Chapter Ten

Anika

We slowly walk towards Isaac’s voice. He is yelling at people to shut up and sit down. He has completely lost his mind. Before we step out into the open we stop in front of the kitchen door.

“Go around to Emma’s office,” Max whispers to me.

“No. He knows I’m here,” I whisper back.

“And he’s not going to kill us if we know where you are and won’t tell him. That will buy us some time. Emma has a gun in her desk. It’s in the bottom right drawer. If he comes near you, you fucking shoot him. You hear me?” Max instructs me.

“I hear you,” I say as I kiss him again, then Rowan. I quietly slip into the kitchen. I see a few of the cooks hiding and I point to the back door. “Go quietly. He is on the main floor. Call the cops and say it’s Isaac Allen.” They nod and all move quietly toward the back door. I’m glad they didn’t tell me to go out that way because I definitely wouldn’t have left them in here.

Anyone else I see on my way to Emma’s office I direct to the back door. I slip into Emma’s office and her blinds are open so I get down on the ground and crawl around to her desk. Inside the drawer I pull out Emma’s nine-millimeter and check to make sure it is loaded and a round is chambered.

Every time I hear Isaac scream, it makes me flinch but I pull my phone out of my bag before pushing my bag away. I know the guy’s phones are down since we are in here so I send a text to our big group chat.

Me

SOS. Isaac is at The Cherry. Holding people hostage

Mia

Oh my god. Is anyone hurt?

Theo

Where are you?

Me

Emma’s office.

Emma

My gun is in my desk. Bottom right. Use it.

Me

Max told me. Max and Rowan are out with Isaac. Probably 50+ people in total out there. Blinds are open in the office so I can see a little. No one seems to be hurt. I got everyone from the back out the back entrance. He has a gun. Looks like just one handgun.

Theo

I’m coming to you. Stay.

Me

He isn’t near that hallway. Hurry.

Mia

Fuck. We are going to drive there.

Me

No. Stay the fuck away from this building.

Mia

Is Theo with you yet?

Me

Just got here. We are behind the desk right now. I mean it. Stay the fuck away. Tell the cops the back entrance is free and clear.

Me

I love you so much, Mia. Never ever forget that. You have been and always will be my sister. 3

Me

Emma, I love you so much too. Thank you for all of your help. If something happens please please take care of Mia. She will need you.

Mia

Please don’t talk like that. We love you guys so much. Please survive.

Me

I’m gonna put my phone in my bra. Don’t text until I do.

“ Where is she? ” Isaac screams and I flinch.

“He’s going to kill someone. I have to go out there,” I say tearfully.

“Baby, please don’t. Please just give the cops some time,” Theo pleads. “You know he will hurt you if you go out there.”

“He’s going to kill them,” I cry.

“As long as he is looking for you, he won't shoot Rowan or Max,” he says.

“What about everyone else?” I ask.

“Please don’t go and sacrifice yourself. Please,” he begs.

“Let’s at least move to the window,” I say and he nods. We crawl over as we stand on either side of the window to look out.

Isaac has his back to the door. He has everyone over in a corner. On a table is a pile of phones, so I guess he’s been here for a while. Rowan and Max are standing in front of Isaac while he yells at them.

“ I swear to God, Max. I will blow your goddamn brains out if you don’t tell me where she is, ” Isaac shouts.

“I told you she left already,” Max says simply.

“I don’t believe you,” Isaac spits.

Isaac spins to face the front entrance when sirens approach the building. He looks tense suddenly.

“ I took everyone's phone. She is here. She called them, ” He screams at Rowan.

“She left, Isaac. It’s over man,” Rowan says.

“Then she gets to be a widow,” Isaac says as he lifts the gun to Rowan’s head. Panic shoots through me and before Theo can grab me, I drop the gun at his feet and sling the office door open.

“ Stop !” I scream. “ Stop it. You have me, so let them go .” I walk toward him and away from the office so I don’t draw attention to Theo. He can’t come out here or Isaac will snap.

“They lied to me,” he states as he keeps the gun on Rowan.

“No, they didn’t. They told me to leave out of the back entrance and I didn’t. They thought I left, Isaac. You have me, let everyone else go.”

Isaac turns to face me and points the gun at me. “You cost your sister her spot on the transplant list.”

“I will sign and donate. Just let everyone go, Isaac. No one needs to get hurt,” I say calmly.

“ You’re lying ,” he screams.

“I’m not. If donating a kidney will keep everyone in this building alive, I will do it,” I say. “What do you need from me, Isaac? What can I do to get you to let everyone go?”

“They deserve better than you,” Isaac yells at me.

“I know they do. They deserve way better than me,” I say.

“ You ruin everything ,” he screams.

“Please, Isaac. Let them go,” I ask softly as I step closer.

“Fine,” Isaac says after a beat. “Everyone get the fuck out.”

Everyone stands and rushes to the door. I stand completely still but Max and Rowan aren’t leaving.

“Guys. Go, please,” I beg.

“We aren’t leaving you, Nika,” Max says softly.

Once the room is clear, besides the four of us, Isaac walks closer to me. “What can I do?” I ask.

“Your husband and boyfriend are stubborn,” Isaac states.

“I know.”

“You will ruin them like you ruined me,” he says.

“I know.”

“I loved you, Anika. You loved your job more,” he says.

“I believe you thought you did,” I say.

“I’m not leaving here alive,” he says.

“You will if you put the gun down,” I say. Isaac is looking past me at the office.

“Who is in the office?” he asks.

“No one is in the office,” I say calmly.

“No, I just saw movement. You’re lying. Who is it?” he asks.

“No one is in the office, Isaac,” I say, getting nervous as he walks closer. Isaac goes to step past me and I shove him backward in an attempt to keep him from Theo.

“ It’s that fucking shrink. You fucking whore ,” he screams at me. Before I can register his movement he lunges for me with the gun raised. I put my arms out to try to push him away, but the gun goes off and I freeze. My entire body goes numb in an instant. Another round goes off in the room and Isaac hits the floor right as I come down to my knees. I touch my abdomen and when I look at my hand it is covered in blood.

“ Anika !” Rowan screams as Theo brings me to the ground.

“Go get help,” Theo says. Max turns and runs to the front door.

“I’m sorry,” I say, forcing my words out.

“Don’t apologize, Anika. I need you to hang on for me, okay?” Theo says calmly. He presses something to my abdomen and I scream. “I know, baby. I know it hurts.”

I reach for Rowan, and he takes my hand. “Please take care of Mia. Please,” I whisper.

“You are going to be fine, Anika. You just have to hang on a little while longer, okay?” he says through his tears.

“I’m tired,” I mumble.

“I need you to stay awake, Anika. You hear me! You have to stay awake,” Theo says sternly.

“I just want to sleep,” I whisper, closing my eyes.

“No, no, no. Stay awake, Anika,” Theo says as one of them pats my cheek.

“I’m sorry. I love you guys,” I mumble.

“Nika. I have help. You’re going to be okay,” Max says from somewhere.

“I love you,” I mumble. “I’m sorry.”

“I love you too, Nika. You can make it up to us later. You have to hang in there, okay?” Max says.

“I don’t feel good,” I mumble. Someone lifts me from the ground and places me on a stretcher. I can hear the wheels moving me. The world around me is blurry and then voices seem far away now. They sound pleading, but I can’t make out what they are saying anymore. My body feels light and I feel at peace. I just want to go to sleep.

“I’m sorry.”