A Mission Gone Wrong- part 2

The moment Kai grabbed Elena around the waist, she instinctively tried to push him away.

"What are you doing?" she shouted.

"Saving your life."

"I can walk by myself!"

"We don't have time."

Before she could argue again, Kai jumped.

Elena squeezed her eyes shut.

They landed on the metal fire escape with a loud clang. The old staircase shook violently beneath their weight.

She slowly opened one eye.

"We're... alive?"

Kai smiled.

"I told you."

"You didn't tell me anything!"

"I was going to. We were a little busy getting shot at."

Gunfire erupted below.

"Don't let them escape!" one of the attackers yelled.

Kai looked over the railing.

"They're persistent."

"Can you stop making jokes?"

"I make jokes when I'm nervous."

"You don't look nervous."

"I'm very talented."

The attackers began climbing the fire escape.

Kai looked up.

"We're going higher."

Elena stared.

"Higher?"

"The roof."

"Are you crazy?"

"I've been called worse."

He started running upward.

After a few seconds, Elena had no choice but to follow.

The rain had made every step slippery.

Halfway up, one of the metal bolts snapped.

The staircase lurched.

Elena lost her balance.

"Kai!"

Without turning around, Kai caught her wrist.

"I've got you."

For a brief second, everything stood still.

She looked into his eyes.

He wasn't smiling anymore.

He was completely focused.

"It's okay," he said calmly.

"Trust me."

He pulled her back onto the staircase.

Before she could thank him, another bullet struck the railing.

Kai sighed.

"Apparently they're interrupting our emotional moment."

Elena rolled her eyes.

"You are impossible."

"I prefer 'unique.'"

They reached the rooftop just as the first attacker climbed over the edge.

Kai picked up a loose metal pipe.

"Catch."

The attacker instinctively caught it.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Kai kicked him square in the chest.

The man flew backward, crashing into three others climbing the stairs.

A chain reaction followed.

One after another...

They all tumbled back down with loud screams.

Kai watched them disappear.

"Gravity is amazing."

Elena blinked.

"Did you just..."

"Yes."

"...throw him a weapon before kicking him?"

"He looked like he needed encouragement."

She couldn't believe what she had just witnessed.

Was this bodyguard a professional?

Or an idiot?

She honestly couldn't decide.

A helicopter suddenly appeared above the buildings.

Its spotlight swept across the rooftops.

Kai looked up.

"Oh."

"What now?"

"I don't think that's a news helicopter."

A loudspeaker echoed through the night.

"Surrender immediately!"

Kai waved cheerfully.

"Sorry! Terrible timing!"

The helicopter responded by opening fire.

Concrete exploded around them.

Elena ducked.

"We're going to die!"

Kai grabbed her hand.

"Not tonight."

He sprinted toward the next building.

"Wait..."

There was a four-meter gap.

"You can't be serious."

Kai accelerated.

"Oh, I'm very serious."

He jumped.

For one terrifying second, they were suspended in the air.

Then—

THUD!

They landed safely on the neighboring rooftop.

Elena immediately sat down.

"I hate you."

Kai looked offended.

"We've only known each other for ten minutes."

"Exactly."

Sirens echoed throughout the city.

The helicopter circled around for another pass.

Kai looked across the rooftops.

"We need another way out."

Suddenly...

A loud engine roared nearby.

A motorcycle shot out of a rooftop parking area.

The rider removed his helmet.

He had messy blond hair, sunglasses—even though it was midnight—and an enormous grin.

"Need a ride?"

Kai laughed.

"Max!"

Max Carter parked dramatically.

"I leave you alone for one evening..."

He looked at Elena.

"...and you've already made a new friend."

Elena folded her arms.

"I'm not his friend."

Kai nodded.

"That's fair."

Max pointed toward the helicopter.

"Looks like you've upset someone."

"I don't even know who they are."

"That's impressive."

"It happens more often than you'd think."

The helicopter's spotlight found them again.

Max sighed.

"We should probably leave."

Kai nodded.

"Agreed."

Max looked at Elena.

"You coming?"

She hesitated.

Kai noticed.

"I know you don't trust me."

"No."

"But staying here isn't exactly a better option."

She glanced toward the approaching helicopter.

Then back at Kai.

With a reluctant sigh, she climbed onto the motorcycle behind Max.

Kai jumped onto another parked bike nearby.

"You know how to ride that?" Elena asked.

Kai examined it.

"It has two wheels."

"That's not an answer."

"I'll figure it out."

"You'll..."

The engine started immediately.

Kai smiled proudly.

"See?"

Max laughed.

"I can't believe that actually worked."

The two motorcycles sped toward the rooftop exit just as another burst of gunfire tore across the concrete behind them.

Within seconds, they disappeared into the maze of city streets.

Fifteen minutes later...

The motorcycles came to a stop inside an abandoned warehouse near the docks.

The building was silent except for the sound of rain tapping against broken windows.

Elena climbed off the motorcycle.

She crossed her arms and stared directly at Kai.

"Start talking."

Kai leaned casually against a crate.

"About?"

"Everything."

"That's a long conversation."

"Who are those people?"

"I don't know."

"Why were they after me?"

"I don't know."

"Who sent you?"

"I do know that one."

"Then answer!"

Kai smiled.

"I was hired to protect you."

"By who?"

"I'm not allowed to say."

She glared at him.

"You are the most frustrating person I've ever met."

Kai laughed.

"I get that a lot."

Before Elena could respond...

Mia's voice returned through Kai's earpiece.

"Kai."

"I'm listening."

"I've just hacked into one of the attackers' communications."

"And?"

There was a long silence.

When Mia finally spoke...

Her voice was unusually serious.

"Kai..."

"...this isn't a simple protection mission anymore."

Kai's smile faded.

"What happened?"

"They weren't trying to kidnap Elena."

"What?"

"They were trying to recover something she unknowingly possesses."

Elena looked confused.

"What are you talking about?"

Mia took a deep breath.

"The encrypted drive in your backpack..."

"...contains information capable of exposing the most dangerous criminal network in the world."

Silence filled the warehouse.

Elena slowly turned toward her backpack.

"I... I've never seen any encrypted drive."

Kai looked at her.

"I believe you."

She met his eyes.

"What happens now?"

Kai zipped up his jacket and smiled—not his usual playful grin, but the determined smile of someone who had accepted an impossible mission.

"Now..."

"...we stay alive."

Outside, thunder rolled across the night sky.

Somewhere in the darkness, powerful enemies were already closing in.

The mission had only just begun.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***