MY PERFECT BODYGUARD 2 CHAPTER SEVEN GAME ON

Richard packed his bags in preparation for his return to the city when Emmanuel, accompanied by Nina, entered the room. Surprised, Richard exclaimed, "What! I only thought of you joining because of one reason. Did you have to involve her in this?"

Emmanuel defended his decision, stating, "Well, she's my girlfriend. It's not like I didn't inform her about it."

"Hey, I heard what you told Emma. I want to help keep him safe and also assist you in checking on your family," Nina expressed.

"Keep me safe? Seriously, I'm the man in this relationship," Emma retorted, causing Richard to sigh and hit his hands on his face.

"Well, let's go. We don't have more time to spend. The morning bus will soon pass," Richard urged as he hurriedly packed and left, followed by Nina and Emmanuel.

As they stepped outside the front of the boys' quarters, they were surprised to see a sleek spider car. Nina confidently pulled out a key, saying, "This is our ride." She entered the car and started it, ready for their journey.

"You didn't tell me she had a car. Can she drive?" Richard whispered to Emma.

"Of course she can," Emma replied.

As they approached the car, Nina questioned, "Aren't you guys entering?" Richard and Emma got in, with Emma sitting in the front seat alongside Nina, while Richard settled in the back.

Emma promptly pulled out a helmet and started tying it. Nina, with a serious expression, remarked, "Seriously, you really wanna insult me?"

"Just taking precautions," Emma explained.

Richard, in a playful tone, asked, "Hey bro, I thought you said she knew how to drive?"

"Well, that's what she told me. She hasn't driven me before, so I haven't seen her," Emma admitted with a hint of humor.

As Nina accelerated, Richard inquired, "Do you have a spare helmet?" while holding on in the speeding car.

"Hey Nina, how did you get a car?" Richard asked during the journey.

Nina explained, "Well, it was broken down. Instead of my dad fixing it, he dumped it when I was 12 and never bothered to repair it. So, recently, I decided to work on it and fixed it myself after he told me he wouldn't give me money for that."

"That's cool," Richard remarked as they headed back to his city. The two-hour journey included a stop to grab some food before setting off again on their way.

Once they reached Richard's place, they were met with an unusual scene — crime scene caution tape surrounded the house, and reporters were capturing images. Richard, ignoring the commotion, passed by the tapes and entered. Inside, he discovered multiple bullets on the floor, and a sense of panic enveloped him.

Bending to pick up one of the bullets, he rushed to his mom's room, where he found blood on the floor. In a state of distress, he hurriedly exited the room and approached one of the police officers outside.

"What happened here?" Richard urgently inquired.

The police officer explained, "There was a gunshot last night. It was really brutal. According to the people living around, a mother and a girl, around 16 years old, were in this house. One of them got shot in the open fire."

Concerned, Richard asked, "Which hospital?"

The police officer directed him, saying, "St. Louis Maria Hospital down this road to your left." He instructed Nina to drive, and they headed to the hospital.

As Richard, Nina, and Emmanuel reached the hospital, Richard urgently approached the nurses, asking if there were any gunshot patients. The nurse nodded, indicating a room. Richard rushed to the room and discovered his mom crying, holding Cynthia's hand.

"Please don't leave me, my baby. I don't want to be alone. Your brother has left me. Please don't go too," she repeated, her words echoing in the room.

It broke Richard's heart as tears rolled down his eyes. His mom thought he had left her, adding another layer of anguish to the already distressing situation.

Richard walked up to Maria and softly said, "Hey, Mom." As she turned, realizing it was Richard, she immediately embraced him, expressing relief. "My love, you came back."

Maria, overwhelmed with emotion, shared, "Cynthia refuses to wake up," crying heavily as she clung to Richard.

Trying to make sense of the situation, Richard asked, "What happened?"

"I don't know, to be honest. It happened so fast. Just after having supper with Linda and Cynthia, we were about to go to bed when we were attacked by gunshots."

Upon hearing Linda's name, Richard stood up, already suspecting who might be behind this. He sat down close to Cynthia, holding her hands as she lay in bed. "Hey, lil sis, I'm sorry. It's all my fault for not being here for you," Richard said, tears in his eyes. "I should have been here to protect my family."

Emma and Nina, standing at the door, witnessed Richard's profound sadness. Not knowing how to help, they took pity on him, feeling the weight of the difficult situation.

Richard approached his mom, gently urging her to stand on her feet. "Hey, Mom, listen to me. You're covered in blood. You need to go and bathe and change up."

"But I don't want to leave my daughter," Maria said, torn between her injured daughter and her son's plea.

"I'm here. I will stay and take care of things. You see, this is Nina; she will take you back home. Take your bath and change some clothes," Richard instructed, introducing Nina to his mom.

"I will stay here and take care of things," Richard stated with determination as Nina guided Maria outside to her car. They drove off, leaving Richard and Emmanuel behind to deal with the unfolding situation.

