Chapter Thirty-Six #2
“Shit,” Dog said, pulling out his gun at the same time I pulled mine out.
“Mr. Marino.” One of the soldiers rushed toward Devil with a phone outstretched. “The boss wants to speak to you.”
Devil collected the phone as a set of soldiers came around us.
I rechecked my gun while surveying our area, watching our right as the cars neared.
“We have to move,” I said, not listening to what Devil was saying to Elio on the phone as we started rushing toward the tree, at almost the same time the people on the motorcycles opened fire.
Loud bangs were coming from everywhere around me.
But we were well covered against the shooting happening around us. I could feel a strange kind of heat that rocked the severity of our situation straight to my head.
“Hey, he wants to talk to you,” Devil said, handing the phone over to me as he got his gun out.
Collecting the phone, I pressed it against my ear, turning off the comm while letting my gaze settle on the woods and bushes behind the tree, spotting movements. “Now’s not a great time, Elio.”
“I am aware. I can practically hear it,” he spoke. “The gold and the flash drives are kept in different locations. I just arrived at the hotel where we’ll meet.” He sounded so calm, like his brother and I weren’t currently being shot at or surrounded by people who wanted what we were going for.
“How do you know they’re in different locations?”
It was quiet for a second too long before he responded.
“Intel. It is in the same building, but the flash drives are kept in a safe.”
“Building? All I see is a fucking tree, Elio.”
“Yes, but there is an installed lock system by the side of the tree; Upper and Milk will give you the code to open the underground building. If I am correct, you are currently walking or running—based on your breathing—on top of the gold.”
“Isn’t that just awesome?”
“Do not panic. Casmiro has sent more arms your way; this mission is ours to win. All you have to do is keep calm and ignore the other people trying to get there before you. Remember, you’re ahead.”
“Really loving this pep talk, right now of all times,” I said as we reached the tree, and I spotted the installed lock system while Devil and Dog hurriedly communicated with Upper and Milk to get it open.
“How does it feel sitting peacefully in an expensive hotel room while your girlfriend is one bullet away from being killed?”
“You insisted you wanted to find the gold with your team, remember? You like to hustle for what you want. Besides, I have something important to oversee, and I trust you not to die. My trust aside, I paid you one hundred million dollars. The money was not free, querida.”
“Fuck you, seriously, fuck you.”
My heart was thumping so loud as I joined the men in covering Dog and Devil, one hand holding on to the gun as I fished for targets, getting too close to where we stood. My other hand was holding firmly on to the phone.
“Zahra,” Elio called.
“I’m here,” I said, my gaze shifting slightly to the woods again, lingering as I listened to Elio.
“Do you want me there?”
“No,” I said. “I’ve got it.”
“All right. I need you to get those flash drives yourself. Elia, Dog, and my men should be able to handle the gold perfectly.”
I paused, dropping my brows down in a frown. “Why do you need me to get them?”
Another second too long of silence.
“Like I told you, the flash drives are kept in a safe. Only I know the password to open this safe. That was Arturo’s favor to me, for petting his Chihuahua and not running from it. I will never understand his logic.”
“Me neither.”
“I can only trust you with this information.”
I nodded, even knowing he couldn’t see me. “Of course, I’ll get the drives to you after we’re done here. But hey—we need to talk; there’s something important I have to tell you afterward.”
“Stay alive, and we will talk.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t plan on dying today.”
“Good,” he said. “The password is Rory.”
I frowned. “What?”
“That’s the name of his Chihuahua. Nobody ever asked him, so he made it the password.”
“Rich people.”
The ground rumbled beneath my feet, and I stepped back simultaneously with Devil, Dog, and the other men around us.
A large round portion of the ground was rotating, going downward as it did, like a huge drill paving a safe passage for us. It revealed sets of metal stairs as it continued going down. The walls on the circular ground were also metal.
“Found the passage?”
“Yes.”
He gave a “Hm” of approval. “Be careful, Zahra. I expect you unharmed.”
“You will get me unharmed.”
“Hm.” It was quiet as some of the men went in first. “Zahra?”
“Yeah?”
“Te amo.”
My heart missed a beat, and all the air rushed out of my lungs on cue. He didn’t say it often, but when he did, the effect was long-lasting. I blew out an uneven breath and spoke quietly. “I’ll see you soon.”
The line disconnected, and I returned the phone to one of the men by my side, looking toward the woods again.
“What in the Stranger Things.” Dog whistled as he followed behind some soldiers down to the open ground.
I was about to follow suit when Devil held my arm back as he turned off his comm. “Elio said you are getting the drives.”
My eyes looked between his. “Yeah.”
“He trusts you,” he pointed out.
“I know. That’s why I’m going to get the drives to him.”
His eyes shone with suspicion.
I let out a sharp breath. “Come on, Devil, you’ve known me for almost six years. When I say you can trust me, I mean it. I will get the drives to him and tell him everything, and if I can convince him to let me look at one of the drives, we’ll be saving many lives. Please trust me on this.”
He stared at me for a bit longer. “Okay.”
I let out a breath, about to leave, but he held me back.
“I’m choosing to trust you, Zahra. Don’t make me regret it.”
I turned on my comm. “I won’t.”
After a nod from him and confirmation from me, he let go of my arm as we climbed down the metal stairs and into the ground together.