“No,” Julian groaned, pressing his stomach. With great difficulty, he strangled the criminal. “Don’t touch her ….”
Annoyed, No Name turned around and pushed Julian’s hand away from his body. “Apparently, you really care about this woman more than your life, huh?”
Without the slightest bit of pity, the man threw a fist into Julian’s jaw. As his opponent staggered, he returned to Gabriella.
Feeling a lot of energy being eroded, Julian finally ambushed the criminal with both arms. With all his might, he dragged the man by the neck to back away from the woman.
“Apparently, you’re persistent too?” No Name sighed in an indistinct voice. A second later, he struck the waist of the person behind his back. A muffled groan suddenly resounded, shaking the air.
“Do you still want to play?” the big man challenged while turning the handle in his grip.
Instead of loosening up, Julian tightened his arm lock. However, the more suffocated the criminal was, the more brutal the his attack was. He did not hesitate to make a new hole in the body of his opponent.
“Aaargh!” Julian groaned while mustering the remaining strength. His whole body was shaking, while his vision started to spin. Even so, he kept the resolve as best he could. The new CEO wanted to prove that he was no longer a coward who always avoided reality.
Infuriated that the enemy was still entwined by the neck, No Name clenched his jaw. Ignoring the man blocking her movement, he began to drag his steps towards Gabriella.
“No!” Julian cried, trying to stay awake. His short breaths clouded the vision. Tears were unwittingly rolling down his cheeks. He was afraid of failing to protect his brother’s happiness.
“Please, God, don’t let this man kill Gabriella,” he sighed with eyes closed. He couldn’t bear to see the knife swinging closer and closer to the woman.
***
“Aaargh!”
Sebastian who just got out of the car was wide-eyed. The car key he was about to swing, automatically returned to his hand.
“Who is that? Why does his voice sound like Julian?” the man thought as he blinked in surprise.
However, after shaking his head to dispel the prejudice, Sebastian walked towards the entrance.
“No!” someone shouted so familiar.
Sebastian could no longer ignore the curiosity. Without a second thought, he changed the direction toward the source of the voice.
As soon as he turned to the corner of the parking lot, his eyes suddenly opened to the maximum. Julian was hanging on No Name’s neck, who kept threatening Gabriella with the tip of his knife.
“Gosh,” Sebastian cursed before frantically fumbling for help.
As soon as he saw a parking signpost, he rushed to pick it up and broke the plank leaving only a stick. Then, with a roaring breath, he ran while lifting the pole into the air.
“Hold him, Julian!” Sebastian exclaimed before swinging a punch at No Name’s hand.
A second later, the sound of a knife blade hitting the floor was heard. The big man immediately stared at the new enemy fiercely.
“Why do you interfere?” his screech rumbled.
Knowing the meaning of that view, Sebastian realized that the criminal must be immediately incapacitated. Without stalling for time, he swung a low punch with all his might.
Failing to fend off the attack, No Name’s groans instantly filled the parking space. His vengeful eyes became redder. He wanted to bend down, anticipating the pain, but Julian was still holding his neck. “God damn it!”
Knowing the enemy had not been conquered, once again, Sebastian swung the pole in the same direction. In just an instant, the big man dropped his knees and curled up in pain. Julian who had just released his grip, also landed on the floor.
“You deserve it!”
A second later, Sebastian finished the commotion with a hard smack to the back of the head. A second later, the big man collapsed and no longer moved. The atmosphere then turned tense and eerie.
“Do you really faint?” the winner asked, pressing No Name’s back with the end of the pole.
Convinced that the enemy had been defeated, Sebastian put down his weapon beside Julian who was hunched over breathlessly.
“Wait a minute. I have to get something in the car,” the man said, not noticing that his cousin’s stomach was covered in blood. Without wasting any time, he ran away leaving Julian who could no longer open his eyes. The man’s breath was already very short.
In no less than a minute, Sebastian came back with handcuffs. After a while, he had managed to lock the hands of the criminal who was still prone on the parking floor.
“Phew …. As expected, we manage to beat him. We’re really great, Julian,” he said with hands on his hips. A wide smile had accompanied his ragged breathing which began to subside.
“Sir!”
Sebastian spontaneously turned to the direction of the shout. Mia was running with a cell phone still in her hand. Behind the girl’s back, a security guard followed with raised eyebrows.
“Look, Mia! We managed to save Gabriella,” Sebastian exclaimed confidently.
However, instead of responding, the secretary fell down in front of Julian.
“Sir?” she called with teary eyes.
As soon as the girl saw that his boss’s clothes had turned red, worry flowed more swiftly. With throat constricted, she tried to speak to the dumbfounded security guard.
“You see what happened! I’m not lying at all. Now, call the medical team quickly!”
Knowing the secretary’s anger, Julian’s hand moved to caress her cheek. He didn’t care if the girl’s face was covered in red liquid. The man just wanted to do what he had been holding back for a long time.
“You see? I’m not a coward, Mia,” Julian whispered as he could no longer speak normally. Breathing alone was already very difficult for him. “I am a brave man, Mia.”
“Stupid!” the girl exclaimed unexpectedly. While helping the man press the wound, she continued to sob. “This attitude of yours is not daring, Sir, but reckless. Why did you fight him empty-handed?”
“I have no other choice, Mia. He could kill Gabriella if I didn’t act quickly. I don’t want Max to lose the light of his life,” Julian shook his head, closing his eyes occasionally. His eyelids felt very heavy.
Realizing that her boss got weaker, Mia’s hand moved to the man’s cheek.
“No. Don’t fall asleep. Hang on! Soon, the medic will come. You can’t go yet. Don’t you want to reconcile your father and brother? How can they calm down if you leave without saying goodbye?”
“I’m … not going … anywhere,” Julian said as he was starting to lean forward. The strength was not enough to keep his back straight. “I will always be with you.”
A second later, Julian completely leaned on Mia’s shoulder. He no longer spoke. His pale face was covered with cold sweat.
Knowing the man was unconscious, the secretary’s lips trembled more violently. “Master, wake up!” Mia urged while waiting for an answer. Unfortunately, Julian had fallen into a deep sleep.
“No …” the girl sighed as she looked in all directions, looking for help. Two seconds later, her gaze fell on the stiff man who was looking at her. “Mr. Sebastian, save Julian please.”
“Let’s … just wait for the medical team,” Sebastian said while scratching his nose, hiding the tears. He felt slapped seeing Julian’s sacrifice to make amends.
Receiving such a desperate answer, an irritated sigh escaped Mia’s mouth. Quickly, she turned to the security guard assigned to accompany her. The young man was busy contacting someone from the communication device in his hand.
“Where’s the medical team?” the secretary shrieked as she didn’t know where her senses were anymore.
“They will arrive soon, Miss,” the man answered with faintly furrowed brows. “Be patient please.”
“Patience? Do you want to be held responsible if Julian’s gone? Can you bring him back to life?” Mia rebuked with burning red eyes.
The memory of how the security guards doubted her report had made her anger boil over.
“If we had come sooner, Julian wouldn’t have ended up like this,” Mia sobbed before closing her eyes. She really didn’t know how to quell the anger that had been mixed with fear.
After venting her emotions for a moment, the secretary finally swallowed hard. For the first time, she tried to share hope with Julian, “Please, hold on, Sir. Don’t make me live in regret.”
With trembling hands, the girl covered the wound that was already bleeding too much.