There was a hair-raising sound as the blade cut into Abigail’s flesh.
She felt a sharp pain right then that seemed to strike her very core, causing her fingers to clench!
Abigail grunted dully in pain, her fingernails almost digging into Diarmuid’s arm right then!
“Umph!”
Diarmuid knew that she was hurting a lot, but words of comfort seemed to be pointless just then.
Even as he caressed Abigail’s cheek, he told Zachary, ‘Hurry.”
Zachary was certainly working as first as he could and was in full concentration as he tried to extract the bullet.
Fortunately, he could see the entire bullet clearly without any equipment and easily took it out!
However, Abigail’s started to bleed even more freely after he did, and he promptly pressed hemostatic powder over her wound.
Abigail was almost passing out, and she was sweating so much it was as if she had just taken a shower!
Zachary then poked his head out to yell at Stan, “Let’s go!”
Stan got in and asked, “Is it done? Did you take the bullet out?”
“Yeah,” Zachary replied, while Stan started to car and they resumed their journey.
They were not far from Franconia-a little more road past this town, and they would reach the Dunesian border.
“Rest for now,” Zachary told Abigail, but she was lying limply in Diarmuid’s arms, no longer having the strength or spirit to respond.
“Sleep,” Diarmuid told her then, and she snuggled against his chest, her eyes closed and her lips pale as a sheet.
There was no telling how long had passed when they finally crossed the Dunesian border and arrived at Franconia.
They were much safer now-whoever that gang was, they would not dare to shoot at them out in the open at Franconia!
Still, they were not relaxing just yet, nor did they return to the castle.
If the gang easily found them in Vos before, they might still be tracking them even now.
As such, they changed vehicles and took a detour, ensuring that they were not being followed before finally heading back to the
castle.
While everyone alighted, Zachary walked up to Diarmuid and said, “I’ll carry her. M
“No,” Diarmuid growled, and he stubbornly scooped Abigail up in his arms while Zachary led the way.
Still, Zachary could not help arguing, “How could you be so petty? You’re hurt and you can’t see, while I’m just trying to help. I’m
not getting any funny ideas with Abigail either.”
“She’s still mine, and I have hands,” Diarmuid retorted. “I’m only blind, not crippled.”
Zachary realized he might have misspoken just then and apologized.”
Sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
Diarmuid took no offense and said, “Get a doctor.”
Zachary gave Stan a look, and Stan quickly caught his cue. “I’ll go right now. N
He turned and strode outside, while the others headed inside the castle.
Sheryl was keeping a constant eye on Abigail’s baby since he was starting to walk and would fall if he lost a little balance. She
needed to be around to catch him immediately.
Seeing Diarmuid entering just then, she picked up the baby and greeted Diarmuid,” Welcome home.”
“Yeah,” Diarmuid murmured.
Zachary then said, “Abigail is injured. Let them rest.”
“Okay. Run along now,” Sheryl quickly said without asking what was wrong. “Do you need my help?”
“Just keep watching the baby,” Zachary replied. “Stan is off to get a doctor already.”
Sheryl nodded. “I’ll keep both eyes on the children. Don’t worry.”
“Sir?” Pierre arrived just then.
“Cook us something,” Zachary told him-they had been too busy running to eat.
“Of course,” Pierre replied and promptly told the kitchen to get to work.
Meanwhile, Zachary led Diarmuid back to his bedroom while he was still carrying Abigail.
After Diarmuid lay Abigail on the bed, Zachary said, “I’ll call James.”
They had no idea if James had managed to get away safely, after all.
Diarmuid nodded but said, “Do it outside.”
Zachary glanced at Abigail, realizing that he had been a little considerate since he might wake Abigail.
Zachary stepped outside, closing the door behind him and walking some distance before calling James.
His call was answered soon enough!
“Are you alright, James?” Zachary quickly asked.
“James, you say? So his name is James, I see… I’m afraid he’s in our hands right now. You’re a friend of his, aren’t you? Do you
want to save him?”
Zachary’s face fell right then!
Who did that voice belong to?!
Before Zachary could react, the man continued pompously on the other end, “Not coming, are you? Just give us an address, and
we’ll send you one of his legs. How about that?”
“Lay a finger on him, and I’ll cut you into pieces!” Zachary bellowed.
“Oh, really?” The man laughed smugly. “Why do I doubt that? Come to us if you dare-111 wait.”
Zachary was at once stumped!
He quickly hung up and set his phone to airplane mode in fear that the gang would trace his signal here.
It was obvious that those gang members were serial criminals, and that meant they were capable of anything!
And now, they had James!
He paced around anxiously.
What should they do? How were they going to save James?
Still, she soon remembered that Diarmuid was the smartest among them, and they would need him to make the call.
However…
Zachary glanced at his bedroom then.
Abigail was shot, and although he got the bullet out, she needed time to recover.
Diarmuid was blind.
And Stan left to get a doctor and was not back yet.
Moreover, after searching for Diarmuid for days, they did not really get any real meals.
But James’s situation could not wait!
In the end, he walked up and knocked on Diarmuid’s bedroom door.
He heard movement inside, and the door was soon opened.
Diarmuid was standing at the doorway and holding out a hand.
Zachary quickly understood and offered Diarmuid his arm, while Diarmuid said flatly, “Let’s get to the study.’
Zahary nodded, but on the way there, he could not stop himself from saying, “James is in trouble.”
Diarmuid’s expression changed ever so slightly, though he soon regained his calm.
It was a taboo to lose composure in the face of adversity!
However, Zachary was hardly calm. “They’re threatening to hack off his leg. What should we do? Do you think they’ll really do
it?”
“Why are you panicking?” Diarmuid growled.
Zachary turned silent and studied Diarmuid gingerly for a moment. “Do you think it’s a bluff?”
“Not really,” Diarmuid replied.
Zachary was left speechless for a moment and exclaimed, “Well, aren’t you worried?”
“Would that help?” Diarmuid asked in return.
Zachary was left speechless right then, but he soon cried, “We should come up with a plan, at least!”
In reality, Diarmuid was anxious since not only did that gang prove themselves deadly, but they were also prepared to die for their
cause.
But Zachary yapping around him only left him irritated. Diarmuidgrowled impatiently, “Why don’t you do it?!”
Zachary turned silent for good then.
Helping Diarmuid to a chair in his study, Zachary said, “Here, sit.”
He still stayed silent, up until Stan returned to the castle with a doctor.
“You should get checked too,” Zachary said.
“Fine. Now, leave,” Diarmuid replied-Zachary was too antsy and getting on his nerves.
Zachary said nothing and merely clapped Stan on the shoulder when he was walking past. “Someone must stay here, and that
means you. I think Diarmuid is annoyed with me now.”
“Me too,” Stan said.
“F*ck off,” Zachary snapped, giving him a nudge in the rump with his foot.” I’m in a bad mood. Don’t joke around.”
Stan looked at Zachary then and saw no mirth in Zachary’s eyes at all.
Composing himself, he replied, “Got it.”
Zachary closed the door behind him as he left, while Stan told the doctor,” Please take a look at him, doctor.”
The doctor put down his briefcase and got some tools from inside. He then made sure he set the breiface so that it would not fall
before getting to work.
As he examined Diarmuid, he asked, “What caused your blindness?”
“I had a fall,” Diarmuid replied.
“Oh,” the doctor replied. “It’s an external factor, and it should be treatable.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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