Choosing Jada [Book 2]

His Protection

"In the room, hide now," Alessio's voice rang into my head.

The next thing I knew, I could hear two men fighting, and the gunshot going off scared me out of my slow-moving shock as Matteo began to fuss at the muffled sound. Fuck! I quickly grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around me like a sling. I double-knotted it and placed one hand on his butt. He was as secure as I could manage. I didn't know what to do. I had to hide. I had to get out of sight. I quickly moved into the room and looked around. There wasn't a closet. Just a dresser and two beds. Nothing.

I couldn't fit us underneath. I had nowhere to hide. I knew nothing about this house or where I could go. They want to take my son. They want to kill him, I don't even know if they want to kill me, and I don't want to find out. I died last time and was able to be dragged back. My breath was heavy as I tried to think fast but I couldn't. I had to get out of here. The same pain in my leg caused me to stumble a bit. I was able to catch myself. Matteo was snuggled up to me and his face in my chest seemed to calm him down as he grabbed my shirt tightly. I almost smothered him, praying he wouldn't cry so hard. He had calmed down just enough now.

I had to get out of here. I needed to get away from everyone here. I looked out the window, and it was high. It was only the second floor, but it looked so high. Nothing but a straight shot to hard ground. I couldn't jump on my terrible leg and a baby wrapped around me. I moved fast and grabbed the diaper bag, knowing out the front door was the only way out of there. Downstairs, I could hear the slamming of a body as I opened the door quietly. I could hear clearly as shoes came up the staircase at the same time I wanted to go down. Another man found me as we made direct eye contact. He moved swiftly as I tried to close the door as fast as I could. I was unable to close the door before he pushed the door, and I fell back. My hands wrapped around Matteo instinctively, being the cushion for his fall.

I fell on my ass, hard. I looked up as the man came over and smacked me hard in my face. I fell back, the sting of my cheek keeping me moving, but I was boxed in by him. I looked up as he stood over me. I did the only thing I knew would work, I kicked the man in the balls. He kneeled over with a groan. I stood up, kicked him again, and then pushed him over. I ran out the door, swiping the bag that fell out of my hands in the tussle. I had to move quickly out of here. I could hear the exacerbated grunt behind me, and I hauled ass quickly as I could. My leg was killing me. The pain was traveling up my back, but I couldn't stop. I couldn't have my legs give out as I ran down the stairs. I took a quick glance behind me, feeling someone too close to me, but I couldn't see anything really, so I kept moving.

A gun went off as I went down the second half of the stairs, and the slam of the body against the wall again went off. I looked to my left first, seeing Alessio holding a gun, his shirt soaked in blood, and his face scrunched in pain. I glance back one last time, watching to see the man from behind slump over. I couldn't be here anymore. I had to get out of here. Anxiety flooded more through my veins, terrified what my son as hearing! I looked passed Alessio to the back door to the porch. I had to get out of this hell hole. I jogged past him, holding the only things I had for my son then past the dining table to the back door. I made it through the door only for another shot to go off causing me to scream out. Matteo jumped in my sling and screamed out, but I held him tight. Froze, terrified to check if my son got shot.

He was screaming bloody murder as I felt his bag slip out of my hand. I squeezed both hands around Matteo. I began to feel his body. Then, I felt my body being pulled back into the house as I took a huge gasp of breath I had been holding in for too long. I was pulled into a corner as another shot went off.

"Idiot," Alessio said.

My eyes looked to him, relieved it was only him and not a stranger. He pulled me into his arms, as Matteo cried out. I cuddled him to me, hoping my arms would help ease him. He was so little to be living a life like this. I tried to rock him a bit to ease his distress, but I doubted that would do anything. I was petrified to move anymore. Everything I was doing was still somehow making it worse. I wanted to protect him. And despite my stupidity Alessio was helping us through this whole thing. I felt a kiss on my forehead. I looked up as my eyes watched Alessio stand up uneasily and faced the opposite way to us, keeping us cornered.

Suddenly, a man's boot came through the door. I couldn't see anything past Alessio but I closed my eyes anyways. I didn't know what was going to happen to us next. I cuddled my son closely, my last moment with my beautiful boy. This couldn't be the end for someone for small, his life had not even started yet. Another shot rang out and I shook. I couldn't stop myself from opening my eyes. Alessio couldn't die yet. More shots went off behind us, coming across muffled.

"Son!" I heard a familiar older mans voice call out through the background shots. 

It was the same voice I heard last night, Alessio's grandfather. Alessio turned toward the door before looking at me with a half smile. His shirt was soaked in blood.

"Jada?"

His shoulders slumped as the sound of feet loudly came through. He scanned me up and down as his face relaxed.

"I will..  always protect you.. I will.. I..n-" He started to say but wasn't able to finished.

He began to stumble. His eyes rolled back and he fell backwards passing out. No one was able to catch him so he hit the floor with a thump. I couldn't believe what I had seen, I had never seen Alessio pass out, he had never been taken down. I watched as men began to surround him first and then me. The screams of my son rang louder than they could talk. I backed into the corner deeper and swatted their hands away. I kept Matteo close to me. Being here was a mistake. Asking Alessio was a mistake. Alessio helping us, saving us is a HUGE mistake.

"Move!" Cateno said. 

 The men made space as he came over to me. I looked over his furious face. He scared me. I held Matteo rocking him, as he quieted down, but still cried in my arms. I couldn't back myself deeper into the corner at this point. The only thing keeping me up was this wall. My back was killing me. My leg was going numb and I wasn't sure if I was in so much pain I couldn't feel my leg or I lost feeling.

"Jada, let my men help you. Now!"

He didn't stick around as he went over to the direction of his grandson. His voice was loud, firm with this unchecked rage that his voice cracker ever so slightly. He scared me, the old man didn't have his cane anymore either walking with confidence.

One of the men slowly approached me, taking my free arm and gently wrapping it around his shoulder. He stayed hunched over as I leaned onto him while holding Matteo. I used my left leg only to make my way along. My back was sore as we walked along. I used this strange man as a pair of crutches to help me walk while I kept my son as safe as I could with one arm and sling. I hobbled along as we went through the dining room, through the front door, and down a short path into an all-black SUV. You couldn't see through the windows at all. Another man hustled in front of us and opened the door before helping me into the car. I tried not to use my sore right leg, but even getting into the car had me wincing. I quickly sat down and pulled Matteo out of the sling I made him. All I could think to do was hold him fully. I wrapped my arms around him and slumped back into the seat. The door had already closed and I could hear two people enter the vehicle. The car started up and we drove off. The slow vibration of the car and the moment of peace was enough for me to just fall asleep.

A/N- Life has been busy! I am so late. June 8th was the 1 year anniversary of Beautiful in Jada! Ahhh! Well Happy 1 year to that book and over 13k reads! Choosing Jada is at almost 700 read! hooray! I will be working harder to release a new chapter weekly! Thank you for every read and comment on both these books. It truly makes me happy. I am happy to just help entertain you even if its just for a couple of minutes! Thank you, lots of love

- Evie