MY PERFECT BODYGUARD CHAPTER FOURTEEN UNDER FIRE AND ON THE RUN

After Richard's confrontation with Gloria, he made his way back to the car where Nina and Emma were waiting. Nina inquired eagerly, "How did it go?"

Richard sighed, "Well, she advised me to run away. According to her, Gideon is incredibly dangerous."

Emma, engrossed in her phone, suddenly exclaimed, "Oh my God!"

Both Nina and Richard turned to Emma, their curiosity piqued. "What's going on?" they asked simultaneously.

Emma showed Richard an article on her phone with the headline "Potential Couple: Linda Jim of Prime Tech and Franklin of Marion Private Hospitals Spotted at Three Different Places – Likely to be a Date."

Despite feeling devastated, Richard maintained his composure. "It's just a rumor," he assured them.

Nina pressed on, "Well, we need to act fast. What's our next move?"

Emma interjected, "There's a party today at 5 hosted by Prime Tech and Marion Private Hospital," as she read the article.

"We need to see Linda. We have to warn her about the enemy," Richard declared as they got into the car and drove off.

Upon returning home, they all took showers and dressed in their finest attire. Nina looked stunning in a sky blue elegant dress paired with heels, eliciting a playful tease from Emma about the endurance of her heels under her feet. Nina giggled and gently shoved him in response.

Emma, opting for a more casual look, wore a polo and jacket, remarking, "I'm not there for a party after all."

Richard, looking striking in his suit, exuded confidence as they all got ready. Once fully prepared, they drove to Prime Tech for the event.

While on the road, Nina voiced her concern, "We weren't invited. How are we going to get in?"

"Trust me on this one," Richard reassured as they accelerated towards the venue. Upon arrival, they found the hall abuzz with people engrossed in arguments or indulging in drinks.

Richard scanned the crowded hall, searching for Linda. His gaze fell upon her, engaged in conversation with Franklin, laughing at his every word. Richard felt a surge of anger but managed to compose himself as he approached Linda.

"Can we talk?" Richard requested calmly.

"Can't you see she's with someone, or did your mom not teach you manners?" Franklin retorted sharply.

"Watch your mouth," Richard responded firmly, with Linda nodding in agreement as they stepped outside. Franklin followed closely, eavesdropping on their conversation from behind.

Once they found a private spot to talk, Richard confronted Linda. "It seems you've got yourself a boyfriend, and you're living large, while someone out there is plotting against you," he remarked pointedly.

"Who are you to scold me?" Linda shot back furiously. "I waited as long as I could for you. I relied so much on you, but you treated me like nothing."

"I know I did some bad things, but listen, I don't think this is the right time to start making new friends or anything. Just don't trust anybody," Richard urged.

"So I could keep chasing you like my life depends on it, right? And you keep running, enjoying it?" Linda retorted bitterly.

"I never said that, Linda. There's a guy on your tail who wants this company, and he will get it at all costs," Richard explained.

"Why are you telling me this, and why do you care if anything happens to me?" Linda questioned skeptically.

"I really care about you, Linda. I do," Richard said, reaching out to hold her hands. However, Linda moved backward, creating a sense of disconnection between them.

"Why do you think Cynthia was shot? My whole family's lives are in danger because I'm the only one holding them back from getting to you. Can't you understand?" Richard pleaded.

"Tell them that there's no longer anything going on between us. Stop using yourself as an excuse to speak to me that way. It feels weird because you never cared before. Why are you suddenly caring now? Is it because you saw the article and you want me to be in your chains, running after you as you run away?" Linda challenged.

"Linda, please," Richard implored, moving closer to her.

"Please leave at once," Linda commanded firmly.

"But Linda—"

"I said leave," Linda interrupted.

Reluctantly, Richard obeyed and left immediately.

After hearing the entire exchange, Franklin went to the bathroom and called Gideon, informing him of the situation. "Is he still at the company?" Gideon inquired.

"Well, he's about to leave," Franklin replied.

"Good. I will take it from there," Gideon said decisively as he ended the call.

Richard approached Nina and Emma, who were drinking together, and exclaimed, "Let's go, guys."

"How did it go?" Emma inquired.

"It turns out she already hates me," Richard replied with a hint of disappointment.

"Oh my God, this is bad. What do we do now?" Nina voiced her concern.

"I don't know. I have to think," Richard said, furrowing his brows. "Let's get out of here first," he suggested, as they immediately entered the car and drove off.

