Chapter 7 Each Harbors Ghostly Intentions
Nathaniel's face was ice-cold as he practically shoved Victoria into the car and then hopped in himself.
"Go!" Nathaniel barked at Sam without even looking at Victoria, then twisted around to shoot at their pursuers.
The car screeched away, leaving the sound of gunfire and curses in the distance.
Victoria noticed Nathaniel's injured arm, steadied herself, and tore at his sleeve with her teeth.
After a struggle, she managed to rip off a piece of cloth. Her hands kept moving. "Hang in there, Mr. Cross, I'll patch you up."
Nathaniel seemed unaffected by the pain, giving her a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Why the tears?"
Victoria touched her cheek, realizing tears were streaming down her face.
When had she started crying?
She couldn't pinpoint the moment.
Maybe it was the intense gunfight that had rattled her to tears, witnessing so much violence.
Perhaps it was the guilt of Nathaniel getting hurt while protecting her.
"Why are you crying?" Nathaniel asked once more.
He reached out, his rough hand gently wiping away Victoria's tears.
"Mr. Cross, are you hurting?"
Victoria, accustomed to a life of luxury, had people being kind to her, but no one had ever taken a bullet for her.
She glanced at Nathaniel's bloodied arm, her heart racing uncontrollably.
"It's painful," Nathaniel stated calmly.
Sam, from the driver's seat, peeked in the rearview mirror. He was surprised that Nathaniel, who didn't even flinch when stabbed, was now admitting to feeling pain from a bullet graze.
"What do we do? I didn't bring any pain meds." Victoria's tears flowed more freely, a sense of helplessness washing over her.
"Are those tears because you actually care about me?" Nathaniel inquired, his hand now on Victoria's cheek, dangerously close to her lips.
He found himself captivated by her red lips, unable to resist running his fingers over them.
"Mr. Cross, you—" Victoria's voice was laced with anger.
They had just narrowly escaped death, and all he could think about was something inappropriate?
"Don't be mad." Nathaniel's finger began to trace her lips. "Just play along."
"What... what?" Victoria mumbled with his finger in her mouth.
Nathaniel guided her hand to the torn part of his sleeve, then slowly moved it down to his groin.
"You started this."
Victoria blushed instantly, trying to explain quickly, "I... I tore your clothes to help you bandage your wound."
"I know."
As his finger moved more assertively in her mouth, saliva dripped uncontrollably from the corner of Victoria's mouth.
"I told you, you need more practice!" Nathaniel observed her slightly flushed cheeks, his voice growing huskier. "You know what to do."
"But..."
Victoria glanced at Sam still focused on driving in the front seat, realizing he was asking her for a sexual favor in the car.
Even though she was in a compromising situation, she still had her dignity!
With teary eyes, Victoria shook her head vigorously. "Mr. Cross... not here."
A coldness flickered in Nathaniel's eyes, sending a shiver down Victoria's spine.
She stood her ground, continuing to plead, "I'll do anything else you want... Mr. Cross, not here."
If Nathaniel insisted on degrading her like this, she would jump out of the car! Victoria vowed silently.
Their eyes locked in a tense standoff.
Victoria didn't realize that she was unconsciously clenching her jaw as she spoke, causing a slight pain to shoot through Nathaniel's fingertips.
The passing scenery outside the car window continued to blur by. Suddenly, Nathaniel's icy demeanor softened, and he offered a faint smile.
"Didn't expect you to be such a feisty little cat," Nathaniel remarked as he removed his finger from Victoria's mouth.
Victoria let out a sigh of relief, thinking she had narrowly avoided a disaster.
"Then let me hold you for a bit."
"What?"
Victoria felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, pulling her close until she was seated on Nathaniel's lap, feeling his arousal pressing against her.
"Mr. Cross!"
Confused and shocked, Victoria didn't know what he was planning.
Nathaniel lowered his head, nuzzling into Victoria's chest. His warm breath against her skin felt like a searing heat through the fabric.
"Shh, I'm not going to do anything," Nathaniel reassured her.
Initially tense, Victoria eventually relaxed in Nathaniel's lap, careful to avoid his injured arm and leaning against his other shoulder.
She felt a hand slide under her shirt, the rough palm gently stroking her back.
His arousal showed no signs of diminishing, leaving Victoria to wonder if he could truly restrain himself.
Thankfully, Nathaniel kept his word and refrained from any further advances while holding her.
Upon reaching the Cross Villa, a private doctor was ready to attend to Nathaniel's wounds.
Watching the doctor clean the bloody wound made Victoria cringe, but Nathaniel remained stoic.
"Mr. Cross, just change the bandages daily moving forward," the doctor advised before departing.
The shootout at the breakfast shop replayed in Victoria's mind. It was her first brush with death.
She realized that being around Nathaniel was like walking on a tightrope, risking her life at every turn.
She needed to secure some money from him, settle her family's debts, and then break free from this perilous man as soon as possible.
The door swung open abruptly.
"Uncle Nathaniel!" Emma's voice echoed as she hurried to the bedside, asking, "Who did this to you?"
"A traitor," Nathaniel responded flatly.
Following Emma was Adrian, eagerly inquiring, "Who's the traitor? Is he dead?"
Victoria sensed tension in Adrian's voice. As expected, Nathaniel lifted his gaze with a hidden agenda, fixing his eyes on Adrian. "Dead."
"Good! I would've ripped him apart if not! I'll avenge you, Uncle Nathaniel!" Adrian's tone softened involuntarily.
Nathaniel snorted sarcastically, "How dutiful of you."
He closed his eyes slightly, prompting Sam, who had been tending to him, to help him lie down.
The room fell into a tense silence, everyone lost in their own thoughts.
Victoria felt a wave of unease wash over her, eager to escape this troubled environment.
"Mr. Cross gambled all night and needs to rest now."
It was a subtle way of suggesting she should leave.
As she made her way to the door, Victoria felt a sense of relief, the outside air feeling much fresher.
"I heard that Uncle Nathaniel got shot while trying to save you?"
Victoria's heart leapt into her throat once again.
It was Adrian speaking. He stood there, refined and elegant, exuding an extraordinary aura.
However, the way he looked at her made her feel very uncomfortable.
"I... I..." Victoria stammered, clutching her clothes, fearing she was about to face interrogation from the Cross family.
Adrian's eyes roamed over Victoria, assessing her with a cold and calculating gaze. It felt like she was an object under scrutiny, not a person.
Victoria shuddered, instinctively taking a step back.
"Are you going to kill me to let off steam?"