Chapter 156: Chapter 156
Just as Lucien had anticipated, Anna was about to leave before the morning twilight. Jack gave her the information she needed, and she was planning on going out on her own since there was nothing much to be done just yet. Brianna was only thinking about taking a peek and familiarizing herself with her target’s routine, just in case he turned out to be her big hunt.
Brianna was about to leave without notifying anyone, so she quietly jumped off her window. It was too low to jump as the Villa was built with a single floor.
“What the f…” Brianna frowned when she almost bumped with someone who seemed to stand up from squatting on the side of her room’s window. She was not scared. She was annoyed. She almost unsheathed her leg knife. But she recognized the scent of the person next to her, despite the darkness covering the whole surroundings.
“I almost thought I was wrong,” Lucien chuckled. He had been waiting in this spot ever since Jack told him he sent the information Anna had asked him to provide. Lucien also got the same details of the location and daily schedules of Terrence Clayton, highlighting the twenty-four hours information, including last night. He was not comfortable relying on their men about telling him if Anna was leaving because he feared they might fall asleep and miss her passing by right before their noses. And so, he personally waited right beside her window, which he deemed would be her closest exit from here if she ever decided to leave. And he was quite confident that Anna would not wait for everyone to wake up and bid goodbye before leaving.
It turned out he was right!
But he realized he could not blame their men if they ever lose her in their sight, no matter how hard they try to guard her. She moves like a cat. He could swear he did not hear any sound of the window opening when she exited it. He only noticed because she landed right next to where he was that he sprang up when he felt a swish of wind pass by.
“What are you doing here?” Anna did not hesitate to speak in her casual voice.
She was not a fugitive on the run, so she did not feel the need to conceal her departure. She was going to order her men to stand by had anyone tried to go with her. She was only going to have a look. There was no need to bring the team or anyone else. So she asked Lucien in a tone with annoyance evidently expressed.
“Waiting for you,” Lucien did not hesitate to reply, as well. He even added a joke. “I even thought you have overslept. I have been here for quite a while now, you know?” He chuckled as he walked side by side with Anna.
“And who told you to wait? And so what if I overslept? Did we agree to meet?” Brianna coldly retorted to his sounding like complaining tone.
“I know you were going out, so I invited myself to join you,” Lucien brazenly replied. “Yours or mine?” He asked, pointing his chin at the cars parked side by side, his and Anna’s.
The crazy part about their cars is basically nothing. Lucien bought the same car and upgraded it equally the same as Anna’s so she would feel comfortable when she drives his car. Well, the mission car. Tatum Elliot drives the one they use for office work on a daily basis, so Lucien did not feel the need to fit the vehicle to Anna’s liking and preferences.
Lucien’s lifestyle seemed to have turned upside down and inside out. If he was too finesse and corporate before he met Anna, this time, he was different. His aura and character became a well-groomed Alpha male. He was not the same level as Anna and everyone else who had trained their whole lives to be mercenaries and soldiers, but he was no longer the commoner in their world.
His training is now regular. Combat, shooting, and defense skills are already in his daily routine of exercises. He is also taking basic and intensive training in discreetly observing his surroundings. And he already made use of such new abilities. He had been saved by his newly developed skills, keeping himself safe, alive, and no longer an easy target.
It happened when they were attacked by men from Wesley and Tyler Bennings’ camp. They must be after revenge. But this time, Lucien made sure he was no longer the weak and dependent client as he used to be by Anna’s side. He was no longer her client. They were partners, and so Lucien was not going to just lean on and press the duty and responsibility of staying safe and alive on Anna’s hands. As much as possible, he wished he could do the opposite for her. Only that it’s just too impossible to do since she is so over-capable!
“Since I am sure you are not going to back down even if I tell you to,” Anna replied with defeat. “I will let you choose. Humor me,” she shrugged her shoulders. She was standing in the middle of the space where their cars were parked.
Lucien chuckled to see her reaction to his unchangeable decision to go out with her. He briskly walked to stand behind Anna and led her to walk in between their cars. It was the space with the passenger’s seat side of his car next to the door of Anna’s car to the driver seat side. But knowing Lucien Michaelson, he was not going to let Anna drive. She knew it and did not waste her energy to resist. It would only delay their time to leave, so she let him choose which door to open.
“This way, please,” Lucien ushered Anna to sit on the passenger’s side of his car. Then he closed the door after making sure she was well-seated and ran to the spot behind the steering wheel.
“Where to?” Lucien asked.
“Just drive. I will tell you when and which directions to make a turn,” Anna leaned her head as she closed her eyes.
Lucien froze for a brief moment. He was astounded at her command. How can she say drive and close her eyes after saying she will tell him when and where to turn? His house was a Villa, with a wide yard, and from the garage to his gates would be a few hundred meters away, but after that, it was less than a minute drive to the main road with four directions to go. But then he could not afford to annoy Anna and throw him out of his own car from the window to his side, so he skillfully started to drive. He was confident with his driving skills, even if he was not a racer like her. But he was worried to commit mistakes and miss even a single direction of her soon-to-come instructions.
Brianna need not have her eyes open to know which way and where they were at the moment, even inside a moving vehicle. She was aware of the speed, and her brains were doing the math to calculate with the geographical map in her mind.
Lucien started to feel comfortable when Anna kept giving him the instructions calmly.
“Turn left in the next corner,” Brianna instructed after checking the road for a quick glance.
Lucien efficiently drove as she would direct him where to take turns. Until he noticed they were almost by the foot of a mountain where people would go trekking. There was a spot for the cars to be parked while people walked up to exercise into the hill through a trail.
“Is this where we’re supposed to be?” Lucien asked warily.
“I believe so. Why?” Anna asked as she gathered her backpack from the backseat of Lucien’s car. She placed it there when the man walked around his vehicle from the passenger’s seat to the driver’s.
“Just wondering,” Lucien replied as he checked the place around. No matter how he tried to connect the dots, he could not see what this place has to do with what he thought Anna would want to do now.”
“You know I am not good with so many words, right?” Brianna wanted to remind him not to ask so many questions as she needed peace to think most of the time in tasks like this.
“Copy that!” Lucien playfully saluted like a soldier with his grin from ear to ear.
He might look and sound silly, but he is so happy to be right beside Anna, even with moments like this. It makes him see and discover more of her personality, character, and behavior. He is aware of her most natural and initial reactions in different circumstances because he is able to know more about her.
Being with her seemed to increase his intelligence as well. Watching her keenly eye her surroundings make Lucien also aware, learn, and apply her techniques which he is amazed at how effective and fruitful they turn out to be.
Lucien was almost certain that even this place where they arrived, strange as it may seem, has an excellent reason for Anna to direct him to drive and get here. He was already thrilled to find out.