Chapter 32 – Elijah
32
ELIJAH
S ome time passed and I found myself balancing the demands of Pakhan duties with the desire to stay home. Work and shitty responsibilities keep pulling me away, but Zanae has finally made herself at home. She spends her days reading criminology books, often staying on the sofa in my office, eating chocolate or fruits while I handle the chaos outside. Fucking adorable.
Our daily training sessions continued, and she was making impressive progress. I was blown away by her evolution. I tried to hold back on my strength, but she was so fucking strong and so good, that I didn’t need to.
What truly stood out was her skills with a gun; she never missed a target, and her accuracy was a bit scary and sexy too. And let’s not forget her love for knives. We’ve been incorporating more blade sessions into our routine, and she loved it.
I’m so proud of her. Even when she was feeling down, she tried to stay focused and damn, she’s one hell of a strong woman.
My strong woman.
Today, I was working on something while she was leaning on the little chair beside me, reading her book. I loved having her close to me when I worked. The doors opened, and a sound cut through our little moment.
“Nikolai,” I acknowledged without lifting my gaze.
“Fuck. You know me too well. You recognized me by the way I walk, it’s so cute. Are you in love with me, Elijah Volkov?” He laughed deeply, shaking his head with a grin.
Of course, it was him. Of course, it was him. No one else but Ben and him had the fucking keys to my house. And Ben was more disciplined than this fucker.
Zanae laughed and glanced at him.
I looked up and caught his cheeky grin. “What brings you here Niko?”
He shrugged, “Just thought your girl here could use a break. Little Z, tell Elijah how much you miss the sweet charm of the city. And Vesper misses you too.”
She chuckled, her eyes meeting mine. “Niko’s version of ‘charm’ of the city, involves having ‘him’ in the city.”
I smiled at her and softly caressed her cheek, “Do you want to go out with him? I know he’s not really interesting, but let me know if you want to, or I’ll push him out of the penthouse.”
She giggled, observing Nikolai’s gasp. “I think I may keep him company today,” she said, getting up and planting a kiss on my cheek. “Let’s go, Niko.”
“Oh, and Nikolai, keep her safe.”
Nikolai nodded and led her to the parking lot, leaving me to return to the rugged expanse of my work.
This woman is making my heart a place dedicated to her and only her without even doing anything for it, apart from existing and allowing me to exist beside her.
Zanae
Niko is a bad liar.
He loved my playlist even if he would say something like, “Sounds like something Ben would listen to,” or “this is ass, Little Z.” But most of the time we sang along.
No, I sang along, and Niko did the ad-libs for most of the songs. We just laughed at everything weird we saw. Oh, and Niko almost killed a man on a bike because he threw a kiss at me.
It was just fun, I guess.
Seated at a corner table in the back side of the café, Nikolai leaned back, relaxing on his chair, with that little grin he always has on him when he’s going to say something stupid. “Am I crazy or did the barista write your name with an extra heart on the ticket?”
“No, he didn’t. Stop being another version of scary, jealous and possessive Elijah.”
Niko shrugged nonchalantly and added, “Not my fault if I’m a good best friend.” He then took a look at the menu. “What do you want to eat, my dear Z? Just to be clear, Elijah isn’t an option,” he teased, grinning like a child.
I mimicked a fake laugh, “Hahaha Niko. I’m going to take this fork and put it down your throat.”
“Oh, so you’re threatening me now. You spent too much time with Eli.”
“He teaches me a lot of ways to kill people. Even if I really think that women are more creative.”
“Ben and Elijah are also super creative. But I’m not; I love simple kills. They’re less messy, and I hate messy things.”
“Clean and classy then.”
He laughed but he was still not fully relaxed. Niko blinked so many times, scanning the room as if he was searching for something, a threat maybe. His lips were pressed together every time, and he kept clenching his jaw. He literally deployed three guards outside just ‘in case’.
I could feel it in his body language, the alertness, the concern, the worry for my safety. Even if he was just trying to make me laugh and make me feel good, he was still so cautious.
