Chapter 25Monroe
25
Monroe
I already hated Maksim, but now I hate him even more for constantly taking Zane away from me. Everything I ever wanted could possibly slip through my fingers today because of that asshole.
“I thought he was in the hospital,” I say, running after Zane as he flies down the hallway.
Zane doesn't miss a step as he speaks. "He probably checked out early, but I don't know how he managed to find Kiro and Andrey at the bar. Maybe his guys followed us there. They're super keen on getting to you, but that's how Maksim is. He wants everything I have, even if he doesn't know why I have it."
"But if they have the book, aren't they going to know everything that's going on?" I ask, panting a little as I try to keep up with him.
"They won't have a chance," he replies. "I'll blow Maksim's brains out in the middle of the street if I have to. This ends today."
His determination is admirable, but the idea of him getting shot and killed terrifies me. All I wanted was to hear him say that he loves me, but I might never get to hear those beautiful words if he's killed in a shootout. I don't want him to go. I can't stand the thought of losing him.
I grab his arm. "Please, Zane. You have a baby to think about. Let someone else take care of this."
He looks at me, his eyes softening. He places a hand on my cheek. "Don't worry. I have no plans on dying, but I have to do this. Kiro needs me, Andrey needs me, and we need to make sure Maksim doesn't take the book."
"He doesn't even know what's in it," I say, grabbing at his shirt as he puts his shoes on. "Don't go. Stay here with me."
He sighs, standing up straight again. "If I don't go, Kiro and Andrey will die. We can't risk anyone else seeing what's in the book, either. This isn't something I'm willing to compromise on. I'd prefer you to stay at the house. This is going to get dangerous."
"No," I say, putting my foot down. "We're in this together."
"No time to argue," he replies, opening the front door and tossing his jacket over his shoulder. "I have to go." He walks out of the house, but I'm hot on his heels, unwilling to let him leave so easily. He'll have to physically prevent me from getting into his car if he wants to keep me from joining him.
I can't be alone again. Not right now, when the entire world feels like it's crashing down around me. If Zane dies, it'll all be gone. All the good things, all the joy, all the hope, and everything that makes me smile.
He opens the car door, and I reach for the handle to the other side before he can lock it again. I pull open the door and dive in as he slides into the driver's seat. "Get out," he says, reaching for my arm.
I slap his hand away. "Don't you dare try that shit with me. I'm going with you. I can't be alone again. Not today."
He narrows his eyes. "Fine. You can come with me, but you're staying in the car with the doors locked. It's armored, so there shouldn't be any issue unless they're launching rockets down the street or something."
I nod, buckling my seat belt. "I can do that, but you need to give me a gun, at least."
He sighs, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a pistol. He puts it on my lap, and the weight is surprising to me. It's a lot heavier than I thought it would be, and I immediately feel uncomfortable with it sitting so close to my belly.
I pluck it off my lap, holding it awkwardly in both hands and making sure not to touch the trigger as Zane speeds off. He's driving faster than I've ever traveled before, tearing through streets and weaving through traffic like it's an arcade game.
My nausea comes back tenfold. My body feels like it's spinning even though the car is stationary, and the only thing keeping me from throwing up is the thought of Zane turning back around and dropping me off at home. We can't waste any more time with the lives that are on the line. We have to get to the bar as soon as possible.
Zane takes a sharp left, and my body shifts against the door. I almost drop the gun because of how sweaty my hands are. Jesus, I hope I don't end up having to use this thing.
Zane's grip tightens on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched in determination. I can see the veins in his hands popping as he maneuvers the car through traffic toward the bar. He glances over at me briefly, his expression softening just a bit before hardening again.
"Are you okay?" he asks, his voice strained with tension.
"Yeah," I lie, gripping the gun tighter. "I’ve never been to a shootout before.” I try to laugh, but it sounds more like a terrified squeak.
"Don't worry," he says, his eyes back on the road. "We'll get through this. Like I said, just stay in the car.”
The drive feels like an eternity, but finally, we screech to a halt a few blocks away from the bar. Zane parks the car in an alley, hidden from the road. He turns to me, his eyes intense. "This is it," he says. "Stay here, keep the doors locked, and if anything happens, you drive away as fast as you can. I’ll leave you the keys. Got it?”
I nod, my heart pounding so hard I can hear it inside my head. "Got it."
He leans over, pressing a quick kiss to my forehead. "I love you," he whispers.
