly and placing it beside her plate before resting her hands on her lap.
Antowatched this series of actions with a frown, not pleased with the half-eaten food on her plate.
"I would have ordered something else if | knew you didn’t like the food."
Athena shook her head lightly, strands of hair falling forward. "Being in the lab had sucked out my appetite
without my knowledge... you know, a lot of chemicals..."
Antonodded slowly. "I see. So, continue your story."
Athena held back a sigh, forcing her tone to stay calm. "They reported scenting a certain chemical... | asked
them to describe it..."
"They can scent chemicals now? Can even describe it?"
Athena cocked a brow, one that expressed her incoming irritation at being interrupted; her fuse was already
running low.
"Sorry, please continue."
I" . PD BR A
They didn't get the description like |
would if | was there, but it was om
enough to tellthétthe gang was
Borie Se Mething else with the
unknown sponsor of the Grey virus.
, : : [1
And that's what | am working with.
"The untrue description of a scent... don’t you think that’s far-fetched?"
When he saw her lips press into a grim line, he quickly threw his hands up in surrender.
"Just saying, darling. Just saying. Wouldn't want you wasting your tover someone's wrong description."
Athena leaned back into her chair, arms folding loosely across her chest, her expression taut.
"So, what do you think I should do?"
Sandro hesitated for a beat, then nodded. "He'll be fine."
sok
Dear Readers,
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Her scream split the air, high and raw. She crumpled, gun clattering as she fell.
Ewan rolled his eyes, exhaling harshly as the tension broke. He pushed off the wall and stepped out from cover,
limping slightly, gun still raised.
"Don’t," he said sharply, when her hand twitched toward her weapon. His voice carried steel, cold and final. "If
you want to live, don’t."
Her hand went limp. Her face twisted with pain, but she didn’t reach for the gun again.
Ewan bent down, picked the weapon up, and straightened with a wince.
"Is there someone in there?" he asked, jerking his chin toward the door behind her. His voice was flat, no-
nonsense.
The girl glared at him, and spat on the ground.
"You don’t know who you've angered," she hissed. "You don’t know what you've brought upon yourself..."
Ewan tilted his head, his face unreadable. Then, with a faint shrug, he replied, "I actually do. And if you knew
who I am, you wouldn't be so optimistic about my downfall."
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