22. Nico

Chapter 22

Nico

“We’re almost there.” The driver confirms, watching the GPS. “Get ready.”

The area we are driving through is hellish. Only the worst of humanity live in places like this.

People who have been exiled because their lives don’t or can’t align with the rest of society. They choose the filth and dirt because here no one will question their habits or deeds. They can do as they please.

I stare out of the window as we pass the broken buildings and dark alleys. My hand is locked around my Glock.

We’re close. I’m coming, Bella.

The driver pulls to a stop behind a dark SUV that doesn’t belong in this part of town. It has to be Marcus’s vehicle.

I’m out of the car before he’s turned the engine off and my security team and I are running up the steps and into the abandoned church.

It reeks of decay in here. The smell slams into me the moment I step through those doors.

But I don’t have a second to be offended by it because ahead of me Isabelle is about to say I do.

In the dim lighting of this old building I can see what he’s done to her and my heart shatters.

Gun fire erupts around me. I duck behind a row of old wooden seats and the bench above my head explodes as bullets slam into it, sending splinters of wood shooting around me.

I spin towards the person who fired and send two rounds racing through the air - one hits him in the cheek, ripping his face open in an arch of blood. The other slams into his neck and he drops his weapon, trying to wrap his hand around the open wound to stop the bleeding. But he’s drowning in his own blood.

Bullets fly towards me from different directions and I hear my team screaming, fighting back, shooting - everything is chaos.

I duck low and look towards the altar again but both Marcus and Bella are no longer there. They’ve run into the back of the church - trying to escape.

“Where is she? Can you see her?” I yell.

“They’ve taken her through the back.” Someone yells back.

I can’t lose her again. If Marcus gets away this time, it will be the last time I ever see Bella alive. He will kill her or make sure she is never found again.

With renewed fear and urgency I stand up, firing with deadly aim, taking down the remaining three men who were still fighting. Then I run towards the back of the church.

Thank fuck the back exit was blocked. A ceiling beam that fell years ago has covered the back door and Marcus is trapped, holding Bella against him and now using her as a shield. Except she is limp in his arms, her head lolled forward, lifeless, unconscious - or dead. I can’t tell from here.

“Let her go.” I shout at him.

“If I can’t have her - no one can. I will kill her before I let her go.”

I believe him, and that means that the risk of taking this shot outweighs the risk of not doing it.

I aim for his head.

The bullet snaps from my gun, spinning through the air - piercing his skull right between his eyes. It explodes out the back of his head as brain matter and blood hit the wall behind him.

He drops to his knees, Bella dropping to the floor as well.

I bolt to her side, lifting her in my arms.

Something happened to her when he tried to escape, and she has an injury on the side of her head.

A long gash that is oozing blood and looks bad.

“We have to get her to the hospital - now.” I scream to my men.

“Get the car started, we have to go.” Panic is threatening my ability to think clearly. I’m terrified of losing her. I don’t even know if she’s alive now. It might already be too late. I can’t think like that though. I have to save her.

Lifting her in my arms I run through the church, over the fallen bodies and out into the street. We climb into the car. I can’t let her go. I have her held tight against my chest.

Overwhelming emotions are flooding me.

One of my security team leans close and presses his fingers to her neck.

“Her pulse is weak.” He confirms.

“But she’s alive.” I reply.

“She’s alive, but she needs medical attention.”

The driver spins around corners, heading towards the hospital.

My phone rings in my pocket.

Dante.

I answer it.

Lisa’s voice is filled with fear. “There are men outside. I can see their car downstairs. I can see they aren’t good. They have guns. What am I supposed to do?”

For a moment my mind goes blank.

Bella has to get to the hospital, or she might die. I can’t tell how bad her injury is.

But our son is in danger too. Those men will take him, and we will never see him again.

What the fuck am I supposed to do?

Do I risk letting Bella die - to save our son?

Or do I get her to the hospital and try to reach him in time afterwards?

I stare at Bella’s face.

She would hate me if I chose not to get to our son first. She would never forgive me. I know it. She is a mother, and she would choose her son over herself.

My heart pulls so tight it might break.

“We have to change course. Go to Bella’s apartment. They’ve gone after my son. They’re outside the building. Drive like his life depends on it.”

Without hesitation the driver takes the first turn and changes direction.

I pull Bella’s face against mine. “Please hold on, my love. Please, stay with me. We have to get our son. But you have to be strong. Stay with me.”

My words are tight, and my throat is dry.

I hope I don’t regret this choice for the rest of my life. I hope I’m doing the right thing.

What if I’m too late to reach my son - and I lose Bella because I didn’t get her to the hospital in time?

I shake my head, pushing the thoughts of fear away.

The choice is already made. There is no going back now. Whatever happens from this point is no longer up to me. I will do my best to save my son, and after that I will help Bella - but the choice has been made.

We skid past cars, getting thrown around in the back of the car as we race through the city. I hold Bella, doing my best to keep her safe - even though I have made the choice to save our son first.

My heart is aching with hope.

The car screams, rubber against tar, as we spin round the corner just outside Bella’s apartment.

Ahead of us, just outside her apartment, the men have Lisa and my son.

There are three of them.

They are trying to drag them towards the car. Lisa is fighting, kicking and shouting.

My driver doesn’t even think about it - he drives straight into the side of their getaway car, crushing one man, blocking their only source of escape.

The two remaining men looked panicked.

As we pile out of our car and rush towards them they make a choice - one lets go of Lisa, the other places my son on the pavement and they both start running.

I bolt straight to my son and lift him into my arms. His tiny body is rigid, his little lungs are screaming at full force. Lisa runs to my side.

“Is he ok? Is he ok? I tried to fight them off - “

I look at her strained face, tight with worry.

“He’s ok. I have to hurry - I have to go to the hospital.”

I hear two shots firing as I run back to the car with my son in my arms.

Neither of those men will get away. My team will make sure of it.

No one fucks with my family, tries to kidnap my son, and gets away with it. Back inside the car I hold Dante and Bella against my chest. Bella is hardly breathing. Dante is screaming.

We have to get to the hospital. They have to save her.

The driver is racing through the city again and my heart is aching.

I’m fighting tears, terrified that I’ve lost her forever.