Chapter Forty-One
MONIQUE
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Monique’s thoughts raced as the gravity of their situation sank in. Five minutes. That was all the time they had before the don’s men would arrive. That was not enough time to move Raz or find another safe location.
She knew what they had to do, even if it sent a shiver down her spine. She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to remain calm, then slowly released the breath. Panic wouldn’t help them now.
“Five minutes isn’t enough time to do anything,” Monique announced, her voice calm, betraying none of the fear swirling inside her. “We’re not moving Raz. We can't. We don’t have the time. Moving him now will only put him in harm's way. We’ll have to hold the don's men off.”
She waited for them to tell her that she wasn't making the right choice. Instead, Leo agreed with her.
"She's right. We can't move him yet." Leo swiped his hand over his face.
Monique could tell he was frustrated and searching for answers.
“We need to get to that door they’re trying to break down,” she told them. “That's their only way to us right now. We need to hold that position for as long as we can. When they come through, we'll take them out. Whoever comes through that door dies.”
She couldn't believe she was uttering those words. Even Leo looked shocked. But the kids' gloves were off. From what she knew of the old don, he was ruthless and had even tried to have her and her friends killed. She couldn't show him or his men any mercy because they weren't going to show her or Raz any.
"You may have to take a life," Leo told her. "Are you sure you can handle that?"
Monique shook her head. "But that's what therapists are for. No matter what, we can't let them get Raz. You two," Monique said, gaze drifting between Rocco and Leo. "Guard that door. Kill whoever tries to get into this section. I'll stay here with Raz and kill whoever tries to get into this room."
She had barely finished speaking when the door to the breakroom swung open, and Stoney burst in, panting, his face flushed.
“Not him, though,” Monique added quickly.
Stoney didn’t waste a second. “They’re almost through the door,” he reported. “I don't know what they're doing in the gala, but I can hear the guests screaming. We don’t have much time.”
Monique clenched her teeth as she processed that news. The situation was escalating faster than she’d anticipated. There was no room for error, no time to second-guess herself.
“We need to move now,” she ordered, her tone firm. “Get to that door and make sure no one gets through.”
Leo, Rocco, and Stoney nodded.
Leo approached her. "You know how to handle this weapon, right?"
Nodding, Monique stared down at her gun. Even though she'd told him she knew what to do, he still went over the process again.
"Aim for the stomach," he added. "It may not kill your attacker, but it'll put them down long enough for you to kick their weapon away from them. The stomach area is the biggest area, so it's easier to hit. Even if you miss, you should still be able to nick them. Got it?"
Monique's gaze rose to Leo's. "I got it."
"Don't die," he told her, voice softening. "Raz will kill me if you do. Then Toya will find a way to bring me back and kill me again."
Monique smiled despite their situation. "You seem to know my friend well," she teased.
When Leo blushed, a thousand questions came to mind, but now was not the time to ask them.
"Try to wake Raz up. Your idea of calling Frederico's men is a good one. Do it. No matter what you hear, don't leave this room. I'll lock the door behind us. We'll shout our names if we need to get in. If anyone tries to break in, if anyone gets in, shoot them. This handgun holds twenty rounds. Count as you shoot so you can be mindful of what you have left. Got it?"
Monique nodded. "I got it. First, can you all move Raz to the wall over there, behind the cabinet? If they shoot into the room, I don't want him to get struck."
It didn't take Leo and the guys long to move Raz to the wall with his back resting against the cabinet. It wasn't a great hiding space, but it kept him away from any stray bullets that would enter the room.
"I'm going to call your phone so that you have my number," Leo insisted as he called her phone, then hung up after it started ringing. "After you call Frederico's men, call me. I'll take the call but won't talk. I'll just keep the line open so that if any of them gets past us, I'll yell, letting you know they're on their way so you can be ready."
Monique nodded, trying not to let fear in.
"You're doing good. Stay brave, Lady Boss," Leo told her before turning and leaving the room with the guards, locking and closing the door behind him.
This was it. This was really happening. Her gaze flickered to Raz, unconscious on the floor, head and back propped up against a cabinet. The sight of him like that fueled her determination.
He needed her. She wouldn’t let them take him. She wouldn’t let them take her. Still holding the gun, Monique reached into her purse and retrieved her phone. She ignored Leo's missed call for now.
Searching through her phone, she quickly found the number Frederico had given her and called it. The guard must've had her number saved in his phone because he answered on the first ring.
"Monique," a deep voice filled the line.
