455: [Bonus chapter] Tonight's party

[Bonus chapter] Tonight's party

"They know we're here… they'd been waiting."2

Heaven squinted her eyes at the building, only to catch a faint glint from one of their windows. Her breath hitched as her pupils dilated before a faint bang was heard. 

BANG!

"Boss!" Bear reacted on instinct, leaping to Heaven to save her from the bullet. The two of them rolled to the side, holding Heaven securely in his arms. 

For a moment, everyone stood frozen from their spot. They held their breaths on instinct, wide eyes at Heaven and Bear. Neither of them thought of hiding as they were already standing behind the vehicle — at least Dominic, Dane, and Axel were already behind the vehicle. Therefore, there was no need to hide them for protection. 

"Are you okay?" Bear inquired immediately, watching Heaven slowly get up to her knees. 

"Yes." Heaven placed a hand on his chest to push him lightly, casting him a quick look. "Thanks."

Bear pressed his lips into a thin line as his eyes burned, assisting her to stand up. "This is no good," he breathed out, facing everyone squarely. 

"We're going straight there to the main entrance." His voice this time thundered, snapping everyone back to their senses. "It's a trap."

"What… what do you…" Dane stuttered as his entire body trembled, falling to his bottom as his knees gave way. "Hey, did someone just shoot fire at us?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Dane moved his eyes to the person who replied to him, only to see Tiger pick up a small bullet from the ground. "It seemed the kidnapping is just the front."

Tiger took a deliberate pause, setting his eyes on Dominic. "It seems who they truly want is you, Mr. Zhu."

"What…" Axel held his breath, eyes shaking as he darted them between his brother and Tiger. "... do you mean…"

"It means we stepped foot in an enemy's trap." Moose worded it in simple terms, bearing an unbothered front despite what happened. Neither he nor Tiger bothered in hiding; although Gray did, Fig also stayed where he was as he finished his snacks. 

"From an outsider's point of view, it seemed the family of three was supposed to die tonight!" Moose continued with a clap. "In other words, we improvise the plan."

"What's… what's the plan?" Dane stuttered, barely getting himself together. 

"We freestyle."

"That's exactly the opposite of a plan!"

Moose chuckled, moving his head in Tiger's direction. The corner of his lips curled up upon seeing the vicious look peeking out of Tiger's eyes. 

"You guys will have to go straight in the entrance, just as what Mr. Cruel said!" Moose announced happily, smiling from ear to ear until his eyes were squinting. "Don't worry. Those who want to stay behind like I do can stay with me. I'll lead the way away from here."

Moose specifically faced Dominic. "Let's go, Mr. Zhu. Don't worry, I'll take you to safety."

"You're not going anywhere, Moose." The smile on Moose's face stiffened as Bear spoke. 

Bear marched toward the big bike after making sure Heaven was okay, unfazed by the current threat that appeared. He opened the compartment of the big bike, pausing as he snapped his eyes at them.

"You're coming with us," he said calmly and sternly, making Moose frown. "Whether or not you like it."

"Hey, this is unfair!" Moose grumbled, watching Bear take out a pistol from the compartment and toss it in Heaven's direction. "Wait… why… don't give her the gun! She might shoot me!"

"I'll really do if you keep wasting time." Just like them, Heaven was unfazed as she marched toward Dominic. However, she stopped midway where Moose stood, clasping his collar to get his attention. 

"You're coming. No more complaints." 

"Aww…" Moose had his hands raised on either side of him, frowning deeply as she pushed him aside. "Damn it! If this isn't also a trap for me — you have to compensate me! Heavily."

Tiger chuckled as he whistled, trudging toward the other car as it seemed they already had a plan. On his way, he grabbed Dane Zhang's back collar to drag him back to the vehicle.

"Let's go, Mr. Assistant. It seems I am your partner tonight."

"Wait — wait!" Dane panicked, holding Tiger's wrist as the latter dragged him. "Why am I also coming?! I can't! Let's just wait for the others to come!" 

But alas, Tiger didn't listen, even when Dane struggled to break free. 

"You can't." Meanwhile, Dominic held Heaven's arm tightly. He shook his head when his wife looked up at him. "You can't go in. You and Axel will stay. I'll go with them."

Compared to the usual sweetness and affection in her eyes, Heaven had carried a cold countenance.

"I agree with my brother, sis!" Axel chimed in from the side, warranting Bear and other's attention. "You shouldn't go in — it's too dangerous! Let them go! Just trust them, okay?"

Axel darted his eyes between Heaven and Dominic, as the two didn't look away from each other. His heart rate spiked at every second that would pass in silence. 

"No." Heaven shook her head, planting her hand on the hand that was holding her arm. "You can't go in there without me, nor you can stay here without me. I can't leave you both behind, Dom. Especially now that it's clear the real target is you. But I also can't just trust others to save Basti."

Her eyes shone with determination and hunger. "Do you trust me, Dom?"

Another wave of silence befell the two of them as they stared at each other. Meanwhile, everyone was also staring at them, waiting for how this conversation would conclude. 

Dominic couldn't answer immediately. If this was before, he would answer even before she could finish her question. However, right now… it wasn't that he didn't trust her. But rather, he was worried about her safety. 

The safety... that didn't seem to cross her now. 

"Don't run off." Dominic breathed out in surrender, loosening his grip on her arm. "Go with Tiger —"

"No." Heaven shook her head, turning her attention to Axel. "You and Axel will come with me. Axel, take the wheel."

She then cast Bear a look. "You and Moose go in first," and then turned her head in Tiger's direction. 

"Tiger, let Mr. Zhang go. Those guards will stay with him. Someone has to keep in contact with the reinforcement. Fig, you stay with them as well, while Gray will be your partner," she instructed without a second hesitation, and without waiting for them to react, she cocked the pistol and fired it in a direction. 

CLANG!

Axel flinched at the deafening sound, eyes shaking at Heaven. Why did she do that? Unlike him, who was puzzled at the reason behind her action, Dominic and the rest had their eyes on the two bullets landing in different areas. 

"Heh," Tiger smirked, snapping his eyes up at Heaven. "What an amazing marksmanship."

Tiger released Dane and walked away, taking off his blazer that revealed the straps across his body where he carried his guns. "Gray, come on, man. Tonight's a party!"

"Party," Moose hissed as he grumpily wore his helmet before Bear sat behind him. 

"We're going in first," said Bear as if they were just going for a stroll, eyes on Heaven. "We'll distract them."

VROOM!

"You mean we'll be the decoys?" Moose grumbled as he let the engine warm up, pulling down his visor. "Damn it! Which way?"

"There." Bear cocked the small rifle he got from the motorcycle's compartment. "Take me to that window. I'll get in there."

Moose snapped his eyes at the window Bear pointed at with the rifle. "Uh…" that was the third floor, but well, he shrugged nonchalantly as he sped away. However, instead of heading straight to the building, Moose circled around a few laps until dust rose in the air. 

"You're welcome!" he yelled as he drifted away, speeding out of the thick fog he created.

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