15 Chapter 15
Lorcan drove them to work and since it's Monday, everything was a bit hectic, and before they knew it, lunchtime came. Lucas had dropped by bringing them lunch and they had it together. Serena told him about Hendrick and he agreed to come home with her to meet him. Lucas went back to his office after that and the three of them continued with their work. They were discussing when she got a call from Stefano.
"Stef?," Serena answered.
"Serena, are you safe?," asked Stefano.
"Yeah, I'm in the office with Lorcan and Charlotte," Serena replied, "Why?,".
"I'm sending Hendrick to your office then," said Stefano, his voice sounds worried.
"Stef, what's going on?," asked Serena.
"It's started, they shot uncle Antonio," Stefano replied.
"Is he alright?," tears start to welled up in her eyes.
"Critical conditions, two bullets went through his abdomen, and one in the shoulder," said Stefano, "Mom's really worried about you,".
"I'm fine, I won't be alone, Stefano," Serena replied, "It's you I'm worried about.. You, Scott, mom.. The entire family that I know.. You guys are in this mafia thingy..,".
Lorcan and Charlotte had looked at Serena, sensing her agitating reaction.
"Serena, we're going to be fine, it's you that we're worried about," said Stefano reassuringly.
"I can protect myself, Stef.. I know how to shoot," said Serena.
"Well, looks like Hendrick's going to stay there for a long time then," said Stefano, "Scott told me what happened between you two, don't worry, I already warned him,".
"Hendrick is the least of my worries, I'm actually feared for my friends in here, and dad, and uncle William and his family," replied Serena.
"Mom already sent a few of our men to protect them, and right now, she's speaking to dad," said Stefano.
"Stefano, did they find out who shot uncle Antonio?," asked Serena, "Is it the Volki? Or the Lynch?,".
"Neither.. Scott and few of his guys managed to catch one of the men who shot uncle Antonio," replied Stefano, "And the man didn't speak English,".
"Well what did he say?," asked Serena.
"When Scott asked him who gave the order, the man said vete al infierno, hijo de puta," Stefano chuckled, "So I'm guessing either he's Spanish or Mexican, but I'm betting they're Mexican,". (Go to hell, motherfucker)
"Holy shit..," Serena whispered, "I guess they found out about it,".
Lorcan's phone starts to ring and Lorcan shows Serena his phone screen revealing that it was her father who had called. Serena nodded to him and he answered. Charlotte was already on the phone to call Lucas.
"Yeah, because the man mentioned African Star and laughed..," said Stefano, "Crazy ass,".
"Stefano.. Please be safe," Serena pleaded to her brother, she had started to panic. The African Star was safely hidden and she's the only one who knows where it is, "I don't want any of you to get hurt or killed, they're going to hunt all of you,".
"Sis, it's alright," said Stefano trying to calm her, "Look, we always knew that this thing will happen since grandfather died, we've already prepared,".
Tears had already started to flow from her eyes.
"Stef.. I'm so sorry for not talking to you in all those years, I know I've sent e-mails and stuff but..," Serena didn't finish.
"Hey.. Hey.. Serena.. Sweetheart, that's all past. You're my sister and I love you no matter what," replied Stefano, "Just don't worry about us,".
Lorcan was still on the phone with her father and while Charlotte just got off from her phone.
"Serena, I gotta go," Stefano whispered, "We're about to go to the hospital, I'll call you later, alright?,".
"Okay.. Stefano, please be careful," Serena wiped her tears, "I love you..,".
"I love you too, sis," Stefano replied and hung up.
There was a moment of silence and both Charlotte and Lorcan looked worried. The office door suddenly slammed open and Lorcan yelled in shock, toppling from his sofa while Charlotte shrieked. Hendrick was standing at the entrance, his eyes had searched for Serena in panic. For the first time in Serena's life, she was a relief to see him.
"Serena..," Hendrick looked at her.
Without saying a word, Serena walked straight towards Hendrick and hugged him. Hendrick looked surprised and he wrapped his arm around her, burying his face in her hair. He felt something wet on his shirt and realized that Serena had been crying.
"It's alright, I got you, love," Hendrick whispered as he rubbed her back, "I got you..,".
Hendrick finally let her go and let her do her work. He took the sofa in her office while Lorcan and Charlotte brought their MacBook to work in her office. Hendrick and Serena quickly filled Lorcan and Charlotte with information and Hendrick decided that it's not safe for Serena to stay alone. Thomas had called Serena a few minutes later and asked her to come to London for safety but Serena turned it down telling him that she'll be fine. Few hours later, Lucas came and Serena introduced him to Hendrick. Hendrick masked his face with a charming smile and shook hands with Lucas.
They all decide that they should go to Serena's place to discuss the next step. They were just stepping out from the building when Serena noticed a black jeep coming their way from a corner, the windows rolled down.
