Rule 7 : Rage

CHAPTER 42: Emerald's Panic.

Andriana's breath caught in her throat, fingers digging into her palms, knuckles bleaching bone white. "Foolish girl, underestimating me is a mistake you won't live to regret. Now, get out before the worm turns."

A shuddering sigh racked her body. "But you've got a family," she breathed, words heavy with pity.

His grimace didn't reach his eyes. The corners of his mouth dipped in a brief lapse of composure before a cold sneer took over. "That doesn't exist anymore," he snarled. "Get out."

The words sunk in, realization dawned, harrowing her to the bone. A wide-eyed stare washed over her face, contorting her features. "If you value your life, you'd better take your heels and run."

Andriana's emerald form blurred as she bolted for the shadows. Lord Maximus roared, a booming sound that rattled the walls. A rush of footsteps reverberated in the room, fueling the fury surging within him. He lunged for the gun nestled on the table, the glass groaning under his vice-like grip.

A dart of movement at the doorway sent a jolt of adrenaline through him. In blind rage, a grunt escaped his lips as he whipped around, his finger tightening on the trigger.

A gunshot shattered the tense silence of the room. Before he could fully register his surroundings, the bullet screamed past Dr. Martini's ear, a hot wind scorching her cheek. It embedded itself in the wall with a deafening thwack.

Lord Maximus's eyes, wide and glassy with terror, bulged from their sockets. He didn't run; he lunged towards Martini, a strangled bellow escaping his throat.

Martini, statue-like in shock, remained rooted to the spot. Her ears throbbed with a dull ache, the world a distorted soundscape. A metallic tang, sharp and acrid, invaded her senses.

"Martini!" Lord Maximus's voice tore through the haze, his hands wrapping around hers like a clamp. His touch was the only grounding force in the chaotic world around her.

The double doors of the room burst open, shattering the tense silence. Hardin and Rocco, eyes wide with alarm, flooded into the room. Hardin's breath hitched as his gaze darted between the pale, shaken doctor and the fear-stricken Lord Maximus.

Lord Maximus's jaw clenched, a low growl vibrating in his chest. "Leave," he rasped, his voice laced with barely controlled fury.

The two bodyguards hesitated, exchanging a bewildered look. Hardin, ever the cautious one, asked, "My lord, is something wrong?" His voice trailed off as he noticed the scorch mark on the wall.

"I said nothing!" Lord Maximus snarled, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down their spines. The bodyguards started to turn, but a barked "Wait!" from Maximus froze them in their tracks.

Dr. Martini, her mind reeling, slipped past them and sank into a nearby chair. Lord Maximus approached the bodyguards slowly, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Did either of you see a woman enter or leave this building?" he asked, his voice taut with tension.

"No, sir," they replied in unison, their voices devoid of emotion.

"Green emerald dress, flowing waves of hair," Lord Maximus muttered, his jaw clenched tight. He didn't look at Dr. Martini, his gaze fixed on a distant point.

"CCTV footage, my lord," one of the bodyguards offered, his voice sharp with efficiency. Both men bowed curtly, their dismissal a silent deference.

Lord Maximus waved a dismissive hand, the glint of the heavy ring on his finger catching the light for a fleeting moment. He turned towards Dr. Martini, his steps heavy.

"Part of the art of defense," he rasped, his voice rough. "I could have been dead!" Her words trailed off, replaced by a tense silence.

Dr. Martini's eyes snapped to his, a flash of something sharp and icy replacing the shock that had clouded them moments before. "A woman?" she breathed quickly.

"You have good ears, even in shock," Lord Maximus said, a sly smile playing on his lips. His gaze flickered to her hand, which involuntarily rose to her chest, where her heart still rapidly thumped.

Her lips pursed into a thin line. "Or are you jealous?" she rasped, her voice coarse with lingering shock. "Forget it, my lord."

He took a seat beside her, but she rose abruptly, her body still buzzing with adrenaline. "I can't stay next to someone who tried to kill me," she said, her voice trembling slightly.