Sixty-Four- Gunshots

In the other room, the men were trying to tackle the sudden ruckus that had befallen the environment.

Nathaniel, who was currently trying to reach Sebastian who was the only armed person from their side, strategically, with the use of the already overturned furniture in the living room, dodged the bullets that were directed towards all of them.

When he finally made it to Sebastian who was getting annoying prompts from the other two guys, he asked, "Who do you think sent them?"

"My guess..." The gun made a clicking sound. "... is Anderson. "

" Or Markings," Amir added.

"I put my bet on Markings. Where is Chloe? " Gabriel asked Nathaniel who was already falling into deep thought.

"She is inside. I told her to stay put. Where is Lucille?" He threw a question to Amir who was ensuring he made good use of the shield which Nathaniel doubted would sustain them till the battle dies.

"She is hiding in the bathroom. Should you have left Chloe alone though? That room is quite exposed. "

" I certainly can't bring her out here, can I?" Nathaniel asked sternly but somewhere in his head, he was beginning to freak out. What if someone decides to attack through that part of the house?

Amir was right, the place was quite exposed.

Just as he was about to find a way to get his legs walking towards Chloe, the gunfire exchange ceased and the men shared a look.

"Are they reloading?" Amir whispered.

"How would I know?" Gabriel eyed Amir. " You could get up and ask them yourself. "

Amir's lips formed a disgusted gesture and he said, " I hate you. "

"I love you too boo. But we have to suspend our couple issues till this shooting episode ends. "

Nathaniel shared a frown with Amir who was looking more of confused than disgusted. Amir, in conclusion, took his index finger, pointed it to the side of his head and winded it in the air to indicate he feared their friend was treading the path of insanity.

"We should go somewhere else and plan an attack," Sebastian finally talked, seriousness still etched in his face.

"Hmm." Nathaniel craned his neck and tried to see if he could scour the room for a potential exit. "I don't know... Should we see if we can move to the back of the house? "

" What if there are more men out there? " Gabriel asked and Nathaniel had to rethink.

Just when an idea was about to drop, the unmistakable sound of shattering glass filled the air and Nathaniel found himself freezing on the spot.

Amir interrupted the tense air around the men who were trying to listen for a clue. "Did that just come from-"

He was in turn, cut short by a gunshot

and Nathaniel had no idea how he did it, but he was soon in the room where he had earlier left a half sleepy Chloe.

The sight he met had his heart almost jumping out of his ribcage. The blood which was slowly traveling towards the entrance made his legs feel weak.

The tall man was already swearing and promising menacingly within him that he would make sure to ruin whoever it was that is responsible for Chloe getting shot.

But at the same time, something was telling him that nothing had happened to her.

But then, they had all heard the gunshot and he certainly didn't remember keeping a gun in that room.

The tough sole of his slippers crushing the shattered glass, Nathaniel tore his eyes from the bloody sight, walked some more into the room.

As his eyes made to scan the room, Chloe's eyes met his and relief rode him. And then, confusion followed when he saw the huge man who was sprawled carelessly on the floor in his own blood. She looked okay, but there was this fearlessness in her eyes and that made him wonder why she wasn't shaking with fright.

"Nathaniel..." A seemingly clanking sound rushed through the room as she attempted to get up. "Are you okay?"

The man was still amazed at how calm she was.

But he wasn't going to dwell on the topic, so he walked closer and held her gently. "Are you fine? What happened?"

"Uhm..." A bit of distress finally showed in her eyes and Nathaniel felt a strange kind of relief, he wondered what a hidden part of him could have been thinking. "I was about to grab the lamp to use as a weapon when the glass shattered and this guy came and..."

" Hey, slow down," he cooed as her chest began to seem like it was racing. Nathaniel held the sides of her face which felt so delicate to him, he felt so mushy as soon as his palms came in contact with her face.

"One at a time Chloe."

The woman nodded, her roughened hair getting a free blow thanks to the random thick breeze that found its way into the room.

"He had a gun and I-"

"This guy looks familiar," Sebastian's voice filled the air and the couple turned towards the man who was holding his firearm carefully yet readily as he studied the man on the ground who was now groaning in pain.

"He does?" Amir and Gabriel leveled in stance with Sebastian and they all turned the man in pains to a view for their peering eyes.

"I remember this face from the junkyard. He was part of the men there."

Amir scoffed and had his hands on his waist. " I am telling you guys, this is Markings doing." The man shook his head and wore an impatient smile after. "I am going to make sure I deal with that bastard."

" Okay Amir, you'll have to calm down," Nathaniel said from where he was.

"Calm down till when?" Amir's voice spelt rebellion and that was just silly to Nathaniel. "Till everyone in this room is killed by some hormonal bastard called Wood Markings?"

" We need to be strategic Amir," Nathaniel pushed.

"Strategic?" Gabriel's voice came in this time. "Were you been strategic when you gave the Axion deal to that Anderson guy?"

" Why are you bringing this up now? It is not related."

Gabriel scoffed. " Of course it isn't. Let me tell you something Nathaniel, drop the responsible man act for once and realize that this situation doesn't need anything that relates to strategy."

" So, what?" As Nathaniel felt Chloe's hold around him loosen, he folded his arms and wore a frown. "We should just approach Markings with our bare chest and ask him to tell us why he is after us?"

" It certainly doesn't hurt to be careless." Gabriel shrugged.

"If I were careless, do you think we will be where we are? I-"

" Please!" Gabriel's hands flew into the air in a kind of rage. "We are three who are involved in this business. As you have been playing your part, Amir and I have too. So that bullshit about how responsible you are or how we need to be grateful to you, cut it out."

Nathaniel was without doubt amused and as his arms went back to his sides, he said, "If this is about the Axion deal, I told you, I did it for a reason you will eventually come to know."

" This is a God-damn partnership, Nate. If you can't discuss whatever shit you plan, with us, at least stop keeping us in suspense."

Nathaniel wore a frown as the room began to wear a different emotion. "This is not about the deal, is it?"

"I-" Another gunshot filled the air, this time, louder and closer and as Nathaniel attempted to pull Chloe towards a cover, he noticed the gun she had earlier dropped in her hand pointed towards the area where fine glass once stayed firm.

His eyes then traveled towards the area and the familiar, annoying eyes of Markings met his and Nathaniel then realized that Chloe had shot the man who was pointing the nose of his gun carelessly as he staggered stubbornly.

Just as he was about to hug Chloe and get the gun out of her grasp, Gabriel's voice called him with a wince and Nathaniel knew something was wrong.

And indeed, something was wrong.

Gabriel had been shot.