Chapter 210 Taking a Bullet for a Different Outcome
In the Reception Room.
William was cornered, blood smeared on his chest and cheek. His vision blurred as he saw Joe and his crew, guns in hand. He yelled, "It's just money, Joe. Let's talk."
Joe ignored him, moved to block any shot from William, and ordered, "Push through."
William stepped back, gun ready for a last stand.
Footsteps echoed as a burly man advanced with his gun.
Suddenly, an electrical explosion sounded, and the lights went out.
Joe looked up, startled.
"William, jump down!" a voice shouted from downstairs.
William snapped out of it, dashed to the window, and jumped.
"Light on the right, shoot!" Joe yelled.
The burly man fired as he moved fast to the right side, shattering the window.
William leaped, headfirst through the broken glass.
In the First-Floor Lobby.
A young man pulled the circuit breaker and ran outside.
Outside the Stairs.
Raymond saw William crash to the ground. He rushed over, "Cover us!"
By the car, the driver fired at the window, forcing Joe to retreat.
Joe shouted, "Shoot the car!"
A burly man aimed downwards to suppress the driver.
"Run," Raymond said, helping William towards the car.
Joe reached out, "Give me the choke."
The burly man handed him a silver cylinder. Joe attached it to his shotgun, aimed, and fired.
The car tire burst, the hubcap scorched.
The driver crouched, "The car's done, run to the wall."
On the road, William heard and turned. Seeing the gun barrel, he pulled Raymond, "Run this way."
Gunfire erupted.
Raymond stumbled, blood misting from his back.
"Raymond!" William roared, supporting him with his right arm, and ran towards the wall, shielding him from Joe.
At the window, Joe aimed and fired again.
Pellets sparked on the ground.
"Damn it!" Joe slammed the gun against the wall. "Out of range, can't hit them. I'm going down to chase."
The burly man ran towards the door, avoiding the window to dodge the driver's fire.
By the Wall, William supported Raymond, pale-faced. "Raymond, you okay?"
Raymond leaned against him, eyes unfocused. "As long as you're okay."
"Let's go, I'll help you." William's voice trembled as he supported Raymond, running along the wall for about sixty-five feet.
In front of a restaurant on the main street, the young man who pulled the circuit breaker hijacked an old hybrid car, turned it around, and sped towards William.
"Get in the car."
Seeing the car close, William, about to collapse, found strength again, dragging Raymond and opening the back door.
The driver ran over, supported Raymond's legs, and shoved him into the car, then jumped into the passenger seat, shouting, "Go, they might be chasing us."
"Go, go," William urged, sitting next to Raymond.
The car sped down the street.
Joe's men ran out of the lobby, seeing the car far away, they could only grit their teeth and return.
William held Raymond's head, urgently saying, "Raymond, don't scare me. The company needs you."
Raymond looked at William, coughing violently.
"Drive faster!" William shouted at the young man.
Raymond wiped the blood from his face and grinned, revealing yellow teeth from smoking.
William stared, stunned.
"William, without today, I wouldn't have told you," Raymond weakly said, "I helped you one last time, let me go."
"Terry... Terry is gone, our era is over," Raymond said softly, "I'm really tired, I can't go on with you."
William's eyes reddened.
Since Grayson's death, Raymond, who seemed tough, had wanted to quit.
He felt William's world was too unfamiliar.
He could have fought for the company, for leadership, but he didn't.
Maybe Raymond remembered the old days with Terry and their brothers; maybe William's order to David to shoot Grayson left a mark; or maybe he saw no future for himself.
After being shot, Raymond chose to leave.
Two pellets pierced his lung, leaving him to suffer, but he kept his promise to Terry, handing over a stable company to William.
Raymond wasn't a saint, but his promise was solid.
In the Standalone Building.
Joe stepped into the basement, shot the lock twice, and broke it.
The dark corridor lay ahead. Joe hesitated, heart pounding.
In the room at the end of the corridor, Rodolfo anxiously looked towards the door, praying silently.
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