This version of Niko is quite different from the one I’m used to. He’s the Don, I know. But he’s still the same Niko I know and love—the one who brings me comfort and laughter, my Niko, the funny, sweet, insolent man trying to bring me peace. And now I can see it, the leader of the Zennites, scary, lethal, powerful .
While he went to the bar to pay for our drinks, a stranger approached me with confidence, he looked familiar.
Nikolai appeared instantly. I didn’t even have the time to talk when he was already in front of me facing him. His voice was cold and sarcastic, “Lost, buddy?”
I think I know this man. Focus Z, focus.
“Just striking up a friendly conversation with the lady. No harm, right Miss Dellé ?” he said, smirking.
Nikolai’s grin held, but his eyes darkened. “She’s not interested. Get the fuck out of my vision now.”
The stranger chuckled arrogantly and replied. “I don’t take orders from anyone but my boss.”
You know him Z!
Nikolai laughed darkly, before taking a step closer to him. “I’m not suggesting. Get the fuck out of here if you don’t want me to just send back your head in a box to your boss.”
Their eyes locked, but Niko’s stare was literally burning the other man’s skin like a searing flame.
The stranger finally took a step back, realizing that he had no chance in front of him and retreated outside.
Niko’s eyes remained fixed on him until he was out of sight. Then his gaze returned to me, his eyes were cold, I never saw him like that, he was terrifying, and I understood that he may be gentle and calm with me, but, in their world, he was a completely different man.
Realizing who the stranger was, I felt a chill run down my spine.
Oh my god.
He’s one of my father’s men. Elias wasn’t joking when he said that he would make me regret leaving the house.
Breathe Z, breathe.
“That guy,” I whispered, “he works for the Emir. Just a messenger, I guess, don’t worry too much, Niko.” I added, my hand resting gently on his arm, trying to reassure him, even if I wasn’t sure myself.
He looked at me, squeezing my hand, “Your father is pissing me off.”
“Don’t think about it Niko, I can handle these kinds of interactions.”
His gaze softened and his face changed, his incredible soft smile came back on his lips. “I know you can, Little Z. But it doesn’t mean I have to like it. Your safety is non-negotiable so don’t try to make me back up from my decisions.”
It’s comforting to know that there are people who genuinely want you to feel safe and protected. It’s a new sensation that I’m really loving.
Niko and I have this strange connection. We bonded over small things at first, and then he became my best friend in a lot of ways. I trusted him with my own life, I found a brother in him.
He was always paying attention to my wrists even if he wasn’t making it obvious. I catch him sometimes smiling and then giving a glance at my scars, just to make sure there aren’t any new ones.
“So, Z, just a thought, but how about stocking up on a lifetime supply of condoms? You know, for safety reasons.”
My eyes widened, cheeks flushing, heart beating way too fast. “Niko, seriously? This is the conversation we’re having right now?”
Leaning back, a wide proud grin adorned his face. “Hey, listen, I figure it’s a legitimate concern, considering Elijah’s unique, uhm... you know, mental instability, and yours too if I’m being honest. Wouldn’t want any little ‘Zelijahs’ running around, now, would we?”
I couldn’t help but smile at this ridiculous name. “You’re fucking insane, Niko. And listen to this; it’s none of your business.”
He chuckled, holding up his hands in mock surrender, “Fair enough. But if you need me to explain the dangers of having sex, I’m here for that.”
“Niko!”
A laugh escaped him, “What? No one ever gave you the birds and the bees talk?”
I punched his arm, then quickly looked away, nervously shaking my head. A half-laugh, half-sigh slipped out, and I said, “I’ll pass.”
Sipping my drink, I decided to tease Niko, who was smiling while texting Elijah. I peeked at his phone and saw their conversation.
Eli 3
Is everything good?
Me
No worries, I’m her protector today, and don’t worry about me too, bestie.
Eli 3
I’m going to cut your tongue and fingers, Niko.
Me
Ouh, I love it when you’re angry, grrr! Anyway, love ya, bye bro!
