Chapter 12: The Bullet Meant for Her
979 Words
The gunshot echoed through the ballroom.
For one terrifying second...
Everything froze.
Then chaos erupted.
Guests screamed and dropped to the floor.
Crystal glasses shattered.
The orchestra stopped playing.
People rushed toward every exit, pushing and stumbling over one another.
Ethan held Ava tightly against him behind the marble pillar.
"Stay down!" he ordered.
Ava's heart pounded violently.
"What... what's happening?"
"I don't know."
"But someone is trying to kill you."
His words made her blood run cold.
Another gunshot rang out.
The bullet struck the marble pillar only inches above Ethan's head, sending chips of stone flying.
Security guards immediately surrounded the guests.
"Protect Mr. Blackwood!"
"Find the shooter!"
The ballroom became a battlefield.
---
High above the hotel...
The masked sniper calmly adjusted the scope.
His breathing remained steady.
His finger rested lightly on the trigger.
Through the scope...
He saw Ethan shielding Ava with his own body.
A voice crackled through his earpiece.
"Target still alive."
The sniper replied calmly,
"Ethan keeps getting in the way."
The voice answered,
"Then kill both of them."
Without hesitation, the sniper aimed again.
---
Inside the ballroom...
Ethan noticed the faint red laser moving across the floor.
His eyes widened.
"They've changed position."
Mr. Carter suddenly appeared with several bodyguards.
"Sir!"
"The emergency exit is secure!"
Ethan nodded.
"We're leaving."
He grabbed Ava's hand.
"Can you run?"
She nodded despite her shaking legs.
"I'll try."
"Stay beside me."
The group sprinted toward the service corridor.
Another shot echoed.
A chandelier crashed onto the dance floor behind them.
Guests screamed louder.
Smoke filled the room.
Ava stumbled.
Her high heel caught the edge of her dress.
She nearly fell.
Ethan caught her before she hit the ground.
"Forget the shoes."
Without thinking twice, Ava kicked off both heels.
Barefoot, she ran beside him.
---
Outside...
The cold night air hit their faces.
Several black SUVs were already waiting.
Bodyguards formed a protective circle around Ethan and Ava.
Mr. Carter opened the rear door.
"Get inside!"
Just as Ava reached the car...
A black motorcycle burst through the hotel gates.
The rider wore a black helmet and leather jacket.
He wasn't escaping.
He was charging straight toward them.
"Sir!" one guard shouted.
The motorcycle accelerated.
Faster.
Closer.
Then—
The rider pulled out a handgun.
Bang!
One bodyguard collapsed.
Another shot.
A second guard fell.
The remaining guards returned fire.
Guests screamed and scattered.
The rider swerved around the parked cars with frightening skill.
He aimed directly at Ava.
Ethan pushed her behind the SUV.
The bullet shattered the side mirror instead.
"Drive!" Ethan shouted.
"No!" Ava cried.
"What about the others?"
"They know their job!"
Mr. Carter started the engine.
The SUV sped away as more gunfire echoed behind them.
---
Inside the speeding vehicle...
Neither Ethan nor Ava spoke.
Ava stared at her trembling hands.
She still couldn't believe what had happened.
Finally she whispered,
"Someone really wants me dead."
Ethan remained silent.
She looked at him.
"Do you know who it is?"
He hesitated.
"I have several suspects."
"But no proof."
She swallowed hard.
"Is this because of me?"
"No."
"Then why?"
Ethan looked out the window.
"Because you're my wife."
Those four words filled the car with silence.
---
Meanwhile...
On the rooftop...
The sniper removed his mask.
It wasn't a man.
It was a woman.
She looked down at the escaping SUV.
"Damn."
She took out her phone.
"The mission failed."
A familiar voice answered.
"I expected as much."
The woman frowned.
"What now?"
The voice replied coldly,
"We move to Phase Two."
"No more public attacks."
"We'll destroy them from the inside."
The call ended.
The woman smiled.
"I've always preferred slow games."
---
Back at Blackwood Mansion...
Security around the estate doubled immediately.
More guards arrived.
Electronic gates were locked.
Every entrance was monitored.
Mrs. Blackwood rushed toward Ava the moment she entered.
"Oh my goodness!"
She embraced her tightly.
"Are you hurt?"
Ava shook her head.
"I'm alright."
Mrs. Blackwood turned to Ethan.
"This has gone too far."
"I know."
"You promised this family would be safe."
"I did."
"And I failed."
It was the first time Ava had heard guilt in Ethan's voice.
---
Late that night...
Unable to sleep, Ava walked into the mansion's garden.
Moonlight illuminated the roses.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Too peaceful.
She sat beside the fountain.
"You should be resting."
She looked up.
Ethan stood a few steps away.
He had changed into casual clothes, but his expression remained troubled.
"You almost died because of me," he said quietly.
Ava looked at him.
"No."
"I almost died because someone wants to hurt you."
He sat beside her.
For several minutes, neither of them spoke.
Finally Ava asked,
"Do you regret marrying me?"
Ethan looked at the water.
"When this marriage began..."
"I thought it was just a business arrangement."
He paused.
"But somewhere along the way..."
"You became more important than the agreement."
Ava's heart skipped a beat.
He continued,
"If anything happened to you..."
"I'd never forgive myself."
She stared at him in surprise.
For the first time...
She realized Ethan wasn't protecting her out of obligation anymore.
He genuinely cared.
Without thinking, she reached for his hand.
Their fingers intertwined naturally.
Neither of them pulled away.
For a brief moment...
The fear disappeared.
The world became quiet.
Then—
A loud explosion shook the entire mansion.
BOOM!
Windows shattered.
The ground trembled beneath them.
Servants screamed inside the house.
Smoke rose from the east wing.
Mr. Carter ran outside.
"Mr. Blackwood!"
"The garage has exploded!"
Before anyone could react, another guard rushed toward them, breathing heavily.
"Sir!"
"We found this at the front gate."
He handed Ethan a black envelope.
Inside was a single playing card.
The Ace of Spades.
Written across it in red ink were seven chilling words:
"Next time, no one will survive."
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