With all those drugs swallowed, even though Arabella had a slow reaction and strong will, her entire body was in an abnormal state.
She felt as if her exhaled breath was on fire.
Her entire body had flushed red, and she sat there quietly, not speaking. Her smile was a bit dazed, losing the usual calmness, revealing a hint of excited and heightened emotion.
There was no preparation in the vehicle except for water and a small amount of cotton in the basic medical kit.
The cotton had been used to clean Arabella's wounds, but it was clearly not enough.
The small amount of water available to cool Arabella down was completely useless; she looked as if she was steaming.
Bramwell took a sip of water, then gently leaned down to kiss Arabella. His tongue was warm, but compared to the scorching heat of her body, it felt like a contrast of ice and fire. This made Arabella squint in pleasure, reaching up to grasp the back of Bramwell's neck, returning his kiss with fervor.
The kiss was urgent and deep, like an entanglement of passion, yet Bramwell knew all too well that Arabella's only fault was losing herself in the moment.
Sweat trickled down her forehead, the heat clouding her senses, her movements sluggish, languid.
Yet he never doubted—Arabella's body remained taut, poised like a coiled spring. With the slightest shift, she could become an unstoppable force, ready to charge into battle without hesitation.
The coolness of the water in his mouth soon dissipated, and Bramwell took another sip, this time aiming for Arabella's chest.
Bramwell removed his jacket, covering both her upper body and his head, burying them both within the fabric.
When the cool, thin lips touched her nipple and began to suck, Arabella's breathing became noticeably heavier.
Bramwell's tongue was very nimble, winding around the prominent tip of the nipple and slowly teasing it.
So itch--
He stroked the lower body of Arabella with his hand under his clothes, even though it was through clothing, he could still feel it had an urgent desire to embrace a hard object.
She was hurt, and what the hell did Julius, that bastard, do to her that caused her so much inner pain?
Bramwell lowered his head, the killing intent dyed his eyes red, he noticed that Arabella was trembling slightly in his hand, which was an excited reaction, reaching the critical point like a tide receding.
But soon after, her entire body tensed, as if the only thing left after enduring to the utmost was a numbed restraint, a force of control that could no longer feel.
Bramwell felt a pain so fierce, it was as though his heart were being torn to pieces.
He moved with the utmost care, merely seeking to soothe the sharp, tormented desire that raged within Arabella. Only in the moment their bodies met could he truly feel the pain Arabella endured alone, straining with all her might.
The eyes of the two men seated ahead gradually darkened, their gazes deepening with intensity.
The car continued its journey, the road growing more rugged as they neared the border. As dusk faded and nightfall deepened, the dimming light made the lines of Arabella's form beneath her disheveled clothes appear all the more ambiguous, shrouded in a tantalizing haze.
It stirred a desire to rip away that bothersome clothing, to press her down with a force that left no room for resistance.
With Arabella's suppressed breaths, soft and laced with a moan, it only served to awaken the darker, more twisted thoughts hidden deep within.
In that moment, Taras finally understood Julius's perspective.
When faced with such a towering mountain, how could one resist the urge to step on it, to trample it in ascent?
Just before they reached their destination, Arabella finally achieved an orgasm under Bramwell's gentle soothing, slightly easing her desire.
At the border, a few remaining subordinates were already waiting. Those who had survived the trials were, of course, battle-hardened veterans.
Arabella twisted open a bottle of water, pouring it recklessly over her head. Then, without hesitation, she stripped off the only piece of clothing she wore—Julius's shirt—and casually used it as a cloth to wipe down her body. She then changed into the clothes her subordinates had prepared for her.
She held no sense of modesty about her own body.
Compared to life itself, flesh and skin were of no consequence.
A group of armed subordinates stood guard, their eyes forward, seeing Arabella first as their leader and only second as a woman.
Only a few men who harbored thoughts of her were hard to read, and Bramwell wished he could immediately cover Arabella, hiding her from everyone's view.
Arabella washed up and changed into a fresh set of clothes, feeling the heat leave her body.
She had always been fake in front of others, never revealing a trace of true emotion.
She wore a black T-shirt on top and military green trousers, with a leather belt around her waist gleaming coldly. The belt was tightened to the last notch, accentuating the graceful curve of her waist.
She strapped on her gun holster vest, taking up a new weapon Raven had retrieved from a secret base.
The submachine gun was high-performing and lightweight. She raised it, peered through the sight, squinting slightly, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
The firepower was strong, the range far, and the recoil had been improved, increasing accuracy. It was indeed a good gun.
Arabella lowered the gun with satisfaction, seeing the last armored vehicle of Raven and the others racing towards them.
