<b>Chapter </b><b>121 </b>
Another loud ng echoed through the forest as the bar was hurled at the windshield.
<b>The </b>impact startled Nivera, and she buried her face in her hands.
“There there.” Alejandro rubbed her back.
“I swear,” she whispered, voice trembling, “If I make it out of this, I’m never getting into a car with you again.”
Despite the tension, Alejandro huffed a smallugh. “That’s fair.”
The men were getting more agitated, pounding harder, louder. A Molotov cocktail appeared in one of their hands.
“Oh shit!” Alejandro shouted as the bottle hit the hood of the car. Fire sparked, licking harmlessly off the armored surface.
But smoke filled the air, and the tension escted.
“They’re going to burn us alive!”
“They won’t.” The car is equipped to withstand fire.
“Come out, you asshole!” He heard one of the men yell.
“Okay, I’m sick of these idiots!”
Alejandro slowly reached under his seat and flicked a hiddentch. A hiddenpartment opened silently, revealing a sleek pistol.
Nivera’s eyes widened. “You keep a gun in your car?”
“This is me, Nivera. Did you really think I didn’t?”
“Of course you do,” she said breathlessly.
Another BANG sounded–this time at the back of the car,,where two men tried to pry open the trunk.
“Damn, it’s sealed shut!” one yelled.
“Let’s just break the windows!”
“Try it again,” the leader growled. “All of you–on my count!”
Nivera whimpered, grabbing Alejandro’s arm. “They’re going to get in-”
“No,” Alejandro said coolly, unlocking the safety of the gun. “They won’t.”
Outside, the leader raised his arm. “One-”
Alejandro clicked the pistol. “Cover your ears.”
“Two-”
He rolled down his window just slightly and raised the gun. Before the man could say ‘three<b>‘</b><b>, </b><b>Alejandro </b><b>fired </b><b>once </b><b>at </b><b>a </b><b>man </b><b>who </b>was <b>on </b>the lookout for other cars it was clean and sharp.
<b>The </b>bullet struck the ground inches from the man’s foot, making all of them jolt backward.
“Shit–he’s armed!”
<b>“</b>Get down!”
Alejandro leaned slightly out the window now, the barrel of the gun gleaming under the moonlight. “You’ve got five seconds <b>to </b>disappear,” he said, voice low, deadly. “Or the next bullet won’t miss.”
There was a beat of tense silence. Then the men scattered–panicked, stumbling into each other as they ran for the trees.
Alejandro waited a few more seconds, scanning every shadow.
When he was sure they were gone, he rolled the window up and took a deep breath. “They’ll be back with more. We need to leave
He didn’t know if his men had gotten the signal and he wasn’t about to wait around to fight out.
“The tire-” Nivera pointed out.
“There’s a spare in the back..I think I can fix it.” He then gave her a look. Stay in the car. Don’t open the door for anyone. Not even me unless I knock three times.”
“Alejandro, no. The men could attack you.” Her voice shook as she spoke.
“Are you worried about me?” Alejandro smiled cockily.
“Yes, I am,” Nivera answered honestly. Now wasn’t the time to deny it. She was worried for him and didn’t want anything to happen
to him.
Alejandro was taken aback as he didn’t expect Nivera to respond the way she did.
“I’ll be fine,” he reassured her.
“Stay in the car, it’s much safer here.”
Before Alejandro could respond, he heard the rum of an engine from a distance.
“Right on time.” He exhaled in relief.
shing red lights flooded the path and soon after, ck SUVS screeched to a halt, his security team jumping out, scanning the
area.
He immediately unlocked the car door and one of the men opened the driver’s side door. “Boss! Are you okay?”
“Hmm, I want those bastards caught.”
Nivera was still trembling as she clung to his arm. Alejandro held her tighter, guiding her out of the car once it was safe.
As soon as they were out, he saw a familiar figure approaching him. “What took you so long, Martins?<b>” </b>
“There was a little traffic,” Martins answered. “What were you doing on this road?”
“Dodging traffic,” Alejandro stated and Martins shook his head as he turned to supervise the men.
Alejandro then turned his attention to Nivera who was still shaken up.
“You’re safe,” he whispered against her hair. “You’re okay.”
But Nivera didn’t answer right away. Her eyes stared into the night, the chaos around her blurring as adrenaline still coursed through her.
“Nivera!” She came back to reality when she heard Alejandro call out to her. When she met his eyes, she saw him looking at her, his eyes filled with worry.
Without thinking, she threw herself into his arms.
She never thought she’d findfort in Alejandro’s arms.
Yet in that moment–terrifying, surreal, and alive—he was her anchor.
“You’re safe <i>now</i><i>,</i><i>” </i>Alejandro whispered as he hugged her back.