Eli 3
You’re a child.
I burst into laughter. “I don’t think that it’s what he meant when he asked you if everything was good, Niko. You two are going to give me a headache, I swear.”
He chuckled, feigning innocence. “We’re just two misunderstood souls navigating the complexities of a fucked-up life. He’s like my soulmate.”
It was so refreshing to go out with him. The journey on our way back went just like the way out there, laughter and music. When we entered the penthouse, we found Elijah still engrossed in his work. Nikolai smirked, nudging me, gesturing toward my favorite person with his head. “Look at our man over there, buried in his work. All mysterious and serious.”
“The Pakhan is just a busy man, and shouldn’t you be too?”
“Yeah whatever,” Niko replied, brushing me off.
“Are you trying to piss him off?” I asked, smiling.
He just nodded before sauntering over to Elijah, eyeing him up and down. “Elijah, you look so... hot when you’re all focused like this. It’s a shame you’re missing out on the day we had, just to make a list of people you want to kill.”
Elijah’s expression remained stoic, but a faint smirk played on his lips. “Just wrote your name on it.”
Nikolai chuckled and returned to my side, “He’s joking, he loves me.”
“Remember my text, Nikolai? Do you want me to do it?”
Nikolai laughed and nodded, “Do it, Elijah Volkov. Touch my tongue and fingers.”
I nestled beside Elijah, feeling a subtle shift in his face. His shoulders fell and his hand went on my back. He pushed his laptop away; and drew me closer to him.
“Ohhh, aren’t you so sweet. You’re taking a break from world domination for Little Z.”
Elijah didn’t care at all, he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me even closer. “Sometimes, Moretti, you need to establish priorities.”
“I love when you talk like that, I’m all fluttered.”
He shot a pointed look at him. “Careful, Nikolai.”
Nikolai raised an eyebrow, still smiling, “Stop threatening me, you bastard.”
Our conversation took a more serious turn when Nikolai brought up the man from the café. Elijah asked him with a dark expression, “Did you deal with him?”
Was it me, or it sounded like, “ Oh did you kill him ?” I don’t know, maybe I’m just misinterpreting so I burst into laughter. “Oh, come on, Elijah, it was nothing. You can’t be serious.”
Nikolai, however, maintained a calm and serious expression. “I couldn’t, Elijah. Too many eyes around. But I wanted to.”
“Psycho minds at work?” I chuckled, earning an amused glance and a nod from Niko. Elijah’s hand went even lower on my back, tightening his grip there.
The discussion shifted to Brian. I shared the information I had gathered for the last few weeks; I studied a lot of videos provided by her to find people who may be involved in some of the recent murders. They listened to me, taking in that I was still working on finding true intel and if I wasn’t sure, I won’t give them names.
Nikolai turned to me, sighed and suggested, “I’m bored. How about we hit a club tonight? Drinks, no guards tonight and Benny’s excellent company, just us. It’s been a while since we went out together. What do you say little Z? But not ours, a new one near the end of the city.”
“I’m up for it.”
Elijah, less excited, sighed, “You know I’m not a fan of this kind of place.”
Niko grinned. “Come on, Eli, we may have a blast tonight.”
Eli looked at us, contemplating the idea. “Fine, but just for a little while.”
“Are you planning on just sitting beside me and looking at me having fun, Volkov?” I asked, turning to him.
He nodded, “Exactly.”
What do you wear when you go out with the leaders of a dangerous alliance? With no guards because they hate it?
Fuck .
I want to be pretty, to feel good, to be attractive without feeling disgusting. I took a deep and long breath as I surveyed the limited wardrobe options. One dress hanging in the closet caught my eye – short, silky. It was a dress I hadn’t worn often, but tonight felt like the perfect occasion.
Exiting the room ready, I found Elijah already ready, and the sight of him made me momentarily forget my surroundings.
“Volkov, you look dangerously attractive tonight.”
