CHAPTER 132: CHAPTER 132: "COME WITH ME, OR BECOME A HOSTAGE?

The hotel’s top-floor luxury suite had floor-to-ceiling windows, through which the dazzling city lights could be seen outside.

Facing the glass, Renee Winslow saw the flickering lights accelerate, blinking so fast that they doubled.

"No, not here..." Her voice trembled with nervousness.

"Then where?" Jack Yates held her slim and soft waist tightly, giving a sudden thrust, "Where does my darling want, hmm?"

Renee Winslow bit her lip in embarrassment and anger, intentionally tightening.

The arm supporting her cheek suddenly tensed, muscles bulging, veins clearly visible, exuding a sense of potent masculinity.

With a smack, the man gave her a light slap, his breath heavy as he said, "Are you doing this on purpose?"

Renee pressed her lips tightly, not saying a word. She was doing it on purpose, but she could never admit it.

Jack Yates turned her face around, biting her lip heavily, laughing deeply, "Seems I’ve been too gentle, let’s play a bit..."

Before he could finish, the phone on the table rang.

Grateful for the reprieve, Renee quickly pushed him, "Your phone’s ringing, go answer it."

Jack scooped her up with one arm, carrying her leisurely to the table where the phone was.

He placed the phone in Renee’s hand, "Hold it tight."

The call connected, Jack shifted Renee up in his arms, speaking in a deep voice, "Speak."

From the phone came Kyle Sheffield’s voice, "Mr. Yates, Silon says Anson wants to invite you for dinner."

Silon is Anson’s secretary, a Chinese-Thai national.

Kyle Sheffield wasn’t making up an excuse — he did have a scheduled meeting with Silon later today.

Jack’s voice remained heavy, "Dinner’s unnecessary. Tell him, regarding his promotion to major general, I’ll do my best to support him, provided he clears all obstacles in this market for me."

Hanging up, he gripped Renee’s waist tightly with his large hand.

Renee jolted, almost dropping the phone.

With Renee in his arms, Jack quickly reached the desk, sweeping everything off it to the floor.

He was about to place Renee on the desk when the doorbell suddenly rang.

Renee clutched Jack’s phone with her right hand, her left arm wrapped around his neck, clinging to his chest to avoid falling.

The doorbell made her heart skip a beat, her body tensing in involuntary anxiety.

Jack gave a light pat on her lower back, "Relax."

Blushing, Renee said, "The doorbell rang, you should check, maybe Harvey Lancaster needs you."

Jack spoke in a deep voice, "Call Harvey."

Handing the phone to him, Renee said, "You call him yourself."

Jack smirked, freeing a hand to take the phone, dialing Harvey’s number.

The call quickly connected, Harvey said, "Third brother, it’s not safe here, you need to leave immediately."

Jack: "Understood."

Ending the call hastily, Jack took Renee to the bathroom, quickly cleaning her up, gently touching her still flushed face, instructing in a deep voice, "I need to go to Maekong. You can’t follow me. Benjamin Lane and Henry Hayes will take you to Lyncroft soon. Catch the fastest flight back to Northcity."

Looking worriedly at him, Renee asked, "Will it be dangerous for you there?"

Jack gave a small smile, "Don’t worry, I’ll be fine."

Renee hugged his waist, resting her face on his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, softly saying, "Jack, you must stay safe, nothing can happen to you."

Jack chuckled, "Who said they wouldn’t shed a tear if I died? Who was it, hmm?"

Raising her head from his embrace, Renee said, "That was then, this is now. Back then you were too much, not even allowing me to meet my friends; I was really mad, so I said that. But now, I definitely don’t want anything to happen to you. If something happens to you, it won’t benefit me at all, and it could put me in danger instead."

Jack kissed her on the cheek, smiling, "You and I are one; we share both honor and disgrace, you know?"

The words "you and I are one" made Renee’s face heat up. She hastily pushed him, "Alright, hurry up and leave. Harvey said it’s really dangerous here, yet you’re still dawdling."

Jack hugged her tightly, gave her a deep kiss, dressed her in a bulletproof vest, and then slipped a coat over it, finally leading her out of the hotel.

Before parting, Jack repeatedly reminded Benjamin Lane, "Make sure to protect her well."

-

Henry Hayes drove, with Benjamin sitting in the passenger seat, a Gatling gun resting on his lap, two pistols tucked at his waist.

Renee sat in the back seat, clutching her bag tightly, nervously watching ahead.

The pitch-black, bulletproof off-road vehicle headed north towards the China-Myanmar border.

It was a tarmac road weaving through broadleaf forests, lined with dense woods, no street lights, pitch darkness all around, with only the vehicle’s headlights casting a weak beam of white light, appearing particularly weak and coldhearted in the vast, dark night.

With fifty kilometers left to the border, a large truck approached from the front, its blinding lights causing Henry to avert his head slightly.

Benjamin immediately grabbed the Gatling gun from his lap, thumb on the trigger, simultaneously warning Renee, "Miss Winslow, get down."

Renee quickly ducked, covering her head with her bag.

The truck didn’t stop or veer aside, heading straight for the black SUV.

Henry swiftly turned the steering wheel, narrowly avoiding a collision with the truck.

With several loud bangs, a barrage of bullets slammed into the windshield at high speed, though they didn’t shatter the glass, they webbed it with cracks.

Benjamin retaliated fiercely with the Gatling gun, firing at the truck ahead.

Unexpectedly, two green jeeps emerged from behind the truck.

One of the green jeeps quickly overtook the truck, trying to flank the SUV from behind, attempting a pincer movement.

Henry turned the steering wheel sharply, ramming into the green jeep, pushing it towards the truck.

The intense gunfire and the sound of startled birds taking flight made Renee’s heart nearly leap out of her throat.

Suddenly a bloody scent filled the car, and Renee’s heart clenched, terrified.

Unsure who was injured, Benjamin or Henry, she didn’t dare ask, pushing her trembling hands against the car seat, palms sweaty.

With his shoulder blade hit, Benjamin’s arm jerked, but he didn’t retreat, continuing to fire at the truck and jeeps.

Amidst Benjamin and Henry’s precarious situation, help arrived.

Three cars pulled up behind them, unleashing a torrent of gunfire on the truck and jeeps, providing much-needed relief for Benjamin and Henry.

Benjamin calmly commanded, "Turn around, take another route."

Henry turned the car around, preparing to head back, but was blocked by a car that had come to their aid.

The window rolled down, revealing the face of Caleb Yates.

Seeing the person in the car, Benjamin and Henry were both momentarily stunned.

Caleb Yates’ voice was cold, "Go back and tell my uncle, I’m taking Renee, I’ll send her back to Northcity."

Benjamin firmly refused, "No way."

Caleb sneered, "Do you have a choice?"

With that, he aimed the gun at Benjamin, his slender finger on the trigger, casually whistling the word, "Bang!"

Renee had one thought: crazy! Caleb Yates was crazy!

Caleb glanced at the backseat window, loudly saying, "Renee, don’t be afraid, I’m here to rescue you. Those people are my uncle’s enemies, sent by the local drug lord. They want to capture you to threaten my uncle. Are you coming with me, or do you want to be a hostage? Your choice."