Chapter 14

Orm's jaw clenched as Fang led her through the opulent, yet unsettling, hallways of Ling's mansion. This was it, the Triad safehouse, a place dripping with illicit history and the lingering scent of danger. "Really? You think you want me to stay here? You were all criminals!" Orm's voice dripped with irritation, bouncing off the expensive, but morally questionable, artwork lining the walls.

Fang merely smirked, unfazed by Orm's outburst. "Do you want to rest, or not? You can stay in Ling's room. So you won't keep asking questions. I know some pregnant women need special treatment, right?" Fang's teasing tone barely concealed the underlying tension. She ushered Orm towards a door at the end of the hall.

Stepping inside Ling's room, Orm recoiled. It was a chaotic explosion of excess. Clothes were strewn across the floor, expensive makeup was haphazardly arranged on a vanity, and a collection of... adult toys were scattered with alarming nonchalance. Orm facepalmed. "How can Ling take seriously about having a family if her life is this so messy?" she muttered, gingerly holding her swollen belly. Even Fang seemed taken aback by the sheer disarray.

"Why would you even choose to get pregnant with my sister then? So she would look like Mei?" Fang asked, her voice laced with a sarcasm that cut through the awkward atmosphere.

Orm smacked her arm. "Are you even serious? It's already happened now, and what do you want me to do about it? Beg her? I don't want to beg Ling if she doesn't want any responsibility for our children."

Fang raised a skeptical brow. "Children? You already have twins in there?"

Orm rolled her eyes. "I'm having five babies, already."

Fang's reaction was theatrical, her eyes widening in exaggerated shock. "My goodness," she exclaimed. "You make our ancestors proud."

Orm shook her head, a weary sigh escaping her lips. "You know what, you're more annoying than Ling."

"Alright, alright," Fang conceded, backing towards the door. "You can rest now..." She left Orm alone, and the quiet of the room settled around her.

Sleep was elusive. The jarring mess of Ling's room was too distracting. Eventually, Orm couldn't resist the urge to tidy up. With a groan, she began gathering the scattered items, piling clothes onto the bed and tossing the more... personal items into the trash bin.

As she worked, a faint noise drifted in from outside the room – a muffled scuffle, the distinct sound of suppressed voices. Instantly alert, Orm's body tensed. Years of surviving on the streets had honed her instincts, replacing naive trust with razor-sharp awareness. She knew this sound. It was the prelude to violence.

She edged towards the nightstand. Fang had disarmed her earlier, claiming it was for her safety, but Orm had cleverly secreted a small, pearl-handled pistol beneath the mattress. Her fingers closed around the cold steel, a wave of grim determination washing over her. Pregnant or not, she wasn't going down without a fight.

Suddenly, the door burst open, revealing a woman silhouetted in the doorway, her face obscured by the shadows. She was dressed in black tactical gear, a Glock pistol clutched in her hand, its muzzle pointed directly at Orm. The woman reeked of cheap perfume and malice. It was clear she wasn't a member of Ling's Triad; the uniform, the scent, the tense posture – all pointed to a rival gang.

"Well, well," the woman sneered, stepping into the room. "Looks like we found the little mother hen. I heard Ling was hiding something precious here. Didn't expect it to be this... fertile." Her eyes raked over Orm's swollen belly, a cruel smile twisting her lips.

Orm's breath hitched. Her hands flew to her swollen belly, a primal instinct to protect the life within. The adrenaline coursing through her veins sharpened her senses, making the woman standing before her seem like a viper poised to strike.

"Who are you?" Orm demanded, her voice trembling despite her best efforts.

The woman smirked, a cruel, unsettling expression that didn't reach her cold eyes. "Me? I was Ling's prison mate. You never know why, I already know that you must be Ling's new lover, right?"

Orm shook her head, disbelief warring with fear. Ling had been a closed book about her past, and she hadn't pushed. Now, a piece of that past had crawled out of the shadows, threatening her and her unborn children. "Why do you care?" she challenged, steel entering her voice. "Don't you dare hurt my babies, or you wouldn't know how you can ended up to?"