His gaze fixed on me, green and intense. “We may just stay home, I think I just want to take care of you tonight, Milaya , every inch of you.” I laughed and he just continued, “I could fuck you all night, long and sweet, then rough and so disrespectful.” His voice dropped to a husky breath, “I’d have you screaming my name until you forget your own. Don’t you want that?”
Oh, the mouth of this man…
“Green eyes, stop this...”
He smiled, “Are you calling me like that now?”
“I love your eyes.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes.”
“They love looking at you,” he added, his gaze traveling up and down my figure before settling on my eyes.
Breathe Z, breathe.
His comment warmed my cheeks, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of confidence growing in me.
I approached him, slowly, still trying to breathe normally and not just take off everything he had on him, kissing him until I suffocated. “You know, if someone tries to talk to me tonight, you don’t have to go full psycho on them.”
He smirked, a dark chuckle escaping his throat, “If anyone gets too close to you, my face will be the last thing they’ll see, Zanae.”
Our lips met in a lingering kiss, his soft lips and firm hands everywhere on me found their way under my dress as he grips on the back of my thighs.
I pushed him off smiling, “Don’t do that, we have to go.”
He sighed and kissed me again before pulling me closer to his side as he headed to the elevator. We headed to the parking lot, where Nikolai and Benny awaited us.
Nikolai smiled at me, “Look at you Z. Elijah, you’re quite the lucky man.”
Ben chimed in, grinning. “Yeah, Zanae, you look fucking amazing.”
Elijah’s hand hardened on my waist. “She is indeed but look away you two.”
The car moved through the streets, illuminated by the night.
Am I healing?
Maybe it wasn’t because of me, I shouldn’t feel guilty for trying to live…
Or should I?
The sky was beautiful tonight. Stars and moon on display, emptiness and darkness engulfing them.
I think my obsession with the sky became my own world when I lost Luna. It’s true, the sky changed the day I understood that she was there from now on.
That’s why I love losing myself in it, it’s like I’m with her.
Now that I can’t talk to her, I talk to the stars, hoping they’ll carry my thoughts to her. That way, we’re always with each other.
Despite Elijah accompanying me to the cemetery at least once a week, he stays in the car, planting a tender kiss on my forehead before sending his guard to accompany me as I visit Luna. But it’s not enough. The sky has become her home now, and it’s in gazing at it that I feel closest to her.
I zoned out again, I knew it because I was seeing everything but nothing at the same time. The darkness swallowed the brightness of the stars, and I closed my eyes to chase it.
No please, not now.
The voices began gathering in my head, but something kept me there.
Elijah’s fingers traced a subtle path along the back of my hand.
“ Ty samaya krasivaya devushka, kogda-libo sozdannaya .”
“What did you say?”
He smirked and kissed my wrist, where my scars were still visible.
He didn’t find me ugly, or weak, or … broken? He loved doing that. “You’re just beautiful, Zanae,” he whispered, his words melting any questions away.
I couldn’t hide my smile. He rarely speaks Russian, except when he calls me Milaya or when having a discussion with Niko or his men in general.
My hand went straight to his jaw, then to the tattoos on his neck—such a work of art. His hand found its way to the nape of my neck, a gentle caress that made my thighs clench together in anticipation. “You’re trouble, Milaya ,” he whispered, his lips brushing softly the shell of my ear.
He was… he was smiling.
“Maybe you like trouble, Volkov.”
“Maybe I do,” he added, kissing my hand again.
I just shook my head at his comment and gazed back at the window.
He likes you Z.
We finally arrived. Stepping out of the car, he offered me his arm while Niko and Benny joined us, grinning and smiling. Elijah’s possessive gaze was always here, more than ever before. As we entered the club, the music enveloped us, it was so loud.
No guards, they were right. It’s not the best thing to do but I know how much they hate being followed everywhere.
Eli’s protective grip on my hand made the crowd disappear. I could feel him, and I never felt in danger with him by my side. We settled at a private table upstairs, Niko stood beside me while Elijah spoke to someone there. “So, Little Z, do you like having your own personal bodyguard squad?”
