Chapter 177
The room was quiet, save for the faint beeping of the heart monitor and the occasional hum of the fluorescent lights above.
Antonio lay on the hospital bed, his body heavy with exhaustion.
The drugs they had given him earlier still lingered in his system, dulling his senses and making it difficult to stay awake.
His eyelids felt like lead, and though he fought to keep them open, they eventually fluttered shut.
at this was ho
was how it was before
However, even though he was beyond exhausted, he found it hard to get sleep, and he was reminded of the fact that Zabelle came along.
He used to be unable to get sleep, but for the past
st few months that had changed.
The thought made the urge to get out of there stronger, as Zabelle was the epitome of everything good in his dark world.
Somewhere in the haze of his subconscious, he heard the door creak open.
The sound was soft, subtle, but it was enough to pull him back to the edge of awareness..
His mind stirred, but his body remained still, too weighed down by the drugs
s to react immediately
He assumed it was the doctor or a nurse coming to check on him or the other prisoners that were there, as they had done countless times before. However, almost immediately, his senses became sharp as something felt. off
The footsteps were too light, too deliberate. There was no greeting, no shuffling of medical equipment, no casual hum of someone going about
their routine.
Instead, the person moved with a calculated silence that sent a chill down Antonio’s spine.
He had learned to trust his instincts, especially after years of navigating dangerous situations.
The voice inside his head screamed at him to wake up, to open his eyes, but he forced himself to remain sull.
If this was a threat, he needed the element of surprise on his side, so the person would lower his guard.
He listened intently, his breathing steady despite the adrenaline beginning to course through his veins
The intruder moved closer, their presence looming over him like a shadow.
Antonio’s mind raced. Who was this? What did they want? He didn’t dare open his eyes, not yet. He needed to know their intentions first. Something told him it was to finish the job those two assholes had failed to complete.
The sound of metal clinking softly against metal reached his ears. It was faint, but unmistakable
Someone was picking something up from the tray beside his bed. A syringe? No. The sound was sharper, more deliberate. A scalpel, maybe?
The realization wasn’t surprising. This wasn’t a doctor. This was probably one of the other prisoners, or maybe a guard who was cosplaying as an assassin at that moment.
His heart pounded in his chest, but he kept his breathing even, his body relaxed. He couldn’t let them know he was awake. Not yet He needed to time this perfectly
The intruder stepped closer,
- r. their movements slow and deliberate.
Antonio could feel their presence just inches away now, the weight of their gaze pressing down on him.
He braced himself, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring, ready to explode into action.
Then he felt it–the shift in the air as be intruder raised the weapon.
In that split second, Antonio’s eyes snapped open, and his hand shot up, catching the attacker’s wrist just as the blade descended toward his chest.
The force of the impact sent a searing pain through his palm as the seapel bit into his flesh, but he didn’t let go. He couldn’t.
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Chapter 177
The intruder’s eyes widened in shock, their face partially obscured by a surgical mask.
They struggled against his grip, but Antonio was stronger, his adrenaline overriding the lingering effects of the drugs
With a grunt, he twisted the attacker’s wrist, forcing them to drop the knife. It clattered to the floor, the sound echoing loudly in the sterile room.
The intruder lunged for the knife, but Antonio was faster. He swung his legs off the bed and tackled them to the ground, his injured hand throbbing with every movement.
The two of th
them grappled, their breaths coming in ragged gasps as they fought for control.
The intruder was skilled, their movements quick and precise, but Antonin’s sheer determination, plus his training gave him the upper hand.
With a burst of strength, he pinned the intruder to the ground, his knee pressing into their chest.
He reached for the knife, his fingers closing around the handle just as the door burst open. Two guards rushed in, their weapons drawn, followed closely by a panicked doctor.
“What the hell is going on here!” one of the guards shouted, his voice booming in the small room.
Antonio didn’t answer immediately. His focus was on the intruder beneath him, their eyes wide with fear now that their plan had failed.
He yanked off their mask, revealing a face he didn’t recognize–a hired hand, no doubt. Someone sent him to finish the job.
“How useless are all of you not to be able to guard the infirmary,” Antonio growled, his voice low and dangerous
Speaking rudely to the guards wasn’t a wise choice, even though he knew that, but when had he ever cared about such things?
He did whatever he wanted, consequences be damned. When one of the guards opened his mouth to speak, he interrupted, ensuring he didn’t
“At least if you can’t guard this place, try to find out who this piece of trash is and who sent him.”
The guards hesitated for a moment before springing into action, one of them cuffing the intruder while the other radioed for backup.
The doctor rushed to Antonio’s side, his face pale with shock.
“You’re bleeding” the doctor said, his hands moving as he examined Antonio’s injured palm. “We need to treat this immediately
Antonio barely acknowledged him. His mind was racing, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. This w
wasn’t over
Not by a long shot. Someone had tried to kill him–again–and he wasn’t going to rest until he found out who was behind it
He had 100 many enemies, and for the first time that annoyed him, as he couldn’t point to one with certainty.
“This will need stitches,” the doctor said, already preparing the needle and thread. “And you need to rest”
As the doctor began cleaning and bandaging his wound, Antonio’s thoughts turned to Zabelle and worry immediately shot through his bones.
If they were coming after him, she could be in danger too. He clenched his fists, ignoring
Whoever was behind this had made a mistake.
then
pain that shot through his hand.
They had come for him once.
Then a second time.
There wouldn’t be a third
Because next time…
the
one striking first.
Antonio elenched his fists, pooring the sting in his palm.
“This wasn’t just about survival anymore.
This was war.
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Chapter 177
“I need to make a phone call,” he told the doctor.
“You need to rest. Mr Garcia,” the doctor said.
“I won’t be able to rest until I make the phone call,” he said defiantly.
“Fine, you get five minutes and that’s it but after that, you’re getting rest,” the doctor told him and Antonio nodded.
Five minutes was going to be more than enough.
