NovelUSAChapter 605 Talbot's face was ashen with rage.
How did she know that gun was empty? And how on earth had she managed to swap the weapons right under everyone's noses? While Talbot hesitated to give the order, Citrine let out a derisive laugh. "Tell your men to drop their weapons and let them go." As she spoke, she yanked back the bolt on her rifle with a sharp, decisive motion.
Talbot's eyes narrowed in alarm. He pressed his palm downward, signaling the men in camo to set down their guns.
The soldiers obeyed, lowering their weapons and moving to untie the ropes binding the group.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtYet even with their bonds loosened, there wasn't a single smile among the Carmichaels or Hilda. None of them dared imagine what awaited Citrine once they were gone.
Raymond stared at his daughter, face lined with worry. "Citrine, we're not leaving you here alone." Hilda's voice trembled with pain. "That's right. We can't just abandon you." Before anyone else could protest, Citrine's voice cut through the air, cold and sharp. "Don't do anything foolish right now." She fixed them with a stern glare.
The Carmichaels pressed their lips together, swallowing their words. Hilda did the same, her eyes brimming with anguish.
Of course they understood-the only way to survive was to leave now. Citrine was holding Talbot hostage precisely to give them this chance. If they refused, they'd only make things worse for her.
Citrine didn't look at them again. Her voice stayed icy. "Go. Now." Raymond's gaze was heavy as he looked at the others. "You heard her. Move." Everyone knew they couldn't afford to weigh Citrine down. Stifling their grief, they turned and left.
Only when the last of them had disappeared from the sniper's line of sight did Citrine finally lower her gaze.
The group hadn't made it far from the abandoned building when they were blocked by another squad of camouflaged men.
Raymond's expression darkened. He glared at their leader. "Talbot gave the order -you're supposed to let us go. What's the meaning of this?" The squad leader gave a mocking chuckle, as if he'd just heard the punchline to a bad joke.
He raised his weapon, aiming straight at Raymond's chest, and drawled, "Boss did say you could leave-but he never said you'd walk out alive." Raymond's face tightened as the truth hit him. He set his jaw. "We're not far from the building. The moment you fire, your boss is as good as dead." met The man's lips curled in a sneer. "Relax. These rifles are fitted with suppressors. No one will hear a thing. You'll all die here, and no one will ever find out." "Enough talk. Tto say your goodbyes." He nodded, and the rest of the squad raised their guns, muzzles trained on the group. With practiced precision, they chambered rounds and placed their fingers on the triggers.
Raymond and the others closed their eyes, bracing for the end.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmIn that final moment, with death staring them in the face, all they could think of was Citrine.
The squad leader gave the command. "Fire." As their fingers tightened, a sudden volley of bullets whistled from the ruins nearby.
Before the soldiers could react, bullets punched clean through their foreheads. They dropped where they stood, dead before they hit the ground. Raymond and the others snapped open their eyes, stunned at the bodies sprawled at their feet.
"Who...? Who did this?" Raymond muttered, brow furrowing in confusion and disbelief.
Before they could recover, a squad of uniformed soldiers strode toward e them with military discipline. Their leader stopped in front of Raymond and snapped a sharp salute.
"Mr. Carmichael, sir. I'm Sherman, team leader for the Vermillion Vanguard's rescue operation."
"Vermillion Vanguard?" Raymond's eyes narrowed, gaze fixed eno m Sherman, "How do you know my name?"
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