FOREVER MINE

C H A P T E R 29

ANGELA

Tightening my hold on Elijah's hand, I desperately try to find a way to slow my racing heartbeat. All of us are making our way down the hallway, through all the smoke and debris.

Everything that's happened leading up until now is a blurry mess in my head, my body is exhausted and my heart feels like it's going to explode every time Elijah looks at me.

Dante and Enzo are right behind us as we finally come to the end of the hallway. There's a door but it's barely hanging on by its hinges because of the explosion.

"I want men outside and downstairs to check that they are still locked up down there!" Nikolai's voice booms from somewhere near by. "I want all of there bodies, dead or alive, I don't care!"

Elijah slows our pace as we make a left, away from his voice, and into an empty room. He turns to Enzo, pointing toward the window, "I want you outside with backup, get a few men in without getting caught." He looks over at Dante, "You take Angela-"

"No." I immediately cut him off, my glare directed at him. He looks over at me. We hold each other's gazes, his eyes narrowing but I don't relent and take a step closer. If he thinks he's doing this without me, I think I'll just about scream.

A few seconds pass and he sighs, jaw clenching, "Fine." He looks back at Dante, "We find a way to lead them away from Enzo and the others. They'll probably try to get Nikolai out of here, but I made sure they didn't have any cars to get away." He smirks.

"How?" Dante frowns before glaring at Elijah too. "When did you even plan all of this?"He says a little annoyed. "And why didn't you involve me in any of it?! Do you think I'm that useless that you didn't even trust me enough to get shit done." He grits out.

Loud footsteps thump from upstairs and somewhere outside this room. We all tense.

"I'll explain everything when we get out of here, just . . . trust me, okay?" Elijah gives him an intense stare. "I do not think you're useless. You don't know how much you've helped with this plan without even realizing it."

Dante takes a deep breath before giving a hesitant nod and turning towards me.

"You're coming with me." He looks over at Elijah again, "You do what you need to do and we'll create the diversion."

Elijah looks over at me and I give him a reassuring nod. "Okay, we all meet on the roof of the house, there will be a helicopter in about 30 minutes max." He releases a deep breath, looking at all of us, "So please, make sure you're all there in time."

My heart starts to beat faster again, everything slowly starting to set into my bones. "What happens if we're not there in time?" I ask, worry leaking from my voice.

Elijah gives me a hard stare, and my heart finally sinks at his next words.

"The last bomb goes off and this time everything will burn to the ground."

•••••••

Elijah leaves the room first, knocking on the door to signal that it's clear. Enzo wastes no time and is out of the window with ease. Luckily there isn't much security on the outside because of all the mess on the inside.

We can still hear shouts and hurried footsteps but since this place is so massive and the unplanned explosion, I'm almost certain everyone is preoccupied with different tasks.

Dante and I slip out of the room and into the hallway, Elijah already gone. My chest tightens as horrible thoughts starts to consume my mind.

What if we don't make it in time?

What if something happens to him?

What if I don't get a chance to say goodbye?

What if-

Dante grabs a hold of my shoulders, making me look up at him, "Focus. I need you focused or all those doubts floating through your head might just come true." He says softly.

I close my eyes before taking a deep breath. I nod, looking back at him again, "You're right."

He lets out a quiet scoffs, "I always am."

I roll my eyes at him, suppressing my smile before turning and heading down the hallway. Dante catches up to me, pulling me behind him as he tries to lead me but I bump my shoulder against his and walk beside him.

"If this is going to work, you're not treating me like a damsel in distress. We work together." I say sternly and he gives me a hard nod.

"