After some time, the doctor entered the room and inquired about the guardian. Not finding Maria, Richard, still in tears, approached the doctor and asked, "Hey, what's next on her state?"

The doctor explained, "Well, we did the most urgent by removing the bullet in her shoulder. But she lost a lot of blood, and she needs a transfusion."

Without hesitation, Richard said, "Hey, doctor, I can do it. I can be her donor. Please, she shouldn't die because it will haunt me for life," Richard pleaded, tears streaming down his face. "No matter what it takes, please make sure she lives."

Just then, Linda burst into the room with force. "Hey, I heard what happened," Linda said, scanning the room. Their eyes met as Richard and Linda faced each other in the tense moment.

"Richard," Linda said as she raced to hug him, expressing concern. "I came as soon as I heard what happened. How is she now?"

However, Richard, devoid of emotions and drowned in tears, didn't reciprocate the hug. He practically pushed her away and turned to the doctor, asking, "What were you saying?"

The doctor explained, "We need to make sure your blood is the same as hers before we start the transfusion. So, before we begin, you need to make a deposit of $1200 for the removal of the bullet and blood test."

Linda, eager to help, offered, "I will make the payment," reaching for her purse to bring out her card. Richard, however, dragged her back by her hands.

"Doctor, please can you excuse us?" Richard requested as the doctor left the room, creating a private space for Richard and Linda to discuss the situation.

As the doctor left, Richard approached Linda with a stern expression. "What are you going to do to pay for my sister's bill?"

Linda explained, "Of course, she's like family to me."

"Don't you get it?" Richard asked again. "The more you are around my family, the worse things get. Both of us, it can't be."

"I don't understand," Linda said, tears welling up.

Richard, frustrated, dragged Linda to the bed where Cynthia lay. "Do you want her to keep feeling this pain she's going through now?"

Linda shook her head, indicating no.

"Then leave," Richard said firmly.

"But Richard?" Linda tried to voice out.

"Please, I'm begging you. Just leave, please," Richard reiterated. Linda looked into Richard's eyes, sensing the depth of his emotions. It made her heart ache as she left the room in tears.

Richard sat down on his seat, holding his head in tears. Emmanuel, who had been standing there witnessing the whole exchange, approached him. "Hey bro, you did what was right. Don't blame yourself for it. Family comes first," Emmanuel reassured.

After running the test, Richard was deemed fit to transfer blood for Cynthia. The doctor cautioned, "But Richard, you don't have much blood. Even if it matches yours, you might face some setbacks once the transfusion is done."

"I don't care. As long as she lives," Richard asserted.

"Okay, then sign this," the doctor handed him a sheet. Richard signed the necessary places and returned it. Leaving the room, he and Emma went to Cynthia's bedside, watching over her as the doctors prepared for the transfusion. Richard held Cynthia's hand, reassuring her, "Hey, lil sis, I'm here for you. You don't have to be scared. I won't let anything happen to you again, ever," he said as Emma observed.

As they were in the room, a tall and imposing figure walked in—Gideon. Richard turned, his anger evident. "How dare you show yourself after everything you did?" Richard said, standing up alongside Emmanuel, ready for action.

"Relax. I'm not here to fight," Gideon said as he walked closer, taking a seat and sitting down.

"I believe you now understand the power I demonstrate and what I can be capable of doing," Gideon pointed out, his demeanor confident. "And I was hoping she would die, but it seems she might survive this one," Gideon remarked, gazing at Cynthia lying on the bed.

"I should have let your family leave, but it seems like Linda has developed a soft spot for you guys, and it irritates me," Gideon said again, revealing a glimpse of the complexities in the unfolding situation.

"You're a monster," Richard said once more.

"Of course, I am. Or don't you know? Prime Tech is a sensational company, one of the most powerful, and a timid girl like Linda shouldn't run such a company. It's monsters like me that run it, that's why I'm taking it from her," Gideon explained, revealing his sinister intentions.

"If you want to take it, why attack my family? Why involve them if you want the company?" Richard questioned, trying to understand the motive behind the ruthless actions against his loved ones.

"Because I want to win her heart with love, and I have sent just the guy to do that. But it seems like you're the one she's in love with, so all I need to do is wipe you out of existence, win her heart with Franklin, and then they marry. Franklin officially becomes the CEO, we take her out, and boom, the company is mine legally," Gideon outlined his sinister plan.

"You're a coward. You have no shame. I told you I will let her be, but you decided try to kill my only sister. 

I haven't even started, and you're crying. Next will be your mom, and then you and your lil sis—anything to have the company in the palm of my arm," Gideon declared, callously revealing his ruthless intentions.

"So, I wanted to inform you that this is just the beginning," Gideon said as he left, leaving Richard in a state of sadness and anger, facing the harsh reality of the threats looming over his faily.