Chapter 139
Evelyn’s POV
Calvin’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Then I’ll remember her forever. And perhaps in my memories, I’ll grow to love her more and more…endlessly p>
Inside the car, my head wound had stopped bleeding. I prepared myself for action, catching sight of Calvin’s fingers tapping against his thigh in the cracked rearview mirror. Morse code.
“When I say now, hit your seat release p>
“Cough twice if you got it p>
He wasn’t sure if I had caught the message, so he kept tapping until I gave two deliberate coughs.
Clara was distracted by Calvin’s words, caught between wanting to know if he loved me and not wanting him to cherish my memory.
“Calvin, I’ve loved you for so many years. Why couldn’t you ever feel anything for me? Is your heart made of stone?” Her voice was pitiful, but Calvin remained unmoved.
He coldly replied, “Put the gun down now, and I’ll have my lawyers get you a plea deal p>
Tears ran down Clara’s face as she suddenly pulled the trigger. “I don’t need a plea deal. I just want her dead p>
“NOW!” Calvin shouted.
I slammed the seat adjustment button, but it was jammed from the crash. In that split second, I lunged forward toward the steering wheel. The bullet blazed past my ear, burning hot, and even as pain registered, I drove my knife deep into Clara’s arm.
She screamed, stumbling back while clutching her bleeding arm. The gun clattered to the ground.
In that same instant, Calvin moved with inhuman speed. He grabbed Clara’s wrist and I heard a sickening crack as bone snapped beneath his grip. Her face contorted in agony.
“Ahhh!” Clara’s scream pierced the night as Calvin kicked her chest, slamming her back against Liri’s damaged car hood.
Calvin rushed to my side, his face tight with concern as he quickly checked me over.
“Besides your forehead, are there any other injuries?” His voice was controlled but I could hear the underlying tension.
“No,” I coughed twice, my throat raw from the airbag dust and smoke. Even though I tried my best to stay calm, I couldn’t stop shaking. Adrenaline was still pumping through my veins, and all I could think about were my boys.
“Take it easy,” Calvin’s deep voice came from right beside my ear. The driver’s side window was completely shattered. He took off his suit jacket and gently placed it around me, shielding me from the broken glass that could fall at any moment.
I watched as he attempted to wrench open the mangled driver’s door, the muscles in his forearms straining against his dress shirt, veins prominent with effort. The door was jammed too tightly in the frame.
When Calvin turned away to search for tools, I noticed Liri regaining consciousness in the opposite vehicle.
Her eyes met Clara’s on the hood of her car, and the hatred I saw in both women’s gazes sent chills down my spine. Both of them wanted the same thing—my death.
Unlike me, Liri’s door wasn’t jammed, but she remained still, obviously too scared to move with Calvin nearby. I’d seen that look before someone who knew they were beaten but was still waiting for their chance.
Pack warriors and rogues continued their bloody skirmish around us, creating a chaotic backdrop to our own desperate situation.
Unable to find anything useful, Calvin returned to tear at the door with his bare hands. I pulled myself together, pushing his jacket aside. Every movement sent pain shooting through my body from the lacerations on my back, but I dug my nails into my palms, letting the sharp pain keep me focused.
“I can climb out,” I said, desperate to get to Rowan and Rhys. My concern for the children overwhelmed everything else.
Calvin’s nostrils flared slightly. “Where are you hurt?” His eyes narrowed as he caught the scent of my blood.
I shook my head firmly. “It’s nothing, just some scrapes. Let’s get out of here first. Rowan and Rhys are so little—they must be terrified p>
After clearing the remaining glass from the window frame, Calvin frowned at my thin black top, now torn in several places. “Wait a moment p>
He placed his jacket over the window frame to protect me from any sharp edges. “Be careful p>
Despite my height, my slender frame made it relatively easy to maneuver through the window. As I twisted my body, my lower back scraped against the door frame, and tears sprang to my eyes from the searing pain. The darkness concealed my grimace as I quickly composed myself.
Calvin’s strong arms encircled me with surprising gentleness. “Slowly,” he instructed as he helped guide me through the opening.
When half my body was free, he repositioned his grip, cradling my legs at the knees and carefully lifting me from the wrecked vehicle. Before we could steady ourselves, I caught sight of Liri in the reflection of the broken glass. She was advancing toward us, eyes wild with madness, weapon raised.
“Look out!” I shouted.
Calvin instantly pulled me against his chest, dropping into a crouch while reaching for a metal rod on the ground. In one smooth move, he threw it behind us without even looking back. I heard a thud and someone cry out in pain.
He carried me behind the car for cover. The sudden movement pulled at the wound on my back, and I couldn’t help but gasp.
Calvin felt the wetness on his arm and moved his hand away from my waist. His white shirt sleeve was now soaked with blood. His dark eyes turned cold as he carefully shifted his grip to avoid hurting me.
A man I recognized as Marcel, Calvin’s Gamma and head of security operations, came over quickly with his team, taking down the remaining rogues.
“Alpha Calvin!” Marcel called out, his expression tightening when he saw the blood on Calvin’s sleeve.
“Bring the car around! Now!” Calvin’s command was sharp and urgent.
Liri and Clara watched in desperation as their hired rogues were overwhelmed by Calvin’s security team. Their faces drained of color as they realized their failure was complete.
In one last desperate move, both women raised their guns and fired. Calvin’s men quickly activated their protective shields, blocking the bullets before they could hit us.
Calvin’s face turned ice-cold, and his Alpha aura radiated pure menace, like a predator ready to kill.