A/N

Hello there, followers, readers, and all!!!

I know I haven't updated in a while, and I appreciate your constant push. You all helped me get through my anxieties XOXO

Well, enough of me - here's the next chapter of Jordan and Vee's adventures.

Read on!!!

*****

Jordan's POV

I couldn't understand how exactly I felt when I saw Vee's tear-drenched face. She was disheveled - her usual glorious hair now a mess, some strands sticking to her face. She wasn't wearing any make up, but her skin looked as if she put on the wrong shade of foundation which made her look too pale, at the same time highlighting the reddish bruises she got from God-knows-where. 

The fiery eyes that looked up at me while thinking I was an enemy turned glassy the moment she recognized me, and I felt like my guts were wrenched as tears started falling down her flushed cheeks. 

"J-Jordan..." her regal voice sounded broken as she breathed my name in between sobs.

I looked away, unable to contain the feelings welling inside me as I heard her scared tone. I would give up everything just to hear her stern voice again.

"I got you," I told her. My arms involuntarily wrapped around her noticeably frail body, wanting to protect her from further harm. It was when she winced that I noticed the bloody bruises on her knees, arms, and fingers. I cursed quite loudly, unwittingly startling her. She sobbed all the more, burying her face in my chest as I embraced her to try and calm her down.

The level of anger building inside me quickly escalated, and I realized that it wasn't for the men who attacked Vee. I started feeling mad at myself for letting this ever happen to someone important to me.

"I'm sorry," I said through gritted teeth. "I'm really sorry, Venera." With my eyes closed, I kissed her left temple wishing that some of her pain would be eased. I fought back the nasty sensation climbing up my throat and swallowed hard.

Collecting myself together, I gripped the bo staff from my sling and asked Vee to stay hidden in the room. I want to face the men who dared touch her and give them back every bruise and every hit they landed on her. I rarely fight for vengeance, but right now, I would risk even my license to kill just to get back at all the people who did her wrong.

I poised to attack as I heard quick footsteps approaching, and wielded my staff to aim at the head of the first person who crossed the corridor. I knew I hit the right spot when I saw the man fall facedown to the floor, unconscious.

No, I wouldn't kill him - just yet. I need information. I quickly brought out the tri-fold polymer restraints I kept in my sling and tightly cuffed the unconscious man's hands behind him. Thanks to the smooth ratchet, I finished in seconds and successfully tied him to the pillar next to the room before his companions came and shot bullets at me.

As I hid behind a pillar, I cast a quick look at Vee to make sure that she was well-hidden and would not be a ready target. Her hands were covering her ears, but she looked less shaken than earlier. I felt a little better seeing her that way.

As I rolled on my back and aimed for the next opponent's knees, I heard a short beep from my wireless earpiece and in came Frank's voice.

"I called for back up, Jordan." I strained my ears to figure out what he said amidst the loud yells of the men I just knocked down. "I suggest not to create much drama to avoid the media. Remember that you're trying not to reveal to anyone that you and Vee are working on something important." 

I knew I needed that reminder. All my plans flew out the window the moment I saw Vee's disheveled look earlier and I was ready for war. Frank's words helped me get back on track and remember that we had to keep everything as covert as possible - it had to look like something else.

While I contemplated on what my next moves should be, I dodged a bullet which came from the end of the hallway. I caught a glimpse of the noticeably biggest guy of the group I'm fighting before he disappeared into one of the rooms.

"Frank," I discreetly called. "Give me a vision of the left wing." 

Keyboard keys sounded at once as Frank tried to gain access to the security cameras of the castle. I could vaguely remember the access codes for each, but at least knowing the codes to the museum's security control would give Frank enough clue to hack the rest of the castle's mechanisms.

"Got eyes," I heard Frank snort triumphantly. "You got two remaining threats. Eleven o'clock and five o'clock."

I immediately ducked after Frank gave away the locations of the two men, knowing that my rear side is open. Sure enough, I almost got shot in the head had I been a second slower.

I crawled back to where Vee was hidden and updated her with my plan. I saw a weird expression flash in her eyes when I told her that I already got the first four men tied up, but when I looked again, it wasn't there anymore. I told her that we needed to move, as one of the men has a clear line of sight of our position.

"Jordan," Frank sounded agitated as he called. "One eye is down. I lost visibility on the biggest - "

I was unable to catch the rest of Frank's words as my attention instantly shifted to the biggest man of the group, who suddenly entered the room, pointing a pistol at Vee. I poised to draw my own gun but he gave me a warning gesture, pointing at something on Vee's chest. A quick glance at what he was referring to angered me at once, knowing that I may not have the upper hand at this point. 

A red dot on Vee's chest told me that the man's accomplice had his shot fixed on Vee and one wrong move could be fatal. I looked at Vee and was surprised to see her eerily calm. I'm not sure if she even realized or knew what the red laser beam meant.

My heart almost skipped a beat when she slowly raised her hands in surrender and cautiously approached our attacker. I wanted to stop her, but the man gave me another warning not to make unwanted movements if I wanted Vee to stay alive.

"Dammit, Jordan," I could hear Frank's curses in my ear. "All eyes are down. They took the cameras down."

