Chapter Nine

My mind still reeling from the shock, I failed to hear what Antonio was saying. The minute he walked in I recognised the scar under his chin. The scar I had planted. I almost smirked in satisfaction.

“You have some nerve, don't you?” I finally looked up at him to see him already staring down at me.

“Fancy seeing you, Antonio. It's clear the fire wasn't able to burn you to death” I smirked seeing the stone cold expression return back to his ugly face.

“I'm glad to know you still have that smart mouth” he licked his lip, making bile rise to my throat. “But not even my obsession with you will save you from death now. You knew it was long coming”

“Yeah, I know. I always knew it was you behind those black tinted windows. The scar made it easier. Not even the black mask could hide how ugly you were, Antonio” I said with as much calm I could muster. I couldn't let him see the fear behind my eyes or the way my heartbeat tried to match the one inside my belly. If only they would have caught me eight months from now, I would have even helped him pull the trigger on my head.

He took out his gun and pointed it to my head. My brain screamed run, but the rope tied to my hands continued to burn on skin painfully forcing me to remain seated.

“At least let her go” I turned my head to Monica who laid on the floor, half-unconscious. 

Not even bothering to give her a glance, he said, “she laid her bed, let her lie on it” 

“You don't have to do this, Antonio. You know I wouldn't tell a soul” I felt my eyes burned with tears for the little child that rolled up like a ball in my belly. 

“You have to go, Astrid Grey” I heard the gun safety unlock. 

I closed my eyes, hoping the impact of the bullet wouldn't be too painful, hoping it wouldn't be enough to hurt my baby. Maybe if I fell on my back, my baby could come out of this alive.

But I never heard the gun go off, at least not the gun pointed at me. In that instance, it felt like I had been pushed into a video game. Series of gunshot was heard. 

I looked up to see Antonio wearing a similar expression of confusion like me. He quickly ran out.

Using that opportunity, I quickly crawled to Monica. I turned her body sideways to retrieve the small knife that she had managed to snatch from his pocket before he hit her. 

At least she was good for something.

I cut the rope from my hands, feeling my blood flow again. Not giving myself the time to relish in my partial freedom, I quickly cut Monica's rope too.

“Monica!” I tapped her hand, trying to wake her up. “Monica! Get the fuck up!” I said louder this time..I saw her eyes flutter carefully before she finally opened them slightly.

“Come on, stand up”

“ Am I__ are we in heaven?” She stuttered weakly.

“That's a very far fetched dream even for you, Monica, don't you think?” I smirked at her.

“Wh_what?” 

“Get up. Elijah's here.” 

Just like that I heard the door burst open and someone thrown across the room, his body hitting the rods on the floor.

“Elijah!” Monica shrieked. 

I covered my mouth trying to silent the scream that threatened to spill out of my mouth.

There was a reason Antonio was the leader of the gang. I had never seen a man with such strength. I feared for Elijah's life. 

Before Antonio could attack him again, Elijah stood up and attacked him. “You bastard!” Antonio cried.

With a snarl, Antonio launched himself at Elijah, a knife glinting in his hand. Elijah dodged the blade by mere inches countering the attack with a kick to Antonio's arm, making him lose the knife in an instance.

Elijah quickly took out his gun. “It's over” he said, pulling the trigger faster than I could say SHIT.

I continued to stare at the dead body just mere inches away from my feet. I wasn't frightened, I had been in this type of scene mire than I wanted to admit.

“Maya” Elijah called me, his voice firm but gentle. “We need to get out of here” he continued, a different softness in his eyes that I couldn't recognise.

I nodded still looking shell-shocked and a little bit amused at the whole situation. I grabbed his outstretched hand, pulling myself up. “Monica. She's probably too weak to walk by herself” I reminded him of his ex that was still cowering on the floor.

I watched Elijah's gaze flicked to Monica, his expression unfathomable, “The guys will come for her. We need to get out of here now!” he said signalling to one of his team member's.

We quickly made our way out of there, my feet hitting a small rock which had almost made me lose my footing before Elijah steadied me. “ This is not the time for you to be clumsy” he grumbled.

“Yeah, I was feeling so giddy so I wanted trip” I spat sarcastically. He gave me a glare but continued to drag me out of the building. “How did you manage find us?” I looked behind to see Monica being assisted by one of Elijah's guys, her hands resting on his shoulder.

Elijah didn't bother to give me an answer and at that moment I felt a strange anger surge through me. I pressed my feet on the floor, making us stop.

“What's wrong with you?” Elijah growled.

“What's wrong with me? You're fucking asking me that? I could have been killed there. Me and your child! What took you so long?!” 

Just as Elijah was about to utter something equally angry we heard someone chuckle evilly behind us.

“It's funny how you ran from us and ended up right in the hands of your number one enemy, Maya” Antonio staggered, his gun pointed at us. He glanced at Elijah before looking back at me.

Before the guys or Elijah could shoot him, Antonio released the trigger. 

I screamed so loud I felt my vision go dark.