Chapter 444: Declan Pierce, You’re Still Alive

Chapter 444: Chapter 444: Declan Pierce, You’re Still Alive

Shiv placed the gun on the table, pressing down on a few sheets of paper. He turned and stared at Tanya, sleazily leaning in closer: "Now, not afraid anymore, right?"

This was the opportunity Tanya had been waiting for.

She lowered her eyes, lightly biting her lower lip, timidly retreating, pretending to be extremely frightened.

"What do you want to do? Stay away from me..."

She was slender, no one would consider a woman like her a threat, especially not a vicious killer, who would certainly not take her seriously.

Sure enough, Shiv reached out sleazily to touch her face.

Tanya seized the moment, swiftly dodged to the side, grabbing his wrist with her left hand and reaching for the gun on the table with her right.

She was skilled in pressure points, knowing where to press to make a person’s entire arm go numb. With considerable finger strength, Tanya squeezed the spot between Shiv’s thumb and forefinger hard, causing his whole arm to go numb as if electrified.

"Ah! Damn witch, you dare trick me!"

He cursed furiously, with his other hand launching a punch at Tanya.

Tanya narrowly avoided it, sweat forming a thin layer on her forehead.

Had it been an ordinary person, being grabbed at those pressure points should have rendered them powerless, but Shiv, who appeared frail, was obviously trained.

Before Tanya could steady herself, Shiv kicked at her again, his previous lecherous smile replaced by murderous intent.

He was bent on killing her.

Tanya dodged while looking for an opportunity, during this encounter suffering a punch from Shiv, the pain piercing into her bones.

She focused on the gun on the table.

Shiv sensed her intent and tried to stop her. Tanya took the brunt of a kick, metallic taste rising in her throat; she endured it and secured the gun.

She raised it towards Shiv, who was about to charge at her, gripping the handle tightly with both hands.

"Stop, or I’ll shoot you!" she shouted sternly.

Declan had taught her how to shoot, he was a very good teacher; she not only knew how to use a gun but was also an excellent marksman, skilled enough to hit targets with precision at close range, truly capable of killing Shiv.

"Don’t—" Shiv quickly raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, surprised at how tough this woman was to deal with.

Tanya gritted her teeth, fingers finding the safety, pressing it down with a click that resonated. Her heart skipped a beat.

Killing was a burden too heavy for ordinary people.

Initially, Shiv seemed afraid, but upon seeing Tanya’s expression and her slightly trembling hand, he hesitated before grinning.

"Shoot then." He took a step forward, "Can you do it? If you kill me, it’ll be murder. Do you dare?"

Tanya retreated a step, the gun still aimed at him. She gritted her teeth and squeezed the trigger suddenly, but the first attempt failed to fire.

Seizing the chance, Shiv lunged to grab the gun.

The ferocity in his eyes was fully exposed.

"Damn woman, almost got me. I thought you were a weakling!" He sneered, his gaze cold and unsettling, "Looks like I have to kill one more today!"

Tanya was pressed against the table edge, her back aching. Shiv was much stronger, forcing the barrel towards Tanya’s forehead.

Just as he was about to pull the trigger, suddenly his body shuddered violently.

Tanya was unsure what had happened, but warm blood had already splattered across her face.

Shiv staggered backwards, clutching his neck from where blood gushed through his fingers.

Tanya could finally see clearly, a pencil had been driven fiercely into the side of his neck, the force was intense, the tip buried entirely into tissue with only the end exposed.

Bang—

Shiv crashed heavily onto the floor, eyes open, his body twitching mechanically until soon, he moved no more.

Blood seeped from the side of his neck, slowly soaking into the floor.

He was dead.

Tanya saw beyond him, a shadowy, ghostly figure of a man.

The man was dressed in black, his back to the window. Moonlight filtered through the curtain’s gap highlighting a thin outline on his shoulders.

She had seen him.

On the mountain during the earlier memorial.

Tanya felt her heart pounding inside her chest, as if ready to leap out her throat any moment.

She opened her mouth, unable to find her voice at first. After several seconds, she finally managed to call out.

"Declan."

Those two simple words drained her energy, her tongue was numb.

The man, however, did not move. When Tanya attempted to approach him, he even retreated two steps.

"You’ve got the wrong person." His voice was dry and hoarse.

Initially it did not match the voice of Declan from her memory.

Yet inexplicably she was convinced.

"I haven’t." Tanya stepped forward, "You are Declan!"

As she advanced, he retreated, finally backing into the shadowy corner, shrinking inward, as though trying to hide himself.

"Once more, you’re mistaken." Each word was bitten off deliberately, "Leave my home!"

Tanya’s tears welled up.

She dared not move further, or trust her judgment.

Declan was dead, this was an undeniable fact everyone accepted, but she could not bring herself to accept it.

"I’m sorry for bothering you. I... I just miss him too much."

The shadow silently curled in the corner, its thin, elongated outline trembling slightly, like suppressing something.

"My face, scarred from a fire. I don’t want anyone to see me." He explained quietly, "I don’t know who this Declan is you’re talking about."

Declan knew that Tanya would believe.

His voice was indeed raspy like it had been singed by fire.

Most importantly, Declan’s death was an undisputed matter, Tanya wouldn’t doubt it. His deception was thorough.

True to his expectations, Tanya’s step to approach froze.

She lowered her eyes, trying hard to contain the turmoil within, taking a deep breath.

"Sorry..."

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside.

Felix’s calm voice entered: "Shiv! I warn you, do not harm the hostage, we can negotiate what you want!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the door was pulled open from inside.

Blood-stained Tanya appeared before them, followed closely by Felix noting Shiv’s corpse lying on the ground behind her.

He wasn’t surprised, storming in here meant Shiv was certainly going to die.

He would spare no mercy.

Felix ignored the dead, advancing swiftly to examine Tanya.

"Are you okay?"

Tanya shook her head lightly.

"I’m fine." She spoke, her voice still hoarse, but her tone tranquil, "I killed him; he tried to rape me, I defended myself."

"He’s a wanted criminal, killed a police officer. Killing him is an achievement."

Felix took off his coat, draping it over Tanya’s shoulders, stopping his men from dealing with the corpse.

"No need, it’ll be handled." He stated.

Declan’s people would tidy up efficiently.

He reached to assist Tanya’s arm: "Let’s go, I’ll take you to the hospital."

Tanya was about to agree, but before speaking, things went dark and she collapsed.

"Tanya!" Felix caught her, rare panic showing on his face.

Inside, the shadow in the corner suddenly turned its head.