Before I can respond, he's out of the car, running down the alley and disappearing around the corner. I watch him go, my heart stuck in my throat. I put the gun down on the seat and shift over to where Zane’s body sat behind the wheel. It’s warm on his seat, like he’s holding me from behind, and I can smell his sweat and cologne.
Suddenly, I hear shouting and the unmistakable sound of gunfire, and my stomach sinks. It sounds like it’s getting closer, and then suddenly, I see Zane sprinting down the alley back toward the car.
He’s yelling, but I can’t make out the words he’s saying. I lean over and hit the switch to unlock the doors as I see Kiro running close behind him with the blue book with gold lettering clutching in his hands like it’s the holy grail. It’s a little funny to me that they’re all so obsessed with that book now, but I’m not going to laugh when Zane starts raking in millions from the stock market.
I use my foot to kick open the door as I slide into the back seat so that Zane and Kiro can sit in the front. I don’t see any sign of Andrey, though, which makes me worried. He seemed like a nice guy.
Zane jumps into the car, immediately starting the engine and pulling out before his door is even closed. Kiro jumps in, slamming the door shut just as a couple of men round the corner of the alley.
“Hold tight,” Zane shouts as he slams on the gas, flying toward the group of men. They barely have time to get any shots off before they’re knocked in all directions like bowling pins as Zane smashes through them.
Kiro lets out a holler, grinning wildly as we slide out into the road.
“What happened?” I ask, looking out the back window as we race down the street.
Zane slows down a little, laughing with Kiro. “Well, the cops showed up, so that’s one thing. I don’t think Maksim expected a three-way shootout, but that’s what he got.”
“More like two against one,” Kiro says, running his fingers through his hair. “My god, it was glorious. I saw like six or seven of his guys get hit. We didn’t lose a single one.”
I place my hand over my heart. “Thank goodness. So, Andrey’s okay? Where is he?”
“He took off in my car,” Kiro says. “I decided to go with Zane, but I’ll tell you, it was close. They almost had us back there.”
“It wasn’t that close,” Zane says quickly, trying to cover up the severity of their situation. “We were fine up until we decided to leave, and the run here wasn’t far. They’re not very good shots, either. Bad aim all around.”
I shake my head, but I’m just happy that everyone is okay. “Did Maksim make it out?” I ask, curious about the police situation. Is he going to end up in prison again? I know Zane didn’t want that, but I wouldn’t mind if they locked him up. We wouldn’t have to deal with him for a long time, potentially forever.
“Maksim has a knack for wriggling out of situation he shouldn’t be able to. It’s his only true talent,” Zane says, taking a turn down another road and slowing even further. “He took off when the police came. I’m not really surprised. He’s probably on probation, and if they find him in any kind of sketchy situation, they’re liable to put him back in jail.”
“You think they’ll come after him, then?” I ask.
Zane’s eyes flash at me in the rearview mirror. “If they did, he wouldn’t stand much of a chance of getting away. He was limping like crazy, hobbling along half the speed he should’ve been going. That stab wound is definitely not properly healed. I’ll bet he rushed out of the hospital to get to us.”
“The real question is, how did he know we’d be at the bar?” Kiro says, tapping the blue book against his forehead. “You think he knows about the book, too?”
“Impossible,” Zane replies. “Unless he’s been in my house and put cameras all over my library, he doesn’t know about the book. I suspect what he really wants is Monroe, since she’s with me now.”
“If he tries anything, I’ll shoot him,” I say, holding up the gun Zane gave me.
“Woah, who gave her that?” Kiro exclaims, throwing his hands up and letting out a laugh.
“I wouldn’t mess around. She might actually shoot you,” Zane says, smirking at me in the mirror.
I give him a playful glare, though inside, I'm still shaken by everything that's happened. The reality of our situation is just starting to hit me. Zane was so close to death, but he acts like it’s just another regular day for him. I wonder how many times something like this has happened.
Kiro looks back at me, a reassuring smile on his face. “Don’t worry, Monroe. We’ve been through worse. Maksim’s got nothing on us.” It’s like he can read my mind.
I nod, though my anxiety doesn’t ease. The weight of the gun in my hands feels oppressive, so I put it back down on the seat beside me.
Zane takes another sharp turn, and we find ourselves in a quieter part of town. The adrenaline starts to wear off, and exhaustion sets in.
“We’ll lay low at the safe house for now,” Zane says, pulling into a secluded driveway.
“You have another house?” I ask, looking out the window.
“I have several,” he replies as a gate rolls shut behind us.