The Agent's Blood

Chapter 17

Elena suppressed a playful smile during their journey to the Montgomery residence, stealing glances at Evander's stiff expression. He clearly disliked her new golden-brown hair. On top of that, she had also cut her long locks to shoulder length.

Another reason she'd cut it was because she hated how Julian would yank her hair whenever he pleased, treating her like a doll.

"Evan!" Elena called out.

"Yes, Miss?" Evander replied, his eyes flicking to the rearview mirror.

Elena smiled, then leaned forward until she was right behind the driver's seat, peering over Evander's shoulder.

"Are you mad?" Elena teased, looking at Evander. The nearness of him made her heart flutter, captivated by the Captain's handsome profile. She blinked in surprise when he turned his head.

He was just as startled to find Elena's face right next to his. For a moment, they were both stunned, unable to look away.

Elena shrieked as the car swerved, accompanied by the screech of tires and a chorus of blaring horns from outside. Fortunately, Evander managed to regain control and steer them back into the correct lane.

Elena burst into loud laughter. Despite the shock that made her heart feel like it would leap from her chest, she found the experience thrilling.

"Don't do that again, Miss!" Evander sighed, taking a deep breath. For a second, he had felt death was incredibly close, and what made him weak was that Elena was with him. He couldn't imagine what would have happened if something had befallen the woman he loved.

"Don't be so tense!" Elena said from beside Evander. She deftly climbed over the console and moved into the front passenger seat.

Evander only glanced at her briefly, still feeling the trauma from the incident.

"Let's go to the Mountain! I want to enjoy the view there!" Elena suggested enthusiastically.

But Evander shook his head. "No, Miss! You must ask for Mr. Julian's permission first!" he refused, his tone gentle but firm.

Elena immediately pouted. Her bubbling excitement from a second ago was instantly extinguished.

"Besides, aren't we going to visit your mother?" Evander asked.

Elena fell silent. "For what?" she said coldly. "They didn't even ask how I was after the incident at the hotel!"

Evander was silenced, acknowledging the truth in Elena's words. Neither Victoria nor Alistair had contacted him. Evander had assumed they had already called Elena.

"But your mother asked me about you," Evander lied.

Elena became quiet again.

Evander said no more and drove the car towards the house, and Elena did not seem to object.

***

Victoria's eyes immediately widened when she saw Elena's new appearance. After her daughter had always been so obedient, never causing trouble or acting out, this slight change made her jaw drop.

"What have you done to your hair, Elena?! You look like a promiscuous woman!" Victoria condemned angrily.

Elena froze.

A promiscuous woman?! Wasn't that what she had seen at Julian's bachelor party? Beautiful girls with colorful hair were among the men, including the one on Julian's lap.

And now, instead of a warm welcome and a mother's worried words, all she received was condemnation.

"Don't you want to know how I am after the shooting at the hotel?" Elena asked, her voice laced with pain. She looked at Victoria with pleading eyes.

Victoria frowned. "You're safe, so what else is there?" she retorted flatly, then her eyes widened as if remembering something.

"Did you get the jewelry back? Wasn't that the dowry from Julian?! Right?!" she pressed, her face etched with worry.

Elena was aghast. Victoria was more concerned about the jewelry than her own daughter's life. She swatted Victoria's hand away and turned, striding out of the house.

"Elena! That is no way to behave!" Victoria called from inside.

Evander immediately stood straight when he saw Elena exit the house.

"Let's go!" she ordered.

Evander nodded and opened the car door for Elena. The woman got in without another word. After closing the door, Evander quickly got into the car himself and drove out of the Montgomery residence's grounds.

"To Mountain!" Elena commanded firmly, without looking at Evander, a clear sign she would not be contradicted.

Evander simply nodded.

***

The journey to the Mountain was uneventful, until suddenly, their car was hit from behind by another vehicle. The impact sent them careening out of control, and they nearly rolled over had Evander not mastered the terrain.

"Evan!"

Elena was thrown about in the back seat while Evander fought to keep the car on the right track. Elena felt a surge of horror when she saw that on their left was a rather steep and deep ravine.

"Hold on, Miss!" Evander shouted.

From the side, Evander could see the other car's driver following them. His eyes widened when he saw a passenger in that car aiming a firearm at them.

"Get down!" Evander yelled.

Elena, still in shock from the jolt, immediately ducked below the window, curling up as small as she could.

BANG! BANG!

The sound of gunshots erupted. Elena screamed as a bullet shattered the window above her head, whizzing past her shoulder and piercing the back seat.

Evander floored it, and a chase ensued along the winding mountain road.

Elena screamed when their car was rammed hard from behind again. The other car seemed intent on pushing them into the ravine. Evander was enraged. He pulled his gun from under his jacket and immediately fired at their pursuers, the bullet shattering their windshield.

Apparently, his shot hit the driver, because the car swerved, hit the guardrail, spun around, and ended up crashing on the other side of the road. Its front hood was crushed and emitting black smoke.

A man scrambled out of the passenger side and ran, just as the car exploded with a deafening roar. Flames shot out in all directions, feeding on oxygen and gasoline, worsening the situation.

Elena covered her ears and cried, her body trembling.

Evander let out a breath of relief and continued to speed away from the scene.

"Are you hurt, Miss?" Evander asked, turning to look at Elena, who was huddled on the floor, covering her ears.

Elena shook her head, her face pale and her breathing ragged.

Evander took Elena to the Montgomery family's villa. The villa's caretaker, who came to greet them, was shocked by the condition of the battered and nearly destroyed car.

Elena, too, looked shocked when she saw her car. Her legs were still weak, and she had to be held up by Evander. She looked at her bodyguard, as if in disbelief that they had just escaped death.

"Come on, let's go inside," Evander said gently.

Evander sat Elena down on the sofa, holding her hands, which were still cold and shaking violently.

"Evan..."

Evander took a deep breath, then pulled Elena into a hug to calm her. The woman clung to him tightly, crying with fear.