While waiting at the traffic lights, Richard noticed people emerging from a car wearing falcon masks. He immediately sensed danger as many of them aimed at their car.

"Nina, drive!" Richard urged urgently.

"But it's still on red," Nina protested.

"Drive!" Richard shouted again as they were immediately fired upon. Nina accelerated rapidly as the shots rang out, prompting Emma to exclaim, "Oh my God, what was that?"

"I don't know!" Richard screamed in response.

Glancing back, Richard saw about seven vehicles trailing them. "Nina, drive fast, please!" he implored, his heart racing with fear and adrenaline.

As they drove at breakneck speed, Nina retorted sharply at Richard's urgency, "What do you actually think I'm doing?" The men in falcon masks continued to fire shots at them, hitting the windshield, lights, and side mirrors.

In a panic, Nina exclaimed, "Oh my God, I'm not ready to die!"

"Nina, please, I'm begging you, just focus," Emma pleaded.

"We have a problem," Nina announced, her voice filled with dread.

"What now? Why now of all times?" Richard exclaimed in frustration.

"The gas is about to finish," Nina disclosed, prompting concern among them.

"Move away from the steering," Richard instructed Nina, and they swiftly switched seats. With Richard now behind the wheel, he drove straight to one of the unfinished buildings and parked. They raced inside the building at high speed, seeking refuge from their assailants.

The Falcon Fraternity followed them to the building in large numbers. "Spread out, guys. Don't come out without the boy, dead or alive," the leader commanded as they stormed the building, heavily armed.

Richard, Nina, and Emma hid under one of the staircases. Nina was in tears, holding hands with Emma, as they tried to keep silent amidst the chaos. Richard, witnessing the situation, started feeling a profound sense of responsibility. If something were to happen to Nina and Emma, he knew he would never forgive himself.

Scanning under the stairs, Richard noticed the cover of an iron waste bin with a handle.

"Hey guys, this is what's gonna happen. There's a rear door; follow it and find your way out. Once I go in and draw them away from there, run as fast as possible and don't look back," Richard explained. "I will hold them off as much as I can."

"But what about you?" Nina questioned, her voice filled with concern.

"I will be fine," Richard assured them. "We will meet at Damian's place," he added.

"And if something ever happens to me, just help me give Linda these," Richard said, producing a letter and handing it to Nina. "Now, leave at once," he urged as he prepared to depart.

Emma and Nina, unwilling to let him go alone, pulled him back and enveloped him in a hug. "Nothing will happen to you," they both said reassuringly.

As Emma helped nina up, they quickly headed towards the rear door as per Richard's instructions.

Meanwhile, Richard raced in the opposite direction, drawing the attention of the Falcon men. His first opponents were three of them, racing towards him and shooting. Richard swiftly used the cover of a waste bin as a shield to deflect the bullets. With remarkable speed and reflexes, he managed to subdue two of them with a well-executed level ground kick sweep. Using the shield, he knocked down the third assailant.

The commotion attracted more men, prompting Richard to race out to draw them away in the opposite direction. Despite the overwhelming odds, he remained determined to buy Emma and nina the time they needed to escape.

As the Falcon men continued to close in, Richard used his shield to deflect bullets and his kicks to subdue some of them. Whenever he found an opportunity, he raced in a different direction to draw the attention of the entire group.

"He's too fast," one of the men remarked as they tried shooting at him from a distance. At one point, Richard looked back and didn't see anyone behind him. He slowed down to catch his breath, thinking he had lost them.

Suddenly, a man in a Falcon mask appeared with a bazooka in his hands. He cocked it and fired at Richard, who was fast and lucky enough to shield himself. However, the firepower was too strong, causing Richard to lose his balance and hit the wall. The impact was so strong that the wall cracked, and Richard fell to the ground, struggling to stand up while grunting in pain.

As Richard struggled to stand on his feet, the man fired another bazooka round, which Richard managed to shield. However, the sheer force of the explosion lifted Richard off the ground and into another room. He found it incredibly difficult to regain his footing.

The man followed Richard into the room, cocking the bazooka again. Seeing that Richard had no strength left to raise his shield, he prepared to fire another shot. Suddenly, Emma appeared from behind and struck the man with a giant plier, incapacitating him.

Emma rushed to Richard's side, asking urgently, "Are you okay?" Richard could barely speak as he grunted in pain. With Emma's help, he managed to stand, and she supported him by carrying his arm around her shoulders to help him walk faster.

When they reached outside, Nina drove the car to their location, and they quickly got in, leaving the Falcon Fraternity behind as they sped off to safety.