"Get down!!," Serena yelled and she pulled Lucas and Charlotte down behind the bus stop with her while Hendrick and Lorcan rushed to take cover behind a post box.
The sound of machine guns started to rattle and people around them were running and screaming. Serena saw a toddler kneeling next to his mother, crying as the mother was unconscious in a pool of blood. Realizing that the toddler was still in danger, she took out her gun and started shooting. Hendrick, who had his gun out, was busy shooting back at the jeep. Lorcan and Charlotte who had realized what Serena was about to do quickly drew out their guns and started shooting back to cover her.
"Serena..," Lucas yelled, "What are you doing?,".
Serena had run and shooting at the same time, she quickly grabbed the boy and ran back towards Lucas.
"My God.. Were you trying to get killed?," asked Lucas looking terrified at her.
He starts to check her for injuries.
"Lucas, I'm fine.. Look, I don't have any spare guns for you, so I need you to take care of the boy," said Serena as she reloaded her gun.
"Wait, what are you going to do?," asked Lucas as he tried to calm the boy down.
"Protecting us," Serena replied, "And call the police,".
Lucas nodded and took out his phone with his other hand. Serena had joined Hendrick, Lorcan and Charlotte, shooting back at the vehicles. She took aim at the front window and shot, she heard the cries of pain and knew that she had hit her target.
"Wow.. I think you just hit the driver," Charlotte whooped as she shoot.
"Charlotte, there's a pair of feet underneath the jeep, can you get that?," asked Serena.
Charlotte nodded and aimed under the jeep. There was a yelp and a body fell on the ground, the machine gun in his hand skidded underneath the vehicle a few feet from them.
"Cover me," Serena yelled.
Charlotte and Lorcan reloaded their guns and started shooting while Serena ran towards the jeep.
"Serena.. What the fuck!!," Hendrick yelled and he quickly aim towards the window.
Serena ducked down a few bullets and rolled her body to grab the machine gun. There was another hand trying to grab the weapon and it was the injured shooter. He glared at her and she punched him in the face, snatching it from his hand. She grabbed her gun and shot him in the head. Serena checked the weapons for bullets, gathering up her courage, she suddenly stood up right at the side of the jeep and shoot inside the open window with the machine gun. The attack suddenly stopped. Hendrick quickly pulled her behind and they both stepped back. Everything was quiet.
"Is it over?," asked Charlotte as they both checked for movement.
"I think so," Lorcan replied.
Sirens were heard and they all sat at the bus stop. Lucas went to check at the little boy's mother and look at them with a sad face.
"She's gone," he whispered.
Charlotte had taken the little boy from his arm and Lucas had pulled Serena into a tight hug. The ambulance and police arrived. Serena realized that she had injuries. There was bullet graze past through her arms and she was bleeding from her shirt. The medics gave them a check up while few detectives started to ask questions at Lucas and Hendrick. They explained everything, and avoided mentioning the African Star. One of the CSI opened the jeep and let out a whistle. There were four bodies inside, and one underneath. Serena explained to the detective how she killed the men and the detectives took some notes in their notepad.
"Am I going to be arrested?," asked Serena.
"Well, not yet, Miss Evans," said one of the detectives, "But I'm still wondering though, why were the Hong Longs attacking you,".
"Hong Long? What do you mean?," asked Hendrick.
"One of the men in the car had a tattoo on his hand," said the detective, "A red and gold dragon, and only the high ranking of the gang have that, common gang members only have the black dragon in their right arm like that guy over there,".
He points to the dead body on the ground that Serena had shot.
"That one is a commoner," said the detective.
He turned to look at all of them.
"Lucky that all of you can defend yourselves, although I need to see your weapon license," said the detective, "Here is my card, if you need to contact me for information,".
Serena took the card and saw that his name is Barry Reeves.
"Wait.. What will happen to the boy?," asked Lucas.
"Well, we'll contact his close family or relatives first, if he doesn't have anyone, then we'll let the social service take care of him," detective Reeves replied.
"Oh, alright then," Lucas replied, "Please let the family know that I'm ready to pay for the funeral arrangements if they need any help,".
"I will, Mr. Whishaw," said detective Reeves.
The boy had already stopped crying when the medic took him inside the ambulance. He gave a small wave at Lucas and waved back. Serena wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his cheek.
"That was very sweet of you," Serena whispered.
"I know how it feels to lose a mother," Lucas whispered back as he kissed the top of her head.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps and both of them turned around as Lorcan and Charlotte ran towards her looking alarm. Hendrick was on his phone, his eyes looking at Serena looking worried and shocked at the same time. His hand was rubbing his forehead.
"Serena..," Charlotte panted.
"What's wrong?," asked Serena looking terrified, "Is it my family?,".
"No.. It's your apartment," said Lorcan, "There's an explosion and it blew up the whole complex,".
Serena felt her knees going weak and Lucas caught her as she fell.
