Chapter 40 : "Bullets and Bonds"

"Watch out!" Ethan's shout pierced the air, alerting everyone to the imminent danger as he spotted two men preparing to fire at Yunus. Acting swiftly, he shielded Yunus, taking the impact of two bullets on his second arm. Yunus's men retaliated, their shots ringing out in rapid succession, neutralizing the attackers.

"Ethan!" Hazel's voice quivered with fear as she witnessed the blood seeping from his wounds. "I..." she began, struggling to find the right words. Tears welled up in Hazel's eyes, and Isabella shielded young Lucian, preventing him from seeing the unsettling scene. "Hold on," Isabella whispered, her voice filled with a mix of fear and determination. They hurriedly lifted Ethan into the car, each of them getting inside as the vehicle sped away, two cars following closely, guided by Yunus's men. "Cover his wound," Yunus instructed, his eyes focused on the road, his earphones beeping with urgent updates. "They're following us," a voice reported.

"Lure them away and inform me when we're safe," Yunus directed, his driving becoming more intense. Ethan succumbed to the overwhelming pain, losing consciousness. The panic and desperation grew among the passengers, their shouts echoing in the confines of the car.

"Boss, you're safe," a voice reassured them after covering some kilometers far from the city. Yunus stopped the car abruptly, rushing to Ethan's aid with the help of his men. "Bring me the tools," he commanded, his mind racing with urgency and concern. "Get me some water and a clean cloth," he instructed Isabella and Hazel. They hurried to comply, Yunus carefully positioning Ethan and proceeding to extract the bullets, despite the agonizing process. Ethan briefly woke, grimacing in pain, before fainting once more.

"How is he?" Hazel inquired, her worry etched on her face. "He'll be fine. You didn't ask about me," Yunus replied, a hint of envy in his tone. "Are you wounded?" she asked, her concern genuine. "Yeah," Yunus admitted. "Where?" she pressed. He hesitated, pointing to his hand but quickly redirected her attention. "Here," he said, pointing to his neck. Hazel tried to make sense of his actions, realizing he was trying to deceive her. She playfully pressed his neck, and he pretended it hurt, eliciting smiles from the others. In the midst of their shared moment, reality intruded, and Yunus's men reminded them of the ongoing danger, urging them to return outside to protect the house.