I shrugged, looking at them one by one. “Yeah, I don’t know. It does come in handy. Plus, it’s a full package – bodyguards.” and I whispered to him pointing at Elijah, “This one is hitting on me though.”
Elijah’s gaze shifted back to me, a subtle smirk playing on his lips.
Ben and Niko went to the bar, leaving us alone.
“This dress does wonders for you.”
“You have to try harder if you want to win me tonight, Volkov,” I smiled, loving the sensation of his fingers lightly brushing against my palm.
Leaning in, his lips brushed against my ear, and his voice turned sultry low and incredibly mine. “You’re tempting sin itself tonight, want me to succumb to you, Miss Dellé?”
My heart stopped.
It wasn’t normal to have this kind of effect on somebody’s body. I felt his fire in me, the passion of his desire burning my skin, and If I could combust under his gaze, I would gladly do so.
It felt so good seeing my reflection in his eyes, not just a broken soul, but a healing one.
Ben and Niko returned with drinks a few seconds after, they couldn’t help but notice how flushed I was, I couldn’t even hide it. Niko’s laughter bubbled up, and Ben joined in. It was so embarrassing, but Elijah didn’t even care.
“Looks like you two are having fun.”
Ben added, taking a sip of his drink, “Tell us if you want us to leave.”
“Yeah, you can go.” Elijah shot me a cocky grin after answering to Ben, his hand brushing my thigh. “I do want them to leave. When I see you in that dress, I just want the world to know that you’re mine.”
My laughter echoed between us. “Everyone knows I’m not here to flirt with anyone, I already have some psycho man to flirt with.”
His eyes softened as he looked at me. “Is the psycho allowed to touch you? Because I can assure you, he’s dying to.”
“Not only are you the only one who can touch it, but you’re also the one who gets to have me all to himself tonight,” I whispered against his ear.
“I can’t wait to fulfill that promise later,” he responded, sipping on his drink, his hand gripping my thigh even tighter.
“I can’t wait either.” I said, smiling.
His hand, so warm and so large, found the small of my back, pulling me closer.
Niko went outside to say goodbye to Ben, who had some emergency at work. I don’t think a surgeon can keep people waiting when he’s at a club; he didn’t even finish his drink.
He gave us a hug and a wink before heading off with Niko.
Elijah took my hand and pulled me to a hall next to the toilets, his hands lifting my dress up, slowly, and tracing the lines of my panties.
“Eli…people can walk in on us,” I breathed out, my arousal clouding every logical thought in my head.
He kissed my neck, his hands brushing my inner thigh, stealing another moan from my lips. “Let them see how I’m going to fuck you, Milaya ,” he whispered, inhaling me, his breath hot against my skin, “Let them wonder what it feels like to be consumed by someone as much as I am by you.”
My head fell on his shoulder, my hand grabbed his and redirected it on my throat. In a breathless growl, he admitted, “You’re going to kill me one day.”
I chuckled; the sound full of need. “Good. Wasn’t that the initial plan?”
His lips met mine, his dark chuckle suffocated between our mouths, the rhythm alternating between slow and soft, and fast and intense. The kiss was so deep I couldn’t feel anything else but him. His hands cradling my face, fingers lightly tracing the contours, and mines finding their way naturally on his neck.
His green eyes locked onto mine, a smirk playing on his lips. “You know,” he began, “that pretty mouth of yours could be put to better use if you just shut up more often.”
I raised an eyebrow, trying to breathe again, and hiding my smile. “Oh, really? And what use would you suggest Volkov?”
He leaned in, his voice a low whisper, “Perhaps make me proud and kiss the hell out of me before taking my cock between those pretty lips.”
My hands were still hanging around his neck, his body pressed into mine. And I couldn’t stop myself from rubbing against him as our tongues danced together.
Just as the passion between us intensified, Niko arrived, anger and worry all over his face. Whatever was happening seemed urgent.
I didn’t even care that he found us in this position, I just wanted to know why he seemed this worried.
“Eli, the man who approached Zanae earlier is here. And he’s not alone.”