"What will you do now, Mr. Gallagher?" The man mocked, his thick accent making him sound more threatening. "Just give us the information and your princess lives."

Vee chuckled. I thought my ears fooled me, but she did. I still caught her ridiculous smirk when I looked at her. 

"What was that for?" The man queried, obviously aggravated by Vee's action. He adjusted his pistol and aimed at Vee's temple.

"You're wasting time," Vee shrugged, as she faked a yawn and smiled. Her eyes caught mine, and I saw the mysterious subtle wink she gave me. She lazily raised her hands a bit higher, and that was when it clicked.

While the man's attention was focused on Vee, my eyes darted around and realized that his accomplice now has a disrupted line of sight due to the lights produced by the grand clock standing in the corner of the room. Vee didn't just move towards the man to surrender, but she moved to ensure that the clock lights would hit my body and create a shadow to hide me from the sniper. It was quite obvious that the accomplice would target me instead of her since she went closer to his companion.

I didn't like the idea that Vee put her life on the line to save my ass - last time I checked, I was the one who had balls and must be the one to do the rescuing and not her. I almost scowled at her, but then I saw a tinge of fear in her eyes before she looked away. 

I got you, fuck it! I wanted to tell her. 

"Get down!" I shouted almost at the same time that the sniper fired his shot. I wielded my bo staff and hit the big man's head which caused him to lose his balance, and I grabbed the chance to take Vee away. Almost instantly afterwards, both men started firing at us.

I instructed Frank to shut the power down so I could take Vee somewhere safe. I figured that our opponents haven't discovered the secret passageways of the castle since none of them ambushed us from the exits. With Frank as my eyes, he gave directions to where we needed to turn or enter while the enemies blindly fired at us.

We reached the spot where another knight statue guarded a room and I knew that I could let Vee enter the secret passage and wait until it is safe. I twisted the knight's sword and it's body split in half, revealing a narrow staircase which led to the basement.

"Go down twelve steps and turn right to reach the basement," I whispered to Vee. She looked at me with worried eyes and I could feel that she didn't want me to stay outside. "Frank called the police and they'll be here in a bit. I have back up."

Before anyone catches us, I guided Vee into the passage and waited until the torch lights automatically turned on before I locked the secret entrance. The knight statue went back to its original position and I moved a few meters farther to prepare for ambush. I could hear hasty footsteps approaching and this time I decided to use my gun for protection. 

"Winston! I could hear police siren! Abort mission!" 

I smirked as the big man came into view, obviously unprepared to have police officers join in the rubble. I watched as he quickly turned around to find an escape route. Frank conveniently turned the power back on to make it easier for the police officers to find the right people.

"The other cameras are working," Frank reported. "The big guy seems to lead the pack. I can see him rushing back to where their companions are - oh, shit! He shot the four!" 

Gunshots echoed as the man killed his own companions  which I knocked down. He obviously didn't want them to be caught and forced into confession. I sped back to the right wing to prevent the two remaining men from escaping.

"Mr. Gallagher!" I stopped when I heard one of the police officers call my name. "We received a distress call from your assistant who reported burglary."

I was asked to step aside and let the other officers do their job. Frank continued talking in my ear piece and told me that the leader and the other man called Winston decided to break another glass window and escape by jumping into the sea. I heard the same thing reported by one of the officers through the radio.

"Is anyone with you, sir?"

"My fiancé," I replied. I was escorted back to the spot where I secured Vee and we were invited for a short interview on what happened.

*****

It was a rather long day for us, but I knew Vee felt more exhausted than I did. She wasn't used to such situations and I could see how it affected her.

Throughout the interview she was silent and only answered questions directed at her, without proactively offering more details. She had a brave face on, but her fingers were constantly fidgeting the blanket used to cover her body. I refrained from touching her as a protocol, but I dearly wanted to lock her in my arms and comfort her. 

Once established that what happened was purely associated with burglary, the police officers drafted their report and left after securing the parameter. 

"Venera," I called, as I cautiously approached Vee. It was the only time I could actually check on her. She looked up with weary eyes which were almost tearful. "Are you okay?"

She nodded.

"Thank you," she half whispered. "I never thought you'd come..."

My insides felt like being wrenched as I watched her bite her lip to stop herself from crying. I could only apologize, and I would willingly do it a thousand times just to gain her forgiveness.

"I figured you were occupied..." she said, looking away. "I didn't want to disturb you..."

"No..." I hissed. "I wasn't - I mean, I'd always make time for you." I almost cringed when I saw her pout. I waited for any reaction from her but got nothing. She started walking away and I felt compelled to follow her. "V-Venera, please..."

She stopped halfway across and I realized that we already reached the bedroom she used. She slowly turned around and I swear I felt like waiting to be shot dead.

"I am taking a shower," she said as she set aside the blanket and glanced at my face. "I need you to stay with me."

*****

A/N

I'd love to know how you want the story to progress.

Let me know through Comments or Direct Messages and let's see which ideas would make it to the next chapters, yeah?

Don't forget to Vote, Comment, or Share!!!

Lovelots,

liquidfiredragon