Chapter 29
Left Behind
Nico to Kai: She’s special. Don’t fuck it up. [delivered]
Tess
Nico is in full business mode today, now that Enzo’s given us the heads up that they’re moving against the Russians.
Me? I haven’t stopped pacing.
I’m worried about Enzo. I know I don’t really know him yet, but I want the chance to know him.
It’s now late in the evening, and we’ve been on a communication blackout since the morning while everyone in the outside world plays their part.
Today is the day.
Nico is also pacing now, the two of us moving in synchronised circles like we’re performing some sort of dance.
“It’s going to be fine, right?” I ask for the tenth time today, and I don’t even realise how much my voice trembles until I hear it.
Nico’s face is a little pale. “Yeah, yeah. This is what we do.”
“Take out an entire section of the Russian Mafia?”
He lets out a huffed laugh, trying to ease my nerves. “Maybe not something we do every day, but yeah, it’s not unusual.”
That actually does make me feel a little better. It’s crazy, this world I’ve somehow been dragged into—a world where this is just another Wednesday.
Nico turns to look at me with a serious expression, then eats up the space between us in a couple of strides until he’s standing directly in front of me. He cups my cheek with one of his palms, his eyes holding a hint of longing.
“Tess,” he begins, stroking his thumb over my skin. I should pull back, but I don’t—yet. “These past two weeks, and the ones before that, have been the best of my life.”
I pull back to look at him with a startled expression. “Uh… were we experiencing the same thing? Because I’m pretty sure all this time has been spent hiding in safe houses.”
He sighs, frowning at the ground before he looks back up at me with determination. “Tess,” he groans, as if I’m exasperating. “I’m in love with you.”
My lips part.
Nico rushes on. “I know you’re with Kai, I know that you don’t feel the same. I just… I need you to know that. After today, you’ll go back to your life, and I couldn’t let you go without telling you.”
Before I can think of anything to say to that revelation the door to the safehouse flies open with a loud crash, and gunfire starts all around me. Pain lances through my side. I look down, my vision blurring as blood stains my top.
I freeze, staring at the blood, my body paralyzed.
Nico jumps into action, pulling his gun out and firing in the direction of the door, positioning himself between me and the danger. He moves fast, like he’s done this a thousand times, while I’m still stuck in place, too stunned to do anything.
Nico shouts, voice frantic, “Grab a gun.”
I snap out of my shock and grab one of Nico’s guns from his holster. I’ve never used one before, but I don’t have a choice.
The sharp pop of gunfire continues around us; Nico backs us both up then pulls me down once we’re behind the sofa. He pops his head up every now and then as he fires back.
“How the fuck did they find us? Goddamn it,” he mutters, shaking his head. His eyes soften as he looks at me, then he notices the blood. “Fuck, Tess. You got hit?”
He immediately starts fussing, trying to see my injury.
I push him off. “It’s just a scrape, a bullet grazed me. I’m okay.” The stinging pain in my side tells me I might be lying, but it could have been much worse.
The sound of footsteps starts filling up the room, it sounds like there’s an army of them. Nico whispers in my ear, “When I tell you to run, you run. Got it?”
“What about you?” I murmur, anxiety racing through me as the footsteps get closer.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Just get out of here, find a phone and call Enzo.” He waits for me to nod, eyes pleading with me to listen.
A shadow falls over us and we look up to see a woman staring down at us. Nico swallows audibly. I don’t know who she is but it’s clear that he does from the fear in his expression.
Nico’s body is positioned in front of me, shielding me from danger, but that doesn’t bring me any comfort. I don’t want him to get hurt.
Nico leans towards me, his breath brushing against my skin, “Remember what I said.”
I nod again, my throat too thick to speak. I don’t want to leave him.
“Hand her over, and this doesn’t get messy,” the woman says, speaking for the first time. She’s dressed in a vintage black dress, one that highlights her figure, and her hair is fiery red. Her accent has a Russian lilt to it.
Nico stands, pulling me up with him while keeping me tucked behind him.
From our position, there’s a direct line to the door. There’s four men, all surrounding the woman, leaving us with an opening, if only they weren’t all armed.
Nico's hold on me tightens.
“Tess?” he says, ignoring the woman who looks like she’s two seconds from ripping us apart. His face fills with an expression I can’t place, and I’m almost scared for what he might be about to say.
“Now.” He shoves me away from him, and I stumble as I’m pushed towards the open doorway.
Everyone jumps into action. Gunshots ring out once more, someone catches me round the middle, and I grab the closest object—a lamp of all things—and swing. It hits them in the face and the man stumbles giving me time to run.
I reach the door and look back, just in time to see Nico go down. A bullet tears through his chest.
A scream rips from my throat, and my legs feel like they’re made of lead.
I want to go to him. I want to save him. But his eyes are locked on mine, his face pale, and with a barely perceptible movement, he mouths, “Go.”
His last words to me.
I hesitate, terror and disbelief pooling in my chest. Then another guard lunges at me. I don’t think, I react. I swing the lamp again, hitting him in the side, then remember the gun I grabbed earlier. I lift it, aim, and fire blindly. The recoil makes my vision swim, but I don’t stop.
Stumbling backward, gunshots ring in my ears, my heart hammering. I back out of the house, barely aware of my surroundings, the panic clawing at my chest, and the desperate need to survive, to escape.
I make it to the street, my body burning with exhaustion and pain, my side throbbing, but I don’t stop. I can’t.
It feels like hours pass as I run, my lungs collapsing, my legs aching, but I force myself to keep going. I can’t think about Nico. Not now.
Finally, I burst into a corner shop, gasping for air, my vision blurry. The shopkeeper stares at me, wide-eyed, and I try to catch my breath.
“Phone,” I gasp, my voice hoarse.
The man hands me a phone. I don’t even hesitate. I dial Kai’s number—my heart twisting as I think of Nico. Of what I just left behind.
“Hello?” Kai’s voice crackles through the line, filled with apprehension.
“Nico’s dead,” I manage to whisper, the words barely leaving my lips before my vision fades to black and I crumple to the floor.