"Um, are you..." she started.
"I'm Tomas, Frederico's guard. Where are you?"
She felt kind of iffy about giving her location.
"Give me the phone," a female in the background whispered. Rustling sounded, and then a woman's voice came over the line. "This is Isla Miconi."
She was still alive. Yay! Monique thought sarcastically.
"Orazio Cattaneo is going to pay for what he's done to my father."
A sigh of relief escaped Monique. "So, you have him? Your father is with you?" Monique asked.
"He is. So is Raz's guard. The only reason the guard's throat hasn't been slit is because he knows this building better than us, and he's helping us stay away from Mr. Cattaneo and his men."
Mr. Cattaneo? Oh, the old don.
"Put Orazio on the phone," Isla ordered.
"He's..." Monique stared over at Raz. "Busy."
"I don't have time for this. Give him the phone..."
"You'll talk to me, or you'll talk to no one," Monique said, not liking Isla's tone or attitude.
"Look..."
Monique spoke over her. "You look! I called Frederico's guard so we could talk about working together. We have to survive this first, and then Raz and Frederico can handle their issues later. They can't handle anything if they're dead."
"Listen..."
"We have men on the outside," Monique continued, sure reinforcements had arrived. "But they can't get in because the exits are guarded by the old don's men."
"Yes, we know that. That's why we haven't escaped."
"If we..." Monique jumped at the sound of gunfire. Damn it. Time was running out. "If we work together, perhaps we can get rid of those guards so Raz's men can get in and help take down the old don."
"Why are you running the show and not Raz?" Isla asked, sounding suspicious.
"Me or Raz, it makes no difference. We're one and the same."
"Oh, really?" Isla drawled. "That's not what he told me."
"He would have to talk to you to tell you that. And my Raz doesn't talk to strays," Monique stated as more gunfire sounded. "We don't have time to be catty. May I speak to Frederico's guard so we can figure a way out of this? I'll be available later if you need to see me after this is over."
Isla chuckled. "Yes, I need to see you, Monique Rose. For now, I'm willing to work with you. I'll pass the phone to Tomas. We will help find a way out of here, but that doesn't mean Orazio will not answer for what he's done to my father."
"Understood," Monique told her and waited for her to give the phone to Tomas. When Tomas got on, Monique asked him, "Are you all in a secure area?"
"We are," he replied, Italian accent thick. "We're in a back stairwell. A fire stairwell. We're heading to the first floor. We're moving slowly because we're having to carry the boss. Many of Mr. Cattaneo's men are walking the halls. We've killed a couple we encountered. It's hard to tell who is for Raz and who is against him."
"True. We're on the first floor, near the kitchen. Three of Raz's men are guarding the entrance to this section, but the old don's men are close to getting through. I hear gunfire."
"You need help keeping them out?"
"Yes. We also need to find a way to take out the men guarding the exits. I know I'm asking for a lot..."
"Earlier today, Frederico told me to do whatever you asked. I'll follow that order until he tells me otherwise. I'm not helping Orazio Cattaneo. I'm helping Monique Rose."
"Thank you, Tomas."
"All of my men are not with me. They've checked in from various spots in the gala. Now that I've found Isla and the boss, I can have my men make their way toward the exits if you can have your men ready to enter. My men will attract and distract. Your men will enter and help take them out. I'll come for you. Then we all go after the don. Is that good?"
"Yes, it is," Monique told him.
"Okay. Let me make the call, and I'll call you back. In the meantime, Raz's guard said he knows another way to the kitchen. We're heading to you now."
Monique told him where she was located. "Shout out your name when you get here."
"Yes," he said before ending the call.
Monique sighed as a sliver of hope eased some of her nervousness. Back up was on the way. She glanced at Raz again. He was still out cold. This medicine was more potent than Rome said it was.
Growing worried, Monique stood, preparing to check on Raz. Her phone rang before she could take one step in his direction.
"Hello," Monique answered quickly.
"Two have gotten past us," Leo yelled. "Get ready."
Shit! In the background, she heard cursing and more gunfire.
"Leo! Frederico's men are on the way. They have men heading to the exits to take out the guards. Can our guys be ready to enter?"
"I'm on it. Monique," Leo said, yelling over the background noise. "Shoot whoever breaks into that room."
Monique didn't hesitate when she responded, "I will."
Ending the call, she tossed the phone onto the couch, kicked her heels out of the way, and pointed her gun at the door. Gripping it tightly, she waited, ready to do whatever needed to be done.