Elijah backed off from me, his face changed. No green, his eyes were turning black again. “For her?”
“For her, I’m sure.” Niko answered.
A dangerous calm settled over his features. “Take Zanae outside, Niko. I’ll deal with this.”
“Elijah, I can help.”
I will not let him deal with God knows who and hide.
He fixed me with a dark gaze. “Zanae, go outside. Now.”
I took a step closer to Niko, giving him my back facing those green eyes. “Elijah Volkov, listen to me. I can’t just stand by. You’re not going to force me.”
He clenched his jaw in frustration. “Zanae, for fucking once, listen to me. Go outside, let Nikolai take care of you.”
I hesitated, torn between stubbornness to stay by his side and the need to follow his demand. He softened slightly, cupping my face with both tenderness and urge. “ Milaya , please, trust me. Go outside, now.”
He said please.
I never heard him say please.
Reluctantly, I left the room, I kissed him before doing so.
If something happens to him, I don’t know how I would react.
Breathe Z, breathe.
Nikolai hesitated, glancing back at his best friend. “I’ll come back, Eli. Just give me a signal if things get too rough.”
“No. Take her to the car and make sure she’s safe. That’s your priority, I’m good.”
I don’t want to leave him, I want to stay.
Nikolai nodded and guided me towards the car. My eyes darting back to Elijah, alone in there, I didn’t like it at all, a knot of anxiety formed in my stomach.
I didn’t want him to be alone, I hated it. But he flashed me a beautiful smile, his gun in hand, and mouthed, “It’s going to be okay.”
Nikolai offered me a smile when we arrived in front of the car in the parking lot. “Hey, princess, your bodyguard is just putting on a show. Elijah’s not the kind of man to let anything slide, especially with someone threatening you. He’ll be back in no time, and you’ll see, he’ll handle this.”
“I get it, Niko, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
He doesn’t need me, he doesn’t need me, he doesn’t need me.
Nikolai chuckled, grabbing my shoulder gently, “Little Z, you know how Elijah is. When it comes to you, he’s unstoppable. Now, let’s just wait here and let him do what he knows to do the best.”
Suddenly, screams pierced the outside of the club, people rushed out of it, and gunshots echoed.
Oh no, no, no.
Pure chaos unfolded in front of us. I couldn’t bear the thought of Elijah being in there while everyone was literally running out.
Ignoring Niko’s attempts to hold me back, I got up and went in there. I’m not going to stay here like I can’t do anything. “I’m not staying here while he fights for me. I’ll be damned if anyone touches him, Niko.”
My legs had never run this fast.
My lungs burned from stress and adrenaline.
Please be okay, please be okay.
I stormed back into the club, Nikolai shouting after me, “Zanae, wait! Fuck! It’s not safe!”
But I was fast, running in heels toward the entrance. And no one could stop me, not even the chaos or the crowd.
Not even the voices that were already screaming in my head that I was a danger for Elijah’s life.
I brushed past people coming from the opposite direction.
I paid no attention to Niko’s screams. My eyes were scanning the morbid scene, searching for any sign of my Elijah.
Where the hell are you Volkov?
The club was a gruesome scene, dead bodies across the floor, and the acrid scent of gunpowder and blood tainted every milliliter of breathable air in here. Strippers, patrons—everyone was caught in this.
What happened?
Gripping my knife tightly, I began to search the place. Nikolai restrained me with a firm hand on my arm, at the same time I spotted him. His white shirt now stained with crimson on his abdomen.
Oh no, no, no, not here, not now, not again, and not because of me.
He’s hurt, he’s hurt because of you. People are dead on the ground because of you.
Not now Zanae.
Signaling Niko to stay silent, I gently pulled his gun from its holster and, without hesitation, fired in between the eyes of the man threatening Elijah from behind, while he was shooting at some men in front of him.
The dead shooter fell on the ground, and my eyes remained fixed on my man. My heart was no longer beating, the blood had drained from my face. He was hurt, and I wasn’t there to defend him.