*
Raven was the first to jump out of the vehicle, leaving the door open as he rushed to Arabella's side, respectfully saying, "Master Unknown! Something's happened.The base leader's on the brink."
Upon hearing this, Arabella's expression flickered slightly, and she immediately strode towards the armored vehicle.
Julius had fired two shots, both aimed at her.
Aside from being unable to blind-fire, his skills were indeed on par with hers.
At that range, Julius was almost certain to hit.
In the underground passage, she had dodged the first shot with her sharp hearing and agility, but there was simply no room to avoid the second shot.
The leader had been behind her—
That shot had indeed been meant to protect her.
He was wounded in the chest, and Arabella could tell at a glance that he was beyond saving.
At the border now, ahead was the dense jungle and mountains. Retreat led to Julius' territory, while nearby was Fandel, where all crimes were settled with money.
But they didn't have large sums of money on hand to pay for their way out.
The leader was still clinging to life, blood filling his mouth as he spoke.
"Master Unknown—I'm afraid I can't follow you any longer."
Arabella didn't respond, but her clenched fist slightly revealed her inner turmoil.
"Do you want me to put you out of your misery?"
Her voice was soft, her tone calm, revealing no excess emotion.
"Master Unknown, can you give me a bit of time to say my final words to Bramwell?"
Arabella nodded slightly, then gestured for Bramwell to move forward, while she stepped back, positioning herself at a distance in the open. With her head lowered, she seemed almost indifferent, casually dragging the barrel of her assault rifle along the ground.
Everyone knew the leader wanted to give his final instructions to Bramwell, so they all wisely retreated, leaving the two of them some private space.
Bramwell had followed the leader for many years, always respecting him like a father. His eyes reddened as he choked.
The leader fought to hold on to life, his bloodied hand reaching up to pull Bramwell into a tight grip around his neck, almost whispering, "Eagle, we're finally meeting under your real identity."
Bramwell's pupils widened in shock at hearing the code name. He was about to react, but the leader's arm held him tightly. "Don't move! Don't let them notice. I know you've defected, killed your superior, even erased your police records. You're a cop—no big deal. Just promise me one thing—from now on, don't be Eagle, just be Bramwell. Can you do that?"
Bramwell met the leader's gaze, their eyes locking deeply, before Bramwell solemnly nodded.
"Good! I can't hold on much longer. No one's ever taught Arabella how to love, and there's no one around her she can truly trust. Be careful of Raven! He's definitely not simple. He can be the gun in her hand, and he can turn it on her. Promise me—look after Arabella, take care of her, and be patient with her. Can you do that?"
"I can! I swear it on my life! Since I betrayed my country and my beliefs, Arabella has become my destiny!"
"Good—now you do it. Don't let Arabella do it, she'll be hurt, she'll suffer. After all these years—what a pity, still not returning to our homeland." He murmured softly, then slowly closed his eyes, waiting for Bramwell to end it for him.
The moment the gunshot rang out, Arabella's hand, still holding the gun, trembled as she drew lines on the ground, her tightly pursed lips betraying the emotions she could no longer suppress.
She had long become numb to life and death. A person like her would never die a peaceful death; her end would most likely be a miserable one.
In fact, the leader wasn't even a Rus, and he certainly wasn't a terrorist.
He was a soldier, her father's adjutant, who had made great contributions to his country. Yet, he was labeled a traitor for collaborating with the enemy in his homeland and had been on the run with her ever since.
She didn't care about her reputation, but it was a pity that the leader would be forever buried in this land.
After burying him, Arabella patted Bramwell's shoulder. "He trusted you. Does that mean you're worthy of my trust?"
Bramwell's face grew serious, a rare certainty in his voice. "Master Unknown! I'll follow you for the rest of my life."
Arabella cracked a faint smile, then lifted her submachine gun again. Looking at the prepared men, she waved her hand indifferently. "Let's go!"
Ahead lay a dense forest fraught with danger, the path uncertain and shrouded in mystery. Yet Arabella led the way, unwavering in her resolve. Alone, she faced the vast world, knowing that she would always find a way to fight her way to survival.
At the same time, Marcellus received the news of the series of drastic changes concerning Arabella.
He gently stroked the photo, the only one Arabella had ever taken in her life.
Back then, he had only dared to secretly watch his brother and Arabella from the shadows. Now— the Ackerley family was entirely in his hands, but the old acquaintances were long gone, never to return.
He studied the large world map again and again, finally setting his sights on the border— a place known as the most dangerous in the world, rivaling the route Arabella had once taken when escaping the Manos Swamp.
Arabella!
You must make it out alive!
Whether it's for revenge or to collect a life!
I'm waiting for you! The Ackerley family is waiting for you! My brother is waiting for you!
Even if you turn into an evil spirit, you must crawl out!
