Chapter 5
Emily knew exactly what she was doing.
She only needed to "make the introduction"—whether anything came of it wasn't her responsibility.
Her priority was getting her bracelet back.
And now, she would use this jacket as an excuse to meet with Michael.
Gavin had informed her that Michael would be at a nearby café this morning, so Emily suggested meeting at a restaurant in the same area to express her gratitude.
She waited nervously for Michael's response, wondering if he would come.
Surprisingly, his reply was brief and direct: [OK.]
At the appointed time, Emily sat in the restaurant with the freshly pressed jacket, waiting.
The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a clear view of the street outside.
The sun beat down, making her feel slightly dizzy.
Time ticked by slowly, with no sign of Michael.
Emily grew increasingly anxious, afraid he didn't come.
Suddenly, there was commotion outside as people began running and scattering.
Customers in the restaurant started discussing what was happening.
Emily looked outside, her pupils dilating in shock.
A Jeep was careening wildly through the street, heading directly toward a familiar figure.
With a powerful push of his long legs, he dove sideways in a swift, fluid motion.
The tires scraped over the spot where he had just been standing as Michael knelt on the ground, wiping blood from his lip.
The vehicle started up again, incredibly charging toward him a second time!
Michael pushed himself up and darted into a narrow alley.
The Jeep couldn't follow into the small passage but honked furiously.
Four or five men jumped out and chased after him.
Emily's heart leapt into her throat.
Without thinking through the consequences, she ran outside.
Michael absolutely could not be harmed!
In the alley, Michael moved quickly in one direction.
The maze of passages was complex—anyone unfamiliar with the area would be lost, but he navigated without hesitation, as if he knew the route intimately.
"Stop right there!" Someone shouted from behind.
Michael didn't look back, simply changing direction.
A strong man appeared to block his left turn, another to block his right, forcing Michael to retreat.
However, men now surrounded him from all sides.
Michael frowned slightly. Reinforcements?
"Mr. Wilson, just come with us. Our boss is waiting for you." said the leader, a tattooed man who smiled menacingly, holding an electric baton.
Michael's eyes darkened, like a predator concealing its power while becoming more intimidating.
"Who sent you?" He asked coldly.
"That's not for you to know. Just come quietly and you'll find out!" The man replied.
Though they looked like common thugs, they all carried knives or electric batons. Hand-to-hand combat would inevitably result in injuries.
Michael stepped back, rapidly calculating his options.
He wasn't thinking about escape, but rather how to buy time.
Seeing him unresponsive, the men grew impatient, raising their weapons and about to rush forward.
"Stop!" A clear female voice halted everyone's movements.
Emily stood there, her face pale as porcelain, her lips pressed together until they showed a hint of color.
Her eyes revealed her fear, and the metal pipe in her hand trembled slightly.
Emily struggled to control her shaking, trying not to show fear.
She had found the pipe moments ago—it should provide some protection, right?
Despite her mental preparation, seeing so many armed men made Emily tremble uncontrollably.
Michael stared in astonishment at the slender yet straight figure standing before him, suddenly feeling as if something had scalded his heart.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded, his voice tinged with anger.
He had planned to resolve this before meeting her at the restaurant, expecting it wouldn't take long.
"I-I-I..." Emily stammered, turning her head. "I saw you from the restaurant being chased, so I came to help."
"Help him?" One thug said.
"Hahaha!" The group erupted in laughter. "With those skinny arms and legs? I could snap you like a twig, and you think you're going to rescue someone?"
"Mr. Wilson, our boss really just wants to talk. Come with me, and let's not hurt this little lady," The leader said.
They continued laughing derisively.
Though they knew better than to mess with Michael, they had their boss backing them.
Emily's face flushed red. "He's not going anywhere with you!"
"Get out of here now, or I'm calling the cops!" She declared firmly.
Her words triggered another round of raucous laughter.
"Well, little lady, since you won't leave, we won't be so polite anymore." Several men with knives began moving toward Emily.
She closed her eyes in fear but remained planted in front of Michael.
Seeing she was protecting him, Michael found it both touching and absurd. He stepped forward, grasped her wrist, and pulled her completely behind him.
"Stay here. Don't move," He commanded in a low voice, taking the metal pipe from her.
Emily stared at him, and despite realizing he was about to fight, she shook her head vigorously. "Mr. Wilson, there are too many... "
Before she could finish, Michael had already vanished into the crowd, moving nimbly between the attackers, striking their legs with the pipe.
"Ahh!" Cries of pain erupted.
Those who recovered pulled out knives to fight back, but in the next moment, a black handgun appeared before them.
The gun gleamed in the light, causing all of them to go weak-kneed. "He... he has a gun..."
These men faltered, no longer daring to approach.
An angry voice cut through the air. "You useless cowards, backing down at the sight of a gun."
A man with a facial scar stepped forward, fixing his malevolent gaze on Michael before drawing his own gun.
"Michael, you think I'm afraid of you?" He sneered.
Just as he finished speaking, a helicopter roared overhead, and numerous black-suited bodyguards descended.
The scarred man stared in disbelief. "You... you deliberately lured me out?"
"Take them," Michael ordered crisply, tossing the gun to his assistant.
He didn't spare the scarred man a single glance. "Did you think you were in some spy thriller?"
Wrapping his jacket around Emily, Michael looked down at her. "Get in the car."
Inside the spacious vehicle, Emily sat facing Michael, who had his eyes closed, resting.
Despite having a thousand questions, she didn't dare break the heavy silence.
Only now, as things calmed down and her panic subsided, did Emily notice how badly her body hurt.
Between running and dodging earlier, her wounds had reopened, now seeping blood and causing waves of pain.
"Hiss..." She tried to hold it in but couldn't help letting out a small gasp.