I rushed to his side. His green eyes blazed with anger as he turned to Nikolai. “Why is she here, Niko?”
Nikolai, glancing at the bloodstains on his shirt, replied worried, “I don’t think you’re in any state to threaten me right now, Eli.”
Ignoring their exchange, my voice was filled with panic. “Elijah, you’re fucking bleeding! Are you okay?” I pressed a kiss to his cheek, he’s alive but he’s hurt. “Don’t ever do that to me again. Or I’ll be the one to kill you.”
Niko assisted him into the car, but Elijah was bleeding, despite his attempts to downplay it, he was fucking bleeding !
Again, the sounds of the little drops of blood.
Drip...
Drip...
Drip...
You almost got him killed too Zanae.
No!!
You got your mother killed because you were born, your best friend, and now the man you’re falling in love with.
No!!
IT’S YOUR FAULT, IT’S YOUR FAULT, IT’S YOUR FAULT.
Please, Zanae, focus. It’s Elijah. He needs you.
You’re the one who puts him in that state.
Focus.
Elijah’s hands gripped my thigh, urging me to return to him, and it worked. He was fucking bleeding and he was worried about me?
In the backseat, I sat beside him, my fingers gently grabbed his hand, blood everywhere. Red everywhere, I hated it.
“ Milaya , come back here, I’m still alive.” His green eyes were full of pride and satisfaction, but he was losing so much blood. He was smiling so weakly at me, as if it was normal.
“Don’t joke about this, Elijah.”
“I’d take a fucking bullet for you anytime, Zanae, anytime.”
My gaze softened. “Just stay with me, okay?”
Nikolai, though stressing about the situation, couldn’t help but chuckle at Elijah’s quote.
We didn’t even know where to go.
Benny wasn’t even home, he was already at the hospital, leaving us with no choice but to put him on speaker and see what we could do by ourselves.
My hands trembled as Nikolai set up the phone, his hand found my fingers and squeezed them.
“Don’t worry, Zanae. We can do this,” Nikolai offered a supportive smile, trying to reassure me, as if his best friend’s life wasn’t on me to save.
What if I zone out during the operation?
What if I kill him or I can’t save him?
Elijah, lying in the back seat, noticed how much I wasn’t feeling it at all, and squeezed my hand.
“Listen to me, baby. You’ve got this,” he added, his voice calm and steady. “I wouldn’t trust anyone else.”
With a deep breath, I focused on Benny’s voice and instructions. The car became a makeshift emergency room, and I had to play the fucking doctor. Inside the car, despite my trembling hands, I had to extract the bullet lodged in Elijah’s abdomen.
You can do this Z. Of course you can, you’re fucking Zanae Dellé.
I ripped off his shirt, and found the wound.
“You destroyed his shirt Little Z. Wow...” Niko chuckled, holding the fabric shreds between his hands.
Elijah grinned and coughed.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
So much red.
My hands were still trembling. I couldn’t calm down, there was so much blood and he was there waiting for me to save him.
“If you don’t calm down, Zanae, you might end up killing me instead, even if I know you wanted to before.” Elijah teased, a soft and weak smirk on his lips.
Nikolai, sitting nearby, chuckled and added, “Hey, Z, I’d prefer if the bullet came out without any extra casualties.”
I turned toward Niko, then Elijah, stressed and furious. “If I hear one of you two talk again and not just Ben’s voice, I’m going to cut you all alive and drag your parts under the car, okay? Let me focus.”
Silence.
Thank God.
I don’t have a lot of time in front of me, the demons will start screaming and take control again.
I tried to follow Ben’s words; I was touching his wound, and he didn’t even move, nor flinch like he didn’t even feel the pain. I couldn’t help but lift my head for a moment. Catching his gaze, I questioned, “Aren’t you hurt?”
With a soft gaze, he responded, “I love the pain you inflict me.”
Nikolai, overhearing this exchange, added in a desperate tone, “Oh, he’s not good. Look at him, already spouting fucking poetry. Must be worse than we thought. He’s FUCKING GONE!”
