Chapter 19

Tonight, the heist was going to be difficult to pull off but everyone was in position to rescue Mira from this situation. Chief Misty Luggins and her squad were on stand-by, some even dressing up as guests at the restaurant to monitor the situation.

Mr. Shark was stepping in with Rani, Mr. Wolf and Diane in disguises to observe the situation. Mr. Snake and Mr. Piranha will be moving through the vents and take out any 'obstacles' if necessary. Webs will be the only one monitoring the situation from Mr. Wolf's car with all of her screens.

Before the heist, she had secretly installed cameras inside of the restaurant and cancelled a random person's booking in order to fit the four guests. Shark was dressed as a distinguished gentleman with a tuxedo and fake moustache while Mr. Wolf wore a white dress shirt with cuffs on the wrists inside a black coat and a peaky hat. As for the ladies, Diane was wearing a white dress and glasses while Rani had donned a grey one with a serpent-pendant necklace.

The sitting arrangement was close to the fish tanks, where waiters would catch the fish in order to be prepared in the kitchen. Rani felt bad that Mira was not seated close to the tanks. Knowing her, she would gaze at the fishes all day until the food arrive. After all, she was not much of a talker unless she was forced to.

"Can you see her?" Rani whispered to Mr. Shark, who was glancing at the other tables. Since he was the biggest among them, he could survey the whole restaurant. Silently, he pointed at a table that was very close to the stage, where the matchmaking would take place.

Just from his expression alone, the situation was grim. Rani reached out a hand to place it on Mr. Shark's sandpaper-like fin. "I know you're worried about Mira, but we got to plan this carefully without you guys ending up in jail again."

"I know, I know," he repeated those words to calm him down. "Just that Mira...I just wished we could help her before anything. I still can't wrap my head around how your dad married your mom, then having six kids and then playing Potter Puppet Pals with you guys. When she was with us, she's been talking and smiling more. I just...I just..."

Rani glanced at the table Mira was at, a sense of guilt yet anger at herself. A part of her felt selfish for saving herself and abandoning her siblings and father to deal with her mother. She hoped this time, their mother and grandparents would stay away from everyone in the family. Poor Mira was putting on a fake smile with her hands resting neatly on her lap while their grandfather was rubbing her shoulders slowly with those wrinkled dry hands.

She touched the blade that was hidden in her dress, near her thigh.

"I won't let that happen," Diane murmured, fiddling with her bracelet, which had a few lock picks. "Wolf, I can see a few of those 'establish' bachelors lining up at the target's table. You ready?"

The wolf nodded with a grin. "As I'll ever be."

...

Mira wished she was somewhere else.

Metaphorically, her mother and grandfather had leashed her so that she would always be pulled back whenever they want her. Men who were present in the restaurant were gawking at her from afar. She hated that her mother had put on so much makeup on her without hearing her protest or the fact that the dress she was wearing was squeezing her internal organs.

However, she blinked when she saw a familiar face that was seating near the fish tanks. Mira wanted nothing more than to go over to him and maybe catch a glimpse of the fish tanks. That was always the case whenever she went out to any Chinese seafood restaurants.

Plus, it was an excuse to get away from her mother.

"I wished you wouldn't be so picky, my dear," her grandfather crooned, stroking her arm up and down. Mira wanted to push him away but it would cause a scene at the restaurant. Knowing her, she hated to be in the spotlight.

"Mira, are you sure there's no one you wanted to talk and dance with?" prompted her mother. As much as she wanted to get away from her family, none of the guys that came to this event gave her the warm fuzzy feelings she had experienced with Mr. Shark or Mr. Piranha.

Speaking of which, she caught him looking at her, giving a shy smile to assure her that he and the gang were here. In fact, she saw her sister sitting with him along with the governor and Mr. Wolf. She envied Rani for having the freedom and friendship without being held back by an invisible chain.

However, she signalled Mr. Shark's attention with a slow blink similar to a cat's. It won't draw any suspicions from anyone at her table. Again, she directed his attention to her and hoped he would save her from this awful arrangement. Speak of the devil, her grandfather's dry old hands were dangerously reaching down to her thigh...

"Please no..." she begged him but his grip on her thigh almost made her involuntarily squeak. His breath stank of old cigarettes and peas as he murmured, "I'm just looking out for you, dear. You are a beauty to behold with a body like a temple- well, even if your assets are small to bear striking features. But, your face can make those men turn their heads. Come now, why don't-"

Just then, a cloud of green gas surrounded the restaurant. Everyone either had tears in their eyes, some were choking or downright fainting at the stench. Mira immediately covered her mouth and nose, trying to get away while her family was distracted. Using her free hand, she fanned away some of the gas to try and find the nearest exit.

'I need to find Shark and Piranha,' she thought to herself, thinking of ways to calm down if she wants to escape this gas chamber.

But those thoughts were cut short when a rough manicured hand grabbed the strap of her dress. If the green gas was bad, her mother's ragged appearance with uneven makeup, long manicured nails and frizzy hair made the Wicked Witch of the West look like Miss Universe.

"DON'T LEAVE ME, MIRA!" she shrieked, tugging the strap. It was about to rip and Mira was not going to let that happen in front of at least a hundred of guests. "FIND YOUR GRANDFATHER! HE AND YOUR GRANDMOTHER MIGHT DIE!"

"L-let go of me!" Mira struggled to utter out those words will averting her gaze from her mother's demonic eyes.

"YOU DARE DEFY ME AFTER EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE?!"

Mira was about to collapse from both the struggle and the intensity of the gas. She stepped on her mother's toes to get away but the old woman was swift. Her eyes widened when she heard the sound of fabric being ripped, causing her to hold her dress with both of her hands.

The woman before her was no longer the mother who paraded her around like a trophy or sing high praises about her achievement. With bloodshot eyes, her mother slapped her in the face until her cheeks were stung. Mira's eyes watered and the gas was an afterthought.

Whack! "You fucking bitch! Disrespecting your grandfather and now me?! If I ever find your sister, she's going to be fixed," her mother's shrill voice threatened. For a moment, Mira felt like a child hiding from her parents' argument.

"I'm gonna teach you to respect and obey me, even if it takes all night." Whack! Whack! Whack! She pummelled her cheeks with three quick slaps, each more painful than the last as Mira screams in pain and frantically kicked her legs.

For a moment, her hot cheeks felt wet until she saw tiny drops of blood on her mother's hand.

Before another blow was struck to her face, a large mass bodied her mother into the wall. She was still alive but her expression was full of shock. It was the same with Mira, as her heart fluttered at the sight but something about her saviour concerned her.

His eyes were pure black that rivalled the void.

Anyone want to guess who saved Mira? Don't worry, we will get cute scenes soon