CHAPTER 21

Jade didn't say anything and slowed down her pace, putting on a frightened look, letting the man feel he had won.

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As soon as he got within range, she threw her bag up and he stupidly let his eyes follow the bag, taking his focus away from her. By the time the bag came falling down, he returned his gaze to her, only to see Jade standing right in front of him with a sinister smile on her sexy lips.

"You…ahh!"

She landed a heavy punch in his face, making him fall and picked her bag, "Imbecile, the shit was not because of you."

She actually said that when her eyes caught sight of the men coming for her, rather it made the idiot think she was scared, so she played the role of a scared girl he thought she was.

Not waiting for any party poopers to arrive, Jade hurried away, leaving Xander behind.

By the time Xander had disrupted their movement and turned around, he caught sight of his tigress running away.

'How could she just leave her saviour and run away like that? Tsk, what kind of a tigress are you?'

Without wasting any more time, he ran as well, chasing after her.

Jade ran towards a building and hid behind a waste tank at the side of it, squatting down a bit so she was in the same line with the dustbin. After that, she tried to steady her breath from the run she just had.

A couple of minutes later, she turned around and lifted her body a bit, so only her head was raised up and she could check if they were coming.

Fortunately, there was no trace of any of the guys yet, so she could relax some more and run away. The moment she turned back, she got the fright of her life.

"Ahhh!"

She screamed and almost fell down if not for the waste tank behind her. Standing before her was none other than the man that just saved her, Xander Warner.

She felt her heart jump into her throat at his sudden appearance and closeness. If not that she tilted her head back, she would have bumped her nose right into his chest.

"Where did you come from? How can you scare me like that?" Jade half yelled at him, completely forgetting she was hiding and should be silent.

"How could you run and leave me? I had to chase after you," Xander said in a low voice, giving her a smile.

"Pff, you could handle them. What was I needed for? Go away, this is my hiding spot."

No sooner had she said that, than the men, all rushed up to where they were. Standing at the side of the road, some distance away from them were five of the men chasing after her.

"There they are, catch them!" one of the men shouted and the others followed his order.

Jade whipped her head back, only to see them approaching her. "Oh come on!"

She turned her head back to face Xander, ready to nag the life out of him, but rather than see an apologetic man, he smiled at her, held her wrist and pulled her away.

"Come."

'Is he a psycho? How can he smile in this situation? If I didn't know better, I'd think he was actually enjoying himself.' Jade said in her mind.

She just couldn't understand the man pulling her by the wrist right now. First, he showed up and saved her, next he is smiling in the midst of a dangerous situation.

For all they know, those men could be harmed and have not fired any shots at them because they may want to capture her alive and torture her for answers as to who sent her and what she was doing there.

By the time they got to the end of the house, ready to burst out into the adjourning street, five other men rushed in front of them, blocking their paths.

"Oh shit, just great," Jade murmured to herself, but Xander heard her all too well and smiled to himself again.

"Would he just quit smiling to himself every time we face an incident?" She muttered under her breath, hoping he wouldn't hear her, but he did.

"Apparently no. I find your reaction amusing," Xander replied, shocking her by his response and pulling her back behind him, backing away from their attackers.

"There's no more place to run. Now be nice and give up, then we would make your torture less painful."

"I'll take my chances," Jade spat back from behind Xander, propping her head out from his side.

"Stay back, I'll protect you."

0_0

'Who needs protecting?' Jade thought to herself.

She couldn't help but laugh inwardly. She could very much handle herself and beat as many men brought her way. He, on the other hand, wasn't so sure.

"Hand her over and we won't hurt you," a third man spoke out, hitting the rod in his hand against his free palm, trying to pose a threat.

'Hand my tigress over? You wish. I have searched for her and now I have finally found her and you want me to hand her over to you? I should kill you where you stand.'

As much as he wanted to say those words out loud, he didn't want to frighten Jade and give her the impression that he was stalking her.

"Come and get her if you can."

"You have a death wish. Do not blame us for not being merciful."

"I'm tired of hearing bullshit, come at me then, let's see who will beg for mercy," Xander said, his deep voice sending chills down the body of the men.

Without looking at her, he whispered so only Jade could hear. "Do not go anywhere, I will protect you. Just stay put."

At that moment, all ten men charged at him. He quickly let go of Jade's hand pushing her lightly to the side and ducked the first blow coming at him. The moment he bent down, he directed a punch at the man's rib cage.

Crack!

"AAHH!!"

POW!

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{I may or I may not have given this announcement, but this book was among the GOLD Tier winners of the WFP #13. Yipee!! Thanks to all those who supported this book. Kindly continue to support it with your votes and reviews.}