The woman, Shen, laughed, a harsh, grating sound. She raised a pistol, the metallic glint reflecting the dim light of the warehouse. "You think you can stop me?"

Orm didn't hesitate. Years spent on the streets, years spent surviving, kicked in. Before Shen could fully raise the gun, Orm's own weapon was out, firing a single shot. Shen shrieked, dropping her pistol as blood bloomed on her right hand.

Shen, enraged, snatched up the fallen gun with her left hand, trying to steady her aim. Orm braced herself, ready to fight, but when Shen pulled the trigger, only a click echoed in the vast space. Empty.

"Fuck, no!" Shen threw the useless weapon aside, her face contorted with rage. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a slim, wicked-looking pocket knife. Lunging forward, she aimed for Orm's neck.

Orm reacted instinctively. She grabbed Shen's wrist, her muscles straining against the force of the attack. The sharp blade pressed against her skin, a searing pain that sent a jolt through her.

"Stop it!!" Orm begged, her voice ragged. She held on with all her might, desperately trying to keep the knife from piercing her flesh.

Shen, consumed by fury, twisted her hand, trying to break free. Orm, fueled by adrenaline and the fierce protectiveness of a mother, bit down hard on Shen's hand. Shen screamed, releasing her grip on the knife, which clattered to the concrete floor.

But the sudden exertion was too much. A sharp, agonizing pain ripped through Orm's lower abdomen. Her water broke, flooding her legs. Panic surged through her. The babies were coming, now, here, in this godforsaken place. Contractions seized her, each one a wave of unbearable agony.

"Stop!! Please, let me take to the hospital..." Orm gasped, clutching her stomach. She tried to regulate her breathing, to focus on anything other than the searing pain.

Shen, clutching her bleeding hand, stared at Orm with a hateful smile. "Then fuck yourself."

Orm's vision blurred, her body screaming in protest. She knew she couldn't hold on much longer. A primal rage, born of desperation, ignited within her. Her hand instinctively reached for her own gun, still clutched in her grip. She pointed, aimed, and fired.

The shot echoed in the warehouse, followed by Shen's choked gasp as she crumpled to the floor, a crimson stain spreading across her chest.

Orm stared at the fallen woman, her mind reeling. "Oh!! Fuck, I even forgot I have bullet left!"

Ignoring the throbbing pain in her abdomen, she forced herself to move. Each step was a monumental effort, her body wracked by contractions. She stumbled towards the exit, the warehouse seeming to tilt and sway around her.

As she neared the open loading bay, she saw a chaotic scene unfolding. Fang, one of Ling's lieutenants, was engaged in a brutal firefight with rival gang members. The air was thick with gun smoke and the scent of blood.

The tires screeched as Ling finally pulled up to the curb, a plume of dust swirling around the battered sedan. Then she saw her. Ling. She was just arriving, her face etched with worry as she spotted Orm in the throes of labor.

"Oh fuck!!! Why you even so late?!" Orm screamed through the pain, her voice raw. "The babies are coming, and you're enjoying torturing somebody and beating up someone! Ugh!!!!" Another contraction ripped through her, and she doubled over, gasping for breath.

Ling rushed to her side, her eyes wide with concern. "What? Already??? I thought you'd stay at Mei's apartment, and you're here. Don't worry, I can take you to the hospital." She scooped her up in her arms, surprisingly gentle for a man known for her ruthlessness, and hurried towards her car.

She practically threw her into the passenger seat, a flurry of apologies tumbling from her lips. "Sorry, sorry! Got held up. You know how it is." She glanced around nervously, as if expecting trouble to materialize from the shadows. She slid into the driver's seat and fumbled with the keys, her hands shaking slightly. She was usually unflappable, but the sight of Orm in such agony clearly rattled him.

