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nBut the next moment, she was enveloped into a warm hug while gunshots were heard from all sides.

nJoel had broken through the glass window, landing exactly in front of Nina.

nThe men were about to shoot him, when Markus's men started shooting from outside, catching them off guard.

nJoel took out his gun, loading it. He was about to shoot, when suddenly Nina hugged him tight, her body shivering.

nShe had always been protected from the outside world by her mom and dad. Her dad worked at the hospital while her mom was a teacher.

nThus Nina never even bickered with other children, forget being the centre of a room where bullets were literally raining down upon her.

nBut Joel couldn't stay in the same position, as they were being surrounded by professor's men, his position not appropriate as he could be shot anytime.

nThus he took his hand, removing Nina's grip from it, wishing to change their place.

nBut Nina held him even more tightly, hugging him completely.

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"Please.. please don't leave me.

" She said in an almost sobbing voice, while her fingers were literally digging in Joel's back.

nJoel was a little confused over what he was supposed to do. But after a minute, he kept his hand on her back, rubbing it a little.

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"I won't go.

" He tried to speak gently, and somehow it succeeded in calming Nina down.

nBut since they were in the middle of shooting, Joel didn't want Nina to get hurt. So he quickly untied her hands and legs.

nHe was removing the ropes when he was shot in the back.

nNina was so shocked that felt her heart stop for a moment.

nBut luckily, Joel had come prepared, with him and all other men wearing bulletproof vests, saving him from any injury.

nHe quickly untied and dragged her out of the door, while his men kept shooting.

nThough they weren't as skilled as the professor's men, they outnumbered them, making it easier for Joel to escape with Nina from the room.

nHe instantly pulled Nina out of the room, rushing towards the space where their cars were parked.

nHe opened the door of his car, and asked her to get inside.

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"Don't open the door at any cost. Stay here. I'll be back in a minute.

" Joel explained to her before pausing and rubbing her head and closing the door.

nHe looked at her one more time before rushing back into the house.

nNina, tried to calm herself down, while taking deep breaths, composing herself.

nMeanwhile Joel joined his men, shooting continuously at the professor's men, two of them dead in the process, while three men from Markus's side were injured, one of them being severely injured.

nWith another shot, Joel managed to injure the third man in his leg, making him drop on the ground.

nThe fourth man, watching all this, ran towards the door, searching for a place to hide and shoot.

nBut suddenly he saw Nina, who was sitting inside the car.

nHe went on the opposite side of the car, creating a perfect barrier between him and Joel and other men.

nJoel was still confused about what the man wanted, but the next few minutes, he shot five times consecutively on the glass window of the car, the bulletproof window cracking slightly.

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"Cover me!

" Joel shouted, before running with his fastest speed towards the car, shooting the man in the process.

nMarkus's men did as asked, continuously shooting towards the man so that he wouldn't shoot at Joel. Once Joel had reached the opposite side of the car, he bent, shooting the man in the ankle, making the man kneel down on the ground.

nJoel immediately opened the car door from his side, entering inside, only to be hugged by Nina, who had once again started sobbing.

nMarkus's men were about to shoot the man near car, when suddenly the third man who was already shot in leg and abdomen came from behind, shooting Markus's men in their back.

nThankfully they all were wearing bulletproof vests, leading to only a few members being injured.

nMarkus's men instantly turned and started shooting the man, while half of them were shooting the one near car, not letting their guard down for the second time.

nBut the man was successfully hiding behind the car, making it hard for the men to directly shoot him.

nThey were still shooting on both sides, when the fourth man stood up, shooting at the glass window within two consecutive shots, while the third shot was directly shot inside the car.

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"BANG BANG BANG!!

"

nMarkus's men had managed to kill the third man, but suddenly they were shocked at this sudden turn of events.

nJoel and Nina, both were present inside the car, and none of Markus's men were able to see what actually happened or if anyone was injured inside the car.

nBut fortunately, Joel was fast enough.

nNina's heart was still beating erratically, the sound of gunshots making her feel even more nervous.

nThe moment that fourth man had shot his third shot inside the car, Joel, who was hugging Nina, immediately bent, dodging the bullet, making sure that Nina wasn't injured in the latest.

nSimultaneously, he shot at the man, shooting him exactly between his eyebrows, killing him in a single shot.

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"Everything is all right now.

" Joel whispered to Nina, who was still trembling and crying.

nBut Nina wasn't stopping at all. She was still crying and shivering.

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"You are safe now. Look around. Nobody is there to hurt you anymore.

" Joel said, trying to be as gentle as he could, something he rarely did for Ruth.

nAnd finally this worked on Nina, as she lifted her head from Joel's chest, looking around, seeing that only Markus's men could be seen outside.

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"Tha… thank you.

" Nina managed to say, before turning and facing Joel, but the next moment….

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"Ahhhhh! Look at that!!

" Nina shouted.

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nThank you for the gifts @Margit_Hogaboom and @DeAr. Don't forget to vote with powerstones and golden tickets. Have a wonderful day ahead!

n- Kizy

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