But just when I thought it was over, a mysterious man showed up, half his face covered, and took the gunman down.
"Are you stupid? Will you just keep standing there, waiting for your death?"
He didn't look at me, just the mess around us.
"Who the hell are you?" I demanded, my voice shaking.
"Someone who's not going to let you die tonight," he said simply.
I don't usually trust strangers, but at that moment, I didn't care.
He was my way out.
After taking down one enemy after another, he walked over, grabbed my arm, and led me out of the safe house. Soon, the cool night air hit my face. Damn. Free at last!
Once we were a safe distance away, he stopped and released my arm.
Curious, I asked, "What's your name?"
But he only shook his head slightly and smiled. "You don't need to know me," he replied, his voice low and calm. "Just remember my voice because this will not be the last time you hear it."
"Why? Why won't you tell me?"
The man took a step back. "Because in our world, knowing too much can be a dangerous thing, Valentina. Just know that I'm watching, and when the time comes, you'll see me again."
After saying that, he disappeared into the night.
Cats have nine lives, they said. But I'm nowhere near being a cat.
After the attack last night, it was already a miracle that I survived. And I don't want to waste that. Life's too short to waste on people who are trash.
Ever felt as though the universe was trying to tell you something? This might be it.
Max made my blood boil. That man is total crap, and I'm so sorry for myself for wasting too many years, too much potential, holding myself back for him.
I remember when Victor, the second-in-command of the Red Blood Gang, approached me with an offer. I was supposed to be the next in line, the first female to ever hold such a rank in our mafia family.
He said he had seen my potential. You know, I may be a woman, but I'm a woman who could detonate bombs, extract enemy locations with precision, shoot, and kill without hesitation.
But every time, I always held back. All because I didn’t want to leave Max behind in the lower ranks. Foolish, I know. So stupid of me, blinded by a love that wasn’t even real.
But now, things are different.
I went to the Red Blood Gang’s headquarters the next morning. Victor was waiting for me in his office. He looked up as I entered, a knowing smile playing on his lips.