"Faster Ling!!!" Orm screamed, clutching her stomach. "Or you want me to give birth here in your car!!"

Ling shook her head in disbelief. "Hey, I don't think you can do that with my nice car I mean hospital is better..." She started the engine, the roar momentarily drowning out Orm's cries.

"I don't care about your car or anything else, I want these babies out!!! Ahhh!!!" Orm screamed, grabbing Ling's arm tight enough to leave bruises, but in his concern, she didn't even notice.

"Ouch... you're hurting my arm." Ling reacted to the pain, but her words were cut short as Orm, in a flurry of movement, wrestled off her leggings. "What are you doing? We're not yet in the hospital..." Her voice trailed off, a mixture of shock and panic creeping into her eyes.

Suddenly, a series of gunshots shattered the relative peace. Glass exploded inwards, peppering the interior of the car. Ling cursed under her breath.

"Oh come on! Don't tell me it will took us long to go to the hospital because of this," she muttered, his voice laced with annoyance. It was one of his rivals, no doubt, always eager to take a shot. He quickly assessed the situation. They were pinned down. Getting to the hospital was now a serious risk.

But Orm was past caring about rivalries or gunfights. Another contraction seized her, more powerful than the last. She pushed with all her strength, a primal scream tearing from her throat. And then, a miracle. A small, slippery body emerged. She instinctively cradled the infant, her breath catching in her throat as she heard the first, weak cry. "It's a girl," she gasped, her voice thick with emotion. She held the baby out to Ling, a tentative offering.

Ling glanced at the child, her face a mask of bewilderment. She could almost puke, not wanting to smell the amniotic fluid in babies body.

Orm, despite her pain, managed a weak laugh. "It's your child, why your reaction is that?"

"The smell is not good, let me help you." Ling pulled the car over to the side of the road. The gunfire had temporarily ceased, the attackers likely regrouping. He knew they couldn't stay here, but he couldn't leave Orm alone either.

She climbed into the back seat, the scent of blood and amniotic fluid thick in the air. The driver's seat was in her view, and he was thinking that he needed to shoot anyone who will try to get near to them. She took a deep breath and tried to focus, pushing aside the fear and the revulsion. She had faced down hardened criminals, stared death in the face countless times. But this, this was different. This was life, raw and untamed, and it was in her hands.

"Okay," she said, her voice surprisingly calm. "Tell me what to do." She helped her to relax her body, and took the baby in her arms, gingerly. "I will make sure that no one will hurt you, both of you."

Orm looked at her, her eyes filled with a mixture of pain and gratitude. Another contraction hit Orm, and Ling this time focused on helping her push.

"I can see the head coming," Ling said, a flicker of something akin to excitement in her usually stoic eyes.

Orm pushed again with all her strength, and another girl arrived. And then another. And another. In what felt like an eternity of pain and grunts, Orm delivered five healthy baby girls, each squalling their arrival into the world. The back seat of the car was now a chaotic scene of blood, sweat, and tiny, wriggling bodies.

Ling stared at the quintuplets, her mind reeling. Five daughters. She looked at Orm, her face pale but radiant, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Five," she whispered, exhaustion lacing her voice. "Five little miracles."

The silence was shattered by the renewed sound of gunfire. This time, it was closer. Ling cursed again, the initial shock giving way to a fierce protectiveness. She wouldn't let anything happen to them. Not to Orm, and not to her babies.

"We need to get out of here," she said, her voice hard. Ling grabbed a clean towel from the car and wrapped it around the first baby she'd held, cradling her carefully. She did the same for the others, her movements surprisingly gentle.

She glanced at Orm. "Can you walk?"

She nodded weakly. "I have to."

Ling opened the back door cautiously, peering out into the street. The attackers were still out there, but they seemed to be momentarily distracted. He knew they had a small window of opportunity.

"Okay, listen to me," she said to Orm, her voice low and urgent. "I'm going to carry two of the babies. You take the other three. Stay close to me. We're going to make our way to the abandoned warehouse a few blocks from here. It's the best chance we've got."

