Safe for now

The power had been cut out, the moment Isabella lunged at me, I knew I had seconds to react. My body moved on instinct, fueled by panic and sheer will to survive. I twisted, kicking with all my strength. My foot slammed into her stomach, and she staggered back with a grunt of pain, crashing into a table behind her.

That bought me a few minutes, I sprinted across the room toward Marco’s desk, yanking open drawers blindly until my fingers wrapped around a gun I didn’t stop to check if it was loaded. I turned around, aimed with trembling hands, and fired.

The sound of the gunshot split the air like thunder, Isabella ducked, and the bullet tore through the wall just inches from her head. Her scream was feral, filled with hatred. I didn’t wait to see what came next. I aimed again, but the door behind me suddenly echoed with fists pounding and voices shouting.

“Emily! Emily, open up!”

“I can't, the door’s locked! Break it down!” I yelled from where I stood. 

“It's over for you Isabella, there's nowhere to run.” 

“Oh, i know that, but at least your coming with me,” Isabella said. 

“Why are you doing this?” I asked her with the gun still held in front of me. 

“He knew me first you know, we had our time together, he even fucked me, only to treat me like trash and marry you.” She was panting, glaring at me with pure venom, crouched low like a predator ready to pounce.

“I'll make sure he doesn't get his happy ending either.” 

The banging grew louder as they rammed the door, over and over, trying to get in. I didn’t take my eyes off Isabella. 

In a swift moment, she moved, I pulled the trigger again, but the gun jammed. My breath caught in my throat as Isabella lunged toward me. She tackled me to the floor, her hands wrapping around my neck. I clawed at her arms, gasping for air, fighting to stay conscious.

Then the door finally gave way, the guards poured in. Isabella turned her head, and smiled at them.

The guards assisted me up, while Isabella backed up towards the wall. One of the guards raised his weapon to fire, but Isabella moved faster. Her arm swung up, she took a gun from her back pocket and before anyone could react, a shot rang out.

Pain exploded in my chest.

Isabella laughed, “how does it feel to know you all failed to protect her from a mere woman like me, your boss will be very disappointed.”

I gasped, my vision going white as I slumped to the floor, the world around me dimmed. I could vaguely hear shouting, more gunshots, the sound of boots rushing across the room.

The last thing I saw was Isabella collapsing to the ground, blood blooming from her chest. One of the guards had shot her.

Then darkness swallowed me whole.

The scent of antiseptic and the soft beeping of machines pulled me back.

Everything hurt. My chest burned, my body felt like it had been crushed under stone, but I was alive.

I blinked slowly, sitting slumped on a chair beside the bed was Marco, he had one hand gripping the edge of the mattress, the other running through his dark hair. 

His head snapped up the moment he noticed me stir. "Emily?"

I nodded weakly.

Relief flooded his face, followed immediately by guilt.

“Are you okay?” he asked, voice low, tight with emotion.

I tried to speak, but only a rasp came out. He poured a glass of water and helped me sip.

When I leaned back, he took my hand gently in his. "I'm so sorry. I should've been there."

He frowned a little, “I got a call. Someone claimed Isabella was in the building. I didn’t even hesitate. I left to find her. But it was a trap, Emily, a diversion to pull me away from you."

"By the time I realized it was fake, I was too far. I tried to get back, but everything happened so fast. I should’ve never left you alone."

I squeezed his hand. It was all I could manage, but I hoped it told him what I couldn't say yet: I didn’t blame him.

He sighed and sat back down, brushing hair from my face gently. “They checked the room. Isabella, she’s gone for good."

I looked at him, searching for certainty, He nodded. "We made sure."

Silence fell between us for a while. I listened to the steady beep of the monitor, the rise and fall of his breath beside me. For once, it felt like maybe, just maybe I was safe.