Even Ben’s voice over the phone joined in and chuckled, “Seems like you’ve got a unique method of relaxing him, Zee. Keep it up, it’s working.”
I can’t believe they’re not as stressed as I am right now. I know it’s not their first rodeo with bullet wounds and injuries but we’re in a fucking car. I’m trying to take out a bullet using my fingers inside his fucking skin, listening to a man on a fucking phone.
It wasn’t a game, it’s his fucking life in line.
Elijah’s life
With careful precision, I put my fingers deep in his flesh, not moving them too much.
Still no reaction from him, he was just looking at me with a smile, and I finally found this bitch of a bullet.
I pushed it closer to his cut and with tweezers I had in my bag, sterilized with my freaking perfume; I tried to get it out. Without listening to anything coming from Eli, Niko and Ben I removed the bullet from his abdomen.
Fucking hell. It’s done.
I feel air filling my lungs again.
Once the bullet was out, my hands trembling, I held it up, exhaling deeply.
“Another souvenir,” Nikolai remarked.
Elijah, though injured, managed a smirk.
I kissed his cheek again, the gravity of our situation sinking in. “I’ll never look at clubbing the same way again.”
Nikolai chuckled at my reaction and reached over to pat Eli’s shoulder. “I thought she may kill me too if I didn’t let her come back to you,” he said with a grin.
I took a life to keep him safe, just like he’d done it for me countless times.
He saved me again and again.
And tonight, I finally got the chance to show him how grateful I was for him being my guardian angel, in the most intense, albeit not romantic, way imaginable.
You almost got him killed. You didn’t save him, it’s your FAULT.
I didn’t have the energy to acknowledge the voices now.
I tore a piece of my dress, quickly making it into a fake bandage to stabilize his injury, stopping his bleeding and stitching him up when we arrived home.
Niko headed back to the penthouse in silence.
The night had taken a turn, I never thought it would take.
Danger is everywhere I am.
Elijah was still recovering, but he seemed to be doing better than me, to be honest. He gently held my face. “You saved me, and I appreciate it, but don’t ever put yourself in that damn position again. That’s my job, Milaya .”
Turning his attention to Nikolai, his eyes flashed with a menacing glint. “Niko, you know better. You let her back inside when I explicitly told you to keep her safe.”
Niko shrugged, smiling. “Eli, I tried, but she was unstoppable. And I don’t regret it a bit, she did what I had to do.”
I didn’t even try to respond.
My mind was consumed, suffocated by dark thoughts.
My father’s men had come for me.
People died, Elijah was injured, and although he managed to take down most of them, it was clear they were sent with the intent to kill me.
How insane must one be to want to harm their own flesh and blood? How scared he must be to send a horde of men to eliminate his own daughter?
I can’t stop feeling guilty. Just by being with them, I put them in danger. It’s as if danger follows me like a fucking shadow.
“We won’t let them harm you,” Elijah spoke, grabbing my hand softly.
“They don’t know what they’ve unleashed. We’ll make sure they regret this, Little Z,” Niko added.
I couldn’t shake that black hole in me, that sadness, the deception.
I’m sorry.
“I never thought my own father’s men would turn against me. And they almost killed you, Elijah; they want us dead. It’s not something I would allow, and it’s just absurd to try to kill me just because I left him and don’t help him anymore.”
Those haunting green eyes found my soul again, caressing each scar on it, delicately. “They will never do that; I’ll kill them all before they could just have a glimpse of you. I’d set the damn world ablaze, with them in it, if that’s what it takes to keep you safe.”
He was hurt, and he was reassuring me.
A text from Brian lit up my phone.
Brian
Are you okay? I saw what happened on the news, and I knew you were there (stalker shit). Let me know you’re safe, Huntress.
With a sigh, I replied, tapping on my screen.
Me
I’m okay, just shaken. We’ll talk soon about that stalking habit but thank you for asking.
My mind is turning my own world upside down.
It just wouldn’t stop, never, no matter how much I wished it would.
They will never go away.