She knew it was a long shot. The warehouse was hardly a safe haven. But it was better than being trapped in the car, waiting to be ambushed.

She helped Orm out of the car, handing her three of the babies. She took a deep breath, the weight of responsibility settling heavily on her shoulders. She was no longer just a gangster. She was a parent, and her only priority was to protect her family.

She looked at Orm, her eyes filled with determination. "Let's go," she said, and began to walk, the sound of gunfire echoing in their ears. The journey to the warehouse would be dangerous, but Ling was ready to face whatever came their way. She had five little reasons to keep fighting.

Shen had arrived with her triads, their black cars slicing through the haze of the evening like daggers. They glimmered ominously under the dim streetlights as they rolled to a halt in front of the dilapidated warehouse—Ling's current refuge.

Ling's heart raced as she peered through the cracked windows, catching sight of Shen stepping out with an air of defiance, her posse flanking her like a pack of wolves. With a swift motion, Ling grabbed her weapon and fired a shot at Shen's car, a desperate warning in a world where mercy was a forgotten virtue. The bullet ricocheted off the metal frame, but Shen's laughter echoed through the night, cold and confident.

"Why won't you die so easy with your lover! I always knew you'd pick a fancy warehouse with a pool to hide in," Shen taunted, her voice a blend of venom and nostalgia.

"What the heck do you want?" Ling shouted, feeling the familiar mix of irritation and dread swell within her. She was weary of this game, the constant dance of violence and manipulation.

"I want to make a peaceful deal with you. I need to start fresh. I need money, Ling." Shen's tone shifted, the menace fading for a heartbeat. Ling caught a glimpse of desperation behind Shen's hardened facade.

"Then sell some dumplings, copied DVDs..." Ling shot back, sarcasm lacing her words, but Shen shook her head, a twisted smile playing on her lips.

"To invest more. If you can allow me to sell one of your children, I will set you free. Is that what you do when you don't have money?" Shen's laughter was sharp as glass, cutting through the tension.

Ling's stomach twisted. "It's only a rumor you want to ruin! You said that because I rejected your feelings! You've ruined our friendship and set a whole new gang against me!"

"Because that's your fault!" Shen snapped, anger sparking in her eyes.

Suddenly, the muffled cries of a baby echoed from deep within the warehouse, and Shen's expression shifted from rage to something darker. "What's that noise?" she hissed, stalking toward the entrance, ready to unleash chaos on whoever dared to disrupt her confrontation.

Ling pushed Shen aside, shoving her behind the trees lining the warehouse's perimeter. Shen stumbled, a splinter embedding itself in her shoulder as she fell to the ground. "Fuck! You're going to pay for this!" she snarled, yanking the splinter out and tossing it aside with fury.

In the darkness, the fight escalated, Shen lunging at Ling, her nails scraping against Ling's skin as she struggled to regain control. "You think you can just walk away?" Shen growled, but Ling, fueled by survival instincts, pushed her back down to the ground, pinning her there.

As they wrestled in the dirt, a nurse inside the warehouse, Lookkaew, tended to Orm and her five babies. Orm lay in bed, exhaustion etched into her features, but her thoughts were consumed by worry for Ling. "But what about Ling?" she whispered.

"She's somewhere out there to solve her problem," Lookkaew replied, her voice calm, but the tension in her shoulders told a different story.

Orm rolled her eyes. "Do I look stupid? Why are there bad guys out there killing me and Ling?" The fear clawed at her throat.

"That's what I don't know," Lookkaew said softly, glancing toward the door as another shot rang out.

"I can't rest here, right?" Orm pushed herself up, desperation surging.

"I'm sorry, but I was following orders. I was bringing backup for you, for your protection," Lookkaew explained, her eyes darting toward the chaos outside.

