Chapter 699 - Auction XIX

Meanwhile…

"Oh…. Ivan was beaten pretty badly." Angelo clicked his tongue, pleased to see Ivan in that state for once. His other eye was swollen, the corner of his lips had a large crack, and there were bruises on his cheekbone and arms.

Angelo seemed like he just came out alive from a fierce brawl. After shooting the person dragging Zion, Angelo was quick to shoot the person dragging Ivan.

One after another, all unfamiliar faces that weren't part of their forces dropped to the ground. Others fired back at the super cat boat, and motorboats approaching the yacht.

They were not Matthew's or Inigo's forces, but Angelo just supported them.

"Milo, are you there? Make sure to give them earpieces since we all lost ours." Angelo muttered through the new pair of earpieces he received.

"F*ck!" From his side, Patrizio yelled and cursed, struggling from the tree he was tied to.

"Sh*t up, Pat. You may be my type, but you did a good number on me. Don't think you're irreplaceable." Angelo muttered, not giving Patrizio a glance.

"F*ck!" Patrizio ground his teeth in frustration.

[What transpired earlier]

"Nik said to leave the brother and the Xi guy alone. For Ivan, let him live, but cripple him from waist down below." Patrizio casually informed them about the orders from his boss.

"Lastly, kill everyone else. Sorry, Angelo." 

Upon saying those words, Patrizio dropped the earpiece and squashed it with his foot. After a second, Patrizio didn't waste a second as he pulled the trigger aimed directly at Angelo.

However, thanks to Angelo's fast reflexes, he was quick to roll on his back, the ends of his rifle hitting Patrizio's hand, causing the latter to loosen his grip.

Still, Patrizio was quick to pull his spare gun and started pulling the trigger. But, since Angelo was quick to react, he rolled around, swinging his sniper gun and randomly shot back.

This made Patrizio hop back, avoiding getting shot. Luckily, both of them were safe from any gun shot wounds. Patrizio still had his advantage, though.

Patrizio was already standing on his foot. Meanwhile, Angelo was still on the ground. Without giving the latter time to stand back on his feet, Patrizio unhesitatingly fired bullets in Angelo's direction.

Without any fear or remorse, Patrizio kept pulling the trigger, trudging closer to Angelo who was dancing, avoiding the bullets while on the ground. But, luck was never consistent.

Soon, Patrizio's bullets hit Angelo's leg, then the side of his abdomen, then another two tore inside his flesh. Angelo squirmed in pain, screaming as blood pooled underneath him.

Angelo gritted his teeth, sucking air through it as he glared at Patrizio. Patrizio placed his foot on Angelo's wound, causing the latter to scream hysterically.

"Why?" Patrizio inquired through his gritted teeth. His gun aimed directly at Angelo's forehead. "Why didn't you shoot me?"

Knowing Angelo's marksmanship, Patrizio was aware that he had missed the opportunity the second he hopped back. Alas, Angelo didn't shoot him. Hence, part of Patrizio felt insulted from this act of mercy.

"Why?!" Patrizio yelled, putting more pressure on Angelo's wound.

"Ahh!" Angelo screamed in pain before gritting his teeth, shooting Patrizio deadly glares.

"Are you underestimating me just because of my sexuality?" Patrizio ground his teeth, prepared to pull the trigger the second Angelo gave him the wrong answer.

Not that Patrizio didn't plan to kill Angelo in the first place. It was just that, he needed answers. Patrizio had lived his life constantly proving his sexual orientation was not a problem to become a person with dignity.

Their ways might not be as moral as the law said. However, Patrizio had already proved that he could be a more responsible man than most men. 

Only Nikolai and a select few accepted Patrizio for who he was: Zoey, Ivan, Inigo, and Nikolai. Despite that they had taken separate ways, Patrizio remained on Nikolai's side out of… sympathy and respect.

Zoey and Ivan had seen life. Inigo… Patrizio didn't know, but he was certain that man was doing great as ever. But Nikolai, he had been carrying all these responsibilities for a long time.

It was as if Patrizio could relate to Nikolai's internal struggles. No one understood Nikolai more than Patrizio.

That's why… he had chosen to lay his life to protect and follow Nikolai's wishes.

"Answer me!" Patrizio yelled, kicking Angelo's wound once again.

"Ah!" Angelo gritted his teeth. He was losing so much blood as he lay down weakly, easing his tensed shoulders, submitting to whatever would come.

"You're my type, that's all." Angelo answered along with his deep breaths.

Momentarily, Patrizio froze. His brows furrowed, baffled at what he had just heard.

"I think you're pretty. I like pretty things." Angelo coughed up blood, letting his breathing settle not to suffocate his lungs.

"You…" Patrizio trailed off, shaking his head as he convinced himself not to get sidetracked. 

Alas, it was too late for Patrizio. He missed his opportunity to do his job. Because something unexpected happened.

*PEW*

Within a fraction of second, Patrizio's handgun flew away from his hand as someone shot it away. Before Patrizio could grasp what happened, several, no, countless red dot lights were on him.

"Who is Angelo between you two?" Asked a man who slinked out of the shadows. Followed by him were a good number of men in full gears, approaching cautiously.

Patrizio slowly raised his hand, slowly turned around to face the unwelcome guest. Angelo furrowed his brows, glimpsing at the people he never saw in his life.

"The man with the rifle, you're Angelo?" The man, who was in his late fifties, lit up a cigarette. "I was told by a man named Ryan to check on you. You look pretty bad, though."

"Who are you?" Angelo asked, catching Patrizio's attention.

"You don't know them?"

"Well, we're just nobodies paying a debt." The old man replied, puffing out the smoke through his lips and nose. 

"Anyway, half of your team is injured. We arrived just in time so none of your snipers are dead, though some are already on the brink of death. I must say though, you should've chosen a better sniping location. Maybe, from another town so these Silva kids wouldn't give you tough times."

Both Patrizio and Angelo were baffled. They didn't know this man, but they could sense that this old fellow was a veteran. Just who was he?

As silence ensued, the moon shone upon the blanched hair of the man, showing the tattoo on his jugular. A distinct tattoo of a demon.

Patrizio managed to recognize the tattoo while Angelo didn't from his distance and position.

"Satan…" Patrizio whispered as his eyes slowly widened.

The old man smirked upon hearing that alias after a long time. "You're a bright young man."

"What is the legend doing here?" Patrizio's heart sank as if he had lost all his hope to fight back.

"I told you, child. We're just merely paying a debt. Although, this brings back the good ole' days. Shall we kill him, Mister Angelo? We're running out of time. I have to see that the devil's son is alive, after all."

Angelo remained silent, realizing the people he was talking to.

[end of flashback]

PRESENT TIME

Angelo, although expressing his appreciation to his savior, requested to keep Patrizio alive. Hence, they tied the latter to the nearby tree.

"Ah, that's it." Angelo rolled on his back as he saw that the men who helped him finally approached the yacht. 

"You can treat me now."  Angelo glanced at the person on standby, left by that group of unwelcome guests, to treat his wounds.

With that being said, the man hurriedly approached him and tended to Angelo's wounds. As he watched the man treating him, Angelo could not help but ask.

"Why are you helping us?"

The doctor who was tending to his wounds didn't stop as he replied, "We're simply paying a debt."

"Debt, to whom?" 

"To Karma."