"Mark?! Talk to me, man!" Archer demanded through the communication device plugged into my ear.
"I got her, she's wounded," I replied with clenched teeth as I hurried back to one of the offices. Everywhere was dark and dusty; I could barely see. Carefully placing her on a dusty table, I grabbed one of the more extended desks and began smashing it repeatedly against the glass wall. "I need that chopper now, Donovan!" I yelled, and I could hear him barking out orders on the other end.
Shortly after, I heard the sound of a helicopter just outside the wall, floodlights shining through the glass.
"Can you break the glass, Mark?!" Archer asked, his tone tense with urgency.
"Give me a minute…"
"You don't have a minute, the fire is spreading," Chad yelled.
"Damn it!" I cursed under my breath.
"Blast the goddamn glass, Chad!" Archer roared.
I hurriedly carried Adele and took cover before another blast rocked the building, using my shirt to cover her head. As the chopper got closer, Archer's men helped me inside.
"We need to hurry, Mark!" Chad's voice filled my earpiece.
"I'm doing my best," I replied, my heart racing. The situation was dire, and time was running out. Another explosion shook the building, and the fire crept dangerously close to the chopper. "We have to get out of here now!" I yelled, feeling the panic rising within me.
The pilot quickly veered off, backing away as fast as possible from the building as if an angel was giving us a chance to escape. The building began to collapse, and I held onto Adele tightly.
"Talk to me, Mark!" Archer's voice sounded desperate and concerned in my earpiece.
"We're taking her to the hospital."
"Take her to Tranquil Haven Medical Center. I'll meet you there. But first, Chad?”
“Yes, boss?” Chad replied.
“Bring the bastard to me on Fernwood Lane, and call Frankie to send his crew to PharmaMed and clean up the mess,” Archer said, determination evident in his voice.
“Right away, boss,” Chad responded, and then the line went silent.
I pulled off the earpiece, shutting my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. My heart was still racing, but we had made it out alive.
I flashed back to the moment I found her injured and how my heart sank at the sight of her lying there. I refused to dwell on what could have happened if we hadn't arrived in time. If it weren't for Archer and Chad, I doubted I would have been fast enough to save her. I couldn't help but feel grateful to both of them for their quick thinking and action. My arms tightened protectively around Adele. I knew she was strong and capable, but at that moment, all I wanted was to keep her safe.
If Chad was right about the perpetrator, I don't envy them. Archer is going to unleash hell on them.
It had been an intense day. At 8 a.m., Archer called me, informing me about one of his executives making suspicious moves, and that Chad was tailing him. I assured Archer that I would head to Duport immediately. Even though there were other capable guards watching out for my sister, Archer wasn't satisfied that one of his most trusted hands wasn't there with them.
I met the other two guards and found them to be reliable. Every other day, I shuttle between Duport and Townhill to get reports and ensure Adele's safety. The person responsible for my attack months back seemed to be keeping a low profile, but that didn't mean we were taking any chances. Archer wouldn't even consider it.
My heart swelled with gratitude for Archer and Chad. If not for their quick thinking, I doubt I would have made it there in time. My arms instinctively tightened around Adele. I refused to dwell on what could have happened if I had been just a few minutes late.
The memory of the building going up in flames haunted me. At first, I hesitated to enter the building, fearing that she might see me. But I noticed her car was still in the parking lot. She often worked late, and I had to wait outside her office on several occasions to tail her back home. I was proud of her and grateful for her friends, but I could also sense her loneliness when she was alone.
Sam, the guy Archer replaced Chad with, joked about how Archer had grown more reclusive and stern. I understood Archer's decision to stay out of Adele's life and appreciated his thoughtfulness and sacrifice to prioritize her safety. However, deep down, I couldn't shake the feeling that both of them were unhappy.
Who was I to judge, though? I had made the decision to stay out of her life, choosing to protect her from the shadows. Eliza didn't understand why I wanted my sister to continue thinking that I was dead, but she wasn't aware of the dangerous world I lived in.
Being with Eliza these past months has been a mix of joy and apprehension. I cherished every moment spent with her, but I was constantly waiting for the moment when she would find out who I truly am and run away in fear.
The internal struggle within me was damning. Deep down, I knew it was safer to expect Eliza to prioritize her own well-being over everything else if she ever discovered the truth about my dangerous past. There was nothing honorable about being a killer, and it made me understand why Archer Donovan kept Adele at arm's length. While I could maintain a facade and lead a double life, Archer Donovan, on the other hand, had no such luxury. He embraced his true self unapologetically, and Adele simply didn't belong in his world.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Chad and the rest of the team took their leave, leaving me to carry Adele inside on my own. The medical staff, seemingly aware of our arrival, quickly swarmed around us with a gurney, ready to assist. I couldn't help but wonder if Archer had some influence over this hospital, given his vast investments and connections. It wouldn't be surprising if he had made arrangements in advance to ensure the best care for Adele.
Gently placing her on it, they hurriedly wheeled her away for medical attention. I decided to remain nearby, hidden from her sight, until the doctors cleared her condition.
"You should let me take a look at that before you get them infected," a female doctor advised, gesturing to my lower body.
Bemused, I furrowed my eyebrows, and as I lowered my gaze to my hands, I saw that my palms were bleeding. ‘Shit,’ I mentally cursed, realizing I hadn't even noticed I was hurt, and now the pain rushed through me with a vengeance.
"Please come with me and hold them up," she instructed, reaching for my right wrist. A few minutes later, my hands were in bandages, and my entire body felt as if I had been run down by a bus. I let out a sigh, finally feeling the toll of the events catching up to me.
Sitting in a secluded corner, I retrieved my phone from my inner jacket and turned off the airplane mode, revealing a myriad of missed calls and text messages from Eliza, expressing her concern about my safety. I managed to craft a text message to her, stating that I wouldn't be able to return immediately due to the chaos caused by the explosion in Duport. As expected, her call followed soon after, and I answered.
"I heard about the explosion in Duport. Are you okay?" Eliza asked with genuine worry.
"I'm fine, babe. I wasn't anywhere near the explosion, but it caused quite a lot of chaos," I reassured, sticking to the fabricated story I had previously shared about helping Archer's friend investigate his wife who was suspected of infidelity.
"Thank God you're safe! I tried to reach you earlier, but your phone was off," she said with relief evident in her voice.
"Sorry about that. I accidentally pressed airplane mode," I lied again, trying to keep her from worrying further. "The roads are blocked, making it a big mess out there."
"Please find a safe place and video call me," she pleaded with concern.
"Of course, babe. I promise to do that," I reassured her.
"Love you, please stay safe," she said, her voice filled with affection and concern.
"Yeah..." I replied, ending the call with a heavy sigh. From habit, I made to run my fingers over my face and stopped, feeling the weight of the constant lies. It troubled me that I couldn't bring myself to tell Eliza that I loved her back. I knew deep down that if I truly loved her, I shouldn't be keeping her in the dark and deceiving her, no matter the reasons.
I have bought a house in Townhill and Eliza had practically moved in with me, and our pretend engagement had evolved into something genuine. However, I refrained from discussing any plans for a wedding, as I couldn't bear to bind her to the dangerous life I led. It would be cruel to keep her by my side, knowing the dangers that surrounded me.
Eliza was an incredible person, possessing all the qualities I could ever want in a partner, but she deserved a life free from lies and danger. As much as it pained me, I knew I would have to let her go eventually for her own sake.