Orm's heart sank. The sound of gunshots grew louder, and the realization dawned on her: she wasn't safe here. She needed to protect her children, protect Ling.

The acrid smell of gunpowder hung heavy in the air, a grim perfume that clung to Ling's singed clothes. Blood bloomed crimson against the stark white of her shirt, a stark reminder of Shen's betrayal. Her allies had arrived, but not in time to prevent the damage.

"Oh your pathetic allies are always late, so unusual," Shen had drawled, her voice laced with venom, her eyes fixed on Ling. "If you loved me before, this wasn't going to happen."

Now, Nene stood wringing her hands, her face a mask of worry. Dandao shifted her weight, a nervous tic playing in her jaw. They were late, and Ling was paying the price.

"Shen, stop hurting our boss now. We don't want anything harm from you if you stop," Nene pleaded, her voice barely a whisper.

Shen's laughter was a harsh, grating sound. "Oh really? So there's nothing you can stop me?" She gestured to her men, a phalanx of hardened faces, weapons glinting in the dim light of the warehouse.

Dandao sighed, a sound of pure exasperation. "So here's the deal, what about we should start the wedding here so you wouldn't stop bothering us and give us world peace, okay?"

Ling straightened with a wince, her hand pressing against the throbbing wound in her chest. "What the heck, man! You're late, and Nene, and this is the most idiotic idea that you could ever think of!" The pain was a dull ache, but the betrayal stung far worse.

Shen ignored them, her gaze never leaving Ling. "Stop fighting and let me think what consequences you should face! Surrender your alliances and follow my lead."

Ling and her triad members bristled. Unthinkable. Unacceptable.

"I think we can't negotiate like that," Nene said, her voice regaining some of its former steel.

"So you want to die today..." Shen's men shifted, their weapons rising.

Ling took a step forward, ignoring the chorus of protests from her allies. "Hey, if you want some peaceful deal, then stop with your scaring act and deal with me. Without your men, I think I can deal something better that you love. Just tell me what you want." She closed the distance between them, her eyes locking with Shen's. It was a gamble, a dangerous dance on the edge of a knife. She planned to use the advantage and strangle her.

"If you dare to kill me, then I kill your boss right away!" Shen spat, her eyes blazing with fury, but Ling saw a flicker of doubt.

"I know you can't kill me!" Shen yelled, but even as the words left her mouth, she sensed her men was now going to shoot and kill Ling. Ling's triad, however, wasn't going to stand by and protect her as Dandao accidentally shot Shen in the neck in order to save Ling.

A collective gasp filled as Shen crumpled to the floor, a dark stain spreading on her crisp white shirt.

"Oh god, do you think they'll arrest me?" Dandao asked, her voice tight with worry.

Ling laughed, a short, sarcastic sound. "You're worrying about that? Now that it's almost over, I need some nurse to take out these bullets." The adrenaline was fading, leaving behind a throbbing ache and a growing sense of urgency.

"You mean you need a hospital for that, do you?" Nene said, her brow furrowed with concern.

Just then, the wail of sirens pierced the air. An ambulance pulled up outside, and Ling watched as paramedics carefully loaded Orm and her babies into the back. Something sparked in her mind.

"Oh my goodness! I forgot to tell you, I must go to Orm right away!" Ling exclaimed, the pain momentarily forgotten.

Dandao's brow furrowed. Something wasn't adding up. "Her? Mei's ex was your..." She trailed off, trying to piece it together.

Ling smacked her on the head, then realized she was giving something away.

"So both of you already know Orm, without telling me?"

Nene nodded shyly. "Just now..."

"Look, we just messed up and things should clear up between us here. Orm was broken-hearted, looks so a badass bodyguard."

Dandao and Nene laughed. "Congratulations, man, let's go to the hospital to pay her a visit."

Ling nodded, a genuine smile finally gracing her lips. "Sure." The bullet wounds throbbed, Shen was dead, and things were far from over. But for the first time in a long time, a glimmer of hope flickered within her.