We kept on following the tracker in Zoey's car as she drove for hours until she stopped. We were thirty minutes' drive away from her, and Luca was driving as fast as he could. We finally spotted her car parked on a narrow road, which meant we had to get out of the car and walk because the car couldn't pass there.
I took out my gun and put the silencer on it, and the rest of my men did the same. I didn't want to alert her about our presence when we shot down the men she had guarding the place.
We followed the narrow part, going deep into the forest, until we came to an abandoned house, just like the last one. Luca and I took down the men in the front, while my men moved around the house to secure the premises. We broke into the place, Luca and I not holding back, killing every fucking person standing in our way. I was finally able to act on my anger.
A man came from behind us, but I was faster. I raised my gun, shooting him right on his head, in between his eyes. We continue to make our way down the corridor, knocking down every door just to find my baby.
Luca tapped me, pointing to the door at the extreme end of the corridor. I stopped to listen but could only hear whispers. We made our way towards it, guns raised.
"I guess it's here we finally part ways. I would love to say it was nice knowing you, but you and I both know that would just be lying through our teeth. You don't need to resent me too much; at least I'm sending you off to finally meet your parents again, just like you wanted," I heard Zoey say when we got closer to the door.
I slowly opened the door and saw her take out a gun from her bag, aiming it at Mani. My jaw clenched when I saw my baby close her eyes in fear. I pointed my gun at Zoey, pissed
"Good bye, Mani," she said. She took off the safety of the gun, but before she could shoot, I aimed at her hand that had the gun and fired.
The gun fell from her hand, and she looked surprised to see us. Her mouth parted to say something, but before she could speak, Samantha hit her hard on the head with the back of her gun, knocking her out cold.
My angel slowly peeled open her eyes, moving from an unconscious Zoey to me. A smile lit up her face, then her eyes closed, sending her into unconsciousness.
My princess, my beautiful amore...
I ran towards her, losing the ropes that were tied around her hands and legs. I looked at the blood on her head, legs, and arms. It was all my fault; the guilt was eating me up as I looked at her. Holding her against my hand, my hands shook. I gently carried her, cradling the one person I cherish and love most in this world in my arms, sobbing into her skin and mumbling an apology.
It felt like if I let her go, she would disappear, and I don't know if I could ever handle a life without her near me. I made my way outside the abandoned house, moving down the narrow path to where the car was parked. Luca opened the back door for me so that I could lay her down in the car seat. I got in as well, lifting her up onto my lap. I cradled her, not willing to let her go. The dried blood on her head matted her hair. I used my hand to move the strands of her hair to the back of her ear.
"Call Detective Fernandez to your house," I said to Samantha, and she nodded, bringing out her phone to comply with my request.
The car started moving, with Luca driving us back to the mansion. I looked down at Mani in my arms, mumbling incoherent apologies. making a promise to her—never to let her go and to always protect her. promising her never to push her away again.
I will do my best to protect her and stand by her no matter what.