Screams pierce the silence. I leap off the bed only to realize that Ava and I fell asleep in Amelia’s bed. I’m on high alert when I hear shots being fired.
“What is that?” Ava leaps up behind me, grasping my shirt in her shaking hands.
“I don’t know. Stay behind me.” Holding her behind me, I move slowly toward the door. It’s still standing open, but I can’t see anything or anyone. The noise downstairs has ceased. The silence has grown eerie.
“Stay here. Get in the closet.” Turning to Ava, she shakes her head rapidly.
“No. Don’t leave me, Cord.” Her hands shake as she reaches for me. Her fingers tangle in the front of my shirt before I grab them in one of mine.
“I mean it! I can’t sit here and debate this with you. Get in there!” Growling at her, she loosens her grip. I press my lips to her head before shoving her.
“Go!” Ava starts to move toward the closet but stops.
“I love you, Cord.” Blowing her a kiss, I wave her toward the door. When I see she’s safely closed in, I head out into the hallway. I cautiously make my way down the hallway when I hear shots once more. Who the hell could be in here? How would they have gotten past security?
“Fuck!” I hear Jordy growl the closer I get to the stairs.
“Jordy!” Howling his name into the darkness, he appears before me holding his arm.
“What the hell is going on?” Shaking his head, he holds his finger to his lips. Ushering me back down the hallway, he shoves me into my office. Slowly closing the door, he turns to me.
“I don’t know who they are. We need to get you out of here.” Shaking my head, that’s not an option.
“You’re hurt. Let me see it.” Jordy yanks his arm away from me before shoving me back slightly.
“Let me do my job, Cord. I’m fine. Where is Ava?” Oh, God.
“Amelia’s room.” Footsteps can be heard in the hallway. My stomach clenches the closer they get.
My heart races when Jordy pulls the door open. So close to shooting, he lets out a growl. His hands fly out of the door, yanking Ava back through it.
“Goddamn it! I almost killed you!” I grab Ava by the arm yanking her into my chest. The growl that rips out of me could be heard for miles.
“I told you not to move.” Her eyes flicker with fear. I slam my lips into hers as Jordy huffs.
“Could we go please.” Grunting out my response, I wrap my arm around Ava.
“We have to get to the guest room. We can get out the window that way.” Nodding my agreement, Jordy cracks the door to look out before motioning for us to move. Ava’s body shakes under my grasp. I can’t help but feel so helpless right now. Shots ring out through the hallway when I hear Romero screaming.
“Get the fuck out!” Shots keep sounding off before I’m hit. I can feel it burning its way into my chest as I fall to the floor.
“Jordy! Get her out of here!” Screaming to him, Ava latches onto me.
“I’m not leaving you, Cord!” Her screams are panicked and out of control. She has to get out of here.
She has to live for our daughter. Jordy drops to my side while Romero fires behind us.
“Get her out!” He grabs Ava as she screams for me. It rips my heart out hearing her like that.
It’s killing me, but I need her to be safe. A few minutes later, I don’t hear her. I know Jordy did as he was told and got her out.
“Cord. Come on. Let’s move.” Romero grabs at me but my chest seizes up. The pain is nothing I’ve ever felt before.
“Just go.” Waving him off, he chuckles.
“That isn’t part of my job, Boss.” Yanking me by the arm, I hoist myself up using him as leverage. Romero is halfway dragging me down the hall toward the guest room, while shooting in the opposite direction.
“Come on. I have Rick down there ready for you.” His screams could be heard for miles.
He drags me through the door where I see the open window. A breath of relief escapes my lips knowing that Jordy got her out. I need her to be safe more than anything. Climbing out the window, I throw my foot into the metal throw down ladder and make my way to the ground.
“I got you.” I hear Rick’s voice before I feel him pulling on me. I let go, to be pulled away from the ladder and straight to a waiting car.
“Tell me Jordy got her out of here?” Screaming more than anything, the car starts.
“He got her out, Boss.” I breathe a sigh of relief. She’s safe. For now, anyway.
“Do we know anything about who that was?” I catch a glimpse of Rick’s eyes in the mirror and I know he doesn’t know.
“No. Sorry, Boss. As soon as you’re at the safe house, I’m going back. I called in our guys at NYPD. We’ll get it cleaned up and figured out.”
Chapter 46
The ride out to the safe house does nothing but give me time to think. Who the hell would have been able to infiltrate the security I had setup? Who could have known where they were placed? You can’t see the guys from the outside roads. This had to be an inside job.
“Fuck!” Slamming my hands against the seat, Rick looks at me in the mirror briefly. He doesn’t say a word, and he doesn’t need to. He’s thinking the same thing that I am. There’s a fucking rat in the family. Someone that knew we would be home. The ride to the safe house takes longer than it should. At least that’s how I feel. As soon as we pull into the driveway, my chest tightens. Whoever it was, will also know about this place.
Was this a warning? Where they sending me a message? Who the hell can I trust, now? I dial Nikolai’s number as the car comes to a stop at the front doors.
“Hey, Boss.” He sounds happy. Glad someone is.
“You haven’t heard about the breach?”
“Just got that message. I was in a meeting with some of Luciano’s guys. Did you make it out okay?” My mind whirls with things that it shouldn’t.
“Yes. We’re good. When are you coming back?”
“A few more days.” I don’t say bye. I don’t say anything. I end the call and climb out of the car, heading straight toward the door. I eye the guards that now line the stairs wondering which one of them it could be. Who would fucking turn on me like that? The door flies open as my chest burns.
“Doc’s here. Let’s get you looked at.” Jordy reaches for me, but I brush him off. I need to see her. I need to see with my own eyes that she’s okay.
“Where is she?” I growl as I look around the main room. I don’t see her.
“She’s upstairs, Cord. Let the Doc look at you.” Shaking my head, I take the stairs two at a time. Never mind the fact that my chest is on fire. I just need to lay my eyes on her. Moving swiftly down the hallway, I shove through the bedroom door to find her curled up on the bed.
“You’re okay.” It wasn’t a question. She’s okay.
“Cord.” Ava leaps off the bed rushing toward me. Throwing her arms around my neck, I pull her body against mine. Inhaling all that is Ava, I lose myself in her. I can’t help it. This is all I want.
“I’m so sorry. So fucking sorry.” Ava’s body tenses before she pulls back a little. Looking into my eyes, I don’t know what to say.