14. Aasim
AASIM
Istirred out of my sleep. There was a noise coming from outside my bedroom window.
I pulled up the security cameras on my phone.
There were two masked men with guns coming through the back door.
I reached over to wake Rory. “Sweetheart, wake up. We’ve got company.
They’re some dudes with masks on trying to get into the house. ”
I watched Rory process what I said; her movements were slow. Once my words registered, she jumped up in panic. We locked eyes, and I noticed the fear in hers.
“The cameras picked up motion outside. There are two dudes out there. My guess is they trailed us from ol’ boy’s house.
Go inside the closet and move the rack with the ties.
There’s a trap door inside. Stay there until I come back up here to get you.
Whatever you do, don’t come out, okay? Promise me. ”
When Rory didn’t move, I grabbed her shoulders to make sure she understood.
“What if you don’t come back?” she asked teary eyed.
“I’ll be back. Don’t worry about me. Just please do what I asked. That room is the safest place for you to be,” I kissed her lips and watched her walk into the closet before I walked out of the bedroom closing the door behind me.
I tip toed as I made my way toward the steps. Just as I made my way down the stairs, a bullet whizzed past me. I ducked just in time. Once I gained my composure, I let off a couple of rounds at the masked gunman.
Once he was down, I continued to descend the stairs. I never stopped looking over my shoulder as I moved through the living room. The open concept of the home gave me a view of the kitchen.
I saw the second masked man and let off a shot. Before he could let off a shot, I ducked behind the couch. I waited for the second gunman to stop shooting before getting back up.
Once the noise ceased, I got up to look for the shooter. My adrenaline had my heart beating out of my chest. I couldn’t stand playing hide and seek during a shootout. A noise from behind the island in the kitchen led me to the shooter. I walked up behind the dude and pointed the gun at his head.
“Who sent you?” I asked.
The man chuckled before he said, “You know who and you know why. Boss won’t stop until she’s dead, so you might as well kill me.”
He didn’t have to say anything else. I pulled the trigger and watched his blood splatter all over my porcelain floors.
Before I went to get Rory, I walked around the entire inside and outside of the house.
The coast was clear, but we had to get the hell out of here.
I would call the cleaners once we were safe in the car.
Once inside the house, I walked upstairs and went into the bedroom. I opened the closet door followed by the trap door. Rory was seated, rocking back and forth with her knees pulled into her chest.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. You can come out.
We’ve gotta get out her here,” I said as I bent down next to her.
As I put my arm over her shoulder, I felt her body tremble under me.
A gut-wrenching scream fell from her lips as she cried.
I hated to rush her because I could only imagine how she was feeling.
When her cries slowed, I gently picked up her and led her into the bedroom.
She never unpacked her bags, so I grabbed them for her.
I grabbed my wallet and another gun that I kept in my nightstand.
“Where are we going now?” she asked.
“To the clubhouse. We’ll be safe there.”
“You said that about us coming here. He just won’t stop until I’m dead. I can’t live in fear for the rest of my life,” she cried out.
I put the bags down and pulled her into my chest, “Haven’t I kept you safe?
This will all be over soon. I promise. I’m going to take care of Dez.
” I kissed her forehead and grabbed her bags again.
The look of fear and sadness on her face would forever be etched in my brain.
She was already shaken up when I had to kill ol’ boy from her job.
Now, she couldn’t even sleep peacefully because Dez was to try to catch me slipping. Just the thought of him pissed me off.
We walked downstairs past the first body.
Then we made our way through the kitchen.
I ushered her through the kitchen quickly so she wouldn’t see the body behind the island.
We got to the car, and I threw her bags in the back.
As I backed the car out of the driveway, I pulled the backup phone from the arm rest. I hit the same contact I did earlier this evening.
It rang once before the person on the other side answered.
“Clean up in the burbs,” I said and disconnected the call.
For the rest of the way, we rode in silence.
Rory stared out the window just like she did on our way here. The only noise heard throughout the car was my call to Gavin. One ring was all it took for him to answer.
“What’s good, bro?” he asked through his sleep.
“The safe house is no longer safe. We’re headed back around the way. Meet me at the house.”
“Copy that,” he said.
I didn’t need to say much over the phone.
Gavin and Jaxx would get the full story when we made it to the clubhouse.
This time, as I drove, I continued to look for anyone possibly following us.
I could kick myself for being so comfortable with my surroundings that I didn’t check during the drive over.
I got sloppy because I was worried about Rory after I shot ol’ boy.
Not another man breathing would catch me slipping like that.
A little over an hour later, I pulled into the gates of the clubhouse. Rory had fallen asleep not long after my call to Gavin. She stirred from her sleep just as I stopped the car.
“Are you sure we’ll be safe here?” she asked in a low tone
“It is the safest place I know. Once we take care of Dez, I’ll get you back to your routine. I promise.” I reached over to kiss her lips.
“Thank you. I feel like all of this is my fault. I’m sorry for bringing this drama into your life,” Rory said in between sobs.
“Shhh. Stop that. None of this is your fault. I’m just glad we met so I could be here to protect you. You’re safe with me always. No tears, okay? We’re in this together, sweetheart.”
She looked at me with sadness in her eyes as I wiped her tears.
I pulled her in for a hug to calm her nerves.
When I felt her body relax in my arms, I let her go and placed a few pecks on her lips.
She stopped crying, so I opened the door and got out of the car.
Rory did the same, and we walked hand in hand into the clubhouse.