55. Chapter 55
55
Luca
I liked this penthouse. The view, the space, the memories. I never came here until her. It was a wasted piece of real estate. But now its part of us, of our journey together.
It’s all gone now.
I stand off to the side in the shadows, cigarette between my lips, as I breathe in the smoke whilst I watch my world burn.
Alarms wail, sirens race towards the block of luxury apartments, the memories of the Glenfell tower block fire that ripped through a building and killed many, all too ripe in Londoners’ minds. So, when a tower burns there’s no hesitation.
People are evacuated, emergency services mobilised.
Organised chaos ensues.
Although the fire system is a lot more modern, the gas explosion is enough to ensure that my apartment will be completely burnt to ashes by the time they get here.
A blast rocks the night, glass erupts from the top of the building, raining down on those below.
I feel bad about it.
But it’s a necessary evil, and there are always casualties in war. The innocent always suffer at the hands of those in power. And tonight is no different.
My phone is off, the last message having been sent to Snow to put my plan in motion. The plan that none of my family knew about but had been burning its way through my being like wildfire, since she begged me with those fucking blue eyes to walk away. I didn’t think I’d be needing to use the pictures so quickly. I thought it would be in the worst-case scenario.
I can see my family arrive, one by one, in black tactical gear, each with bags and standing out like a sore thumb. They all look up at the flames, confusion masking each of their faces, as they all search the people around them, looking for me.
This was the only way.
I step back deeper into the shadows.
Silently.
Assessing.
Waiting.
Waiting for Black to arrive. Waiting for him to get word from the Covenant that the hit has been made.
Waiting for him to lead me to her.
A dog never ventures far from its owner and Asher Black is no different.
With the news breaking from within the Covenant, it will make its way through the right channels, and my people will hear from it.
They will mourn me, I will mourn them, but this is the only way.
When the time is right, I will get word to them. But not yet.
Not until she’s safe.
Until then I’m a dead man walking.
Asher Black arrives seven minutes later and joins the rest of my friends, all except for Rome. I can’t hear what they are saying. But I see the moment he gets the phone call. He turns off to the side, his back facing my most trusted people, and the tension in his face eases knowing that I’m no longer a threat.
He thinks he’s won.
They all do.
They think they’ve outsmarted me, outsmarted Levi, but John has underestimated me, and he’s underestimated Layla.
Asher joins them, speaking quickly and making his excuses, then leaves. I place the bike helmet over my head, and throw my leg over the Yamaha YZF-R7. The model is sleek and classy and making it the perfect companion to the likes of Snow, whose bike it is.
Nothing will lead back to me now.
She is sorting what comes next, there are certain people you meet in my line of work that are useful.
Kara Snow is one of those people.
She is one of a handful of people in this world who can truly help you disappear, without the need for a bullet.
Asher crosses the street and climbs into a Mercedes that sits idling at the curb. It indicates and pulls into the emptying streets, the blue lights from the emergency services and flames reflecting off the sleek paintwork as it tries to disappear into the night. Except I don’t let it out of my sight.
Following at a safe distance, I let him lead me to Layla.
I just hope I get there in time.
Five hours ago, I was stabbed and bleeding out.
Five hours ago, I had a plan that would bring down the Covenant.
But five hours is a lifetime in my world.
And now, as I follow the black Mercedes into the depths of London’s East End, Langley territory, I know that if I pull this off, if she survives, this is the start of the next chapter.
Where we are both dead.
No longer looking over our shoulders.
Layla once asked me Did I ever want more? I want the whole fucking world, with her next to me.
The Mercedes signals into a thin alley and I drive past it. No, not an alley, a ramp leading down into a car park. The shutters come down after the car enters.
I pull the motorcycle around the corner and turn off the engine, the purr and vibrations disappearing, and the quietness of the night consumes me. A distant car horn, a dog barking.
I throw my leg off the motorcycle, and peer up at the building. It looks normal, a standard row of London townhouses. The underground garage was something that was probably added after. The windows are dusty, the building unkempt and sad. Like many others in this area.
I pull the gun out of my pocket and take the safety off.
This is it; do or die.