The Man of My Prayers (Fitzmael 3) - COMPLETED

07: Two Is Better Than One

ADORN ZHARICK VALE

I SAW THREE men approaching my direction. I walked with my head down, hiding behind the parked cars. I kneeled on the ground. I peeked at them and shot one in the knee. I quickly stood up and shot the other in the knee as well. They couldn't react immediately because of how fast everything happened.

"Shit!" I cursed when I ran out of bullets and couldn't shoot the last one. It seemed like they weren't prepared for me. I barely had enough ammo!

I crouched down and hid again. The last man was approaching while the other three groaned in pain. I didn't run and I just waited for him. Before he could even shoot me, I threw the gun I was holding at him. It hit him in the face, and I immediately grabbed the gun he was holding. I shot him in the knee and kicked him in the face.

I dragged him toward his friends. The blood pouring from his knee dripped onto the floor, and with each pull, more blood left a trail on the ground.

Suddenly, Archer's car arrived along with two black vans. Archer quickly got out of the car, his face showing clear fear and concern.

I still didn't let go of him, even though he was trying to fight.

People from one of the vans got out first. They immediately lifted the men and carried them inside, then drove off. The people from the other van spread out across the parking lot, cleaning up the blood and collecting the guns. They handed my bag to Archer and continued with the cleanup. I couldn't recognize any of them because they were all wearing masks and their bodies were completely covered.

It was the first time I witnessed how Archer's team worked. Whenever I needed backup, I would leave as soon as they arrived, and I never got to see exactly what they did. They checked every corner of the parking lot.

"ATTORNEY!"

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard Archer shouting, gently shaking me.

"Attorney!" he repeated. "You're bleeding!" He tied a cloth around my arm to stop the bleeding.

I didn't know what had happened, but it felt like I was just waking up from a dream when Archer called me... as if everything that had happened earlier was just a nightmare, and it was only now that it was sinking in. Fear slowly started to consume me. "Franco..." I murmured.

"Do you want me to call him?"

I nodded immediately. "Y-Yes..." I sat down on the floor as my body weakened.

"Shit!" He quickly helped me stand up. "You're so pale!"

"I-I can't stand..." I murmured. Slowly, tears started to fall, and I quickly wiped them away. "I-I'm crying..." I looked at my hands, now wet with tears. I noticed my fingers were trembling, and I couldn't stop them. "W-What's happening?"

"Where are you? Are you safe?" Archer asked anxiously on the other line. "Can you go down to the parking lot and bring a first aid kit? Attorney has a gunshot wound."

When I heard that, I instinctively placed my hand on my wound. "I can't feel my wound..." I looked up at Archer. "My heart is beating so fast... It's hard to breathe." I clenched my fist to stop the trembling—but it wouldn't stop.

Archer hung up the phone and knelt down to meet my gaze. "It's my first time seeing you like this... I think you're having a panic attack," concern was clear in his voice. "Franco is safe. Please breathe. He's on his way."

I burst into tears. "I... I'm so s-scared... They couldn't reach me and my family, so I'm sure they'll target Franco once they find out."

"I'll make sure to catch whoever gave the orders to kill you," Archer said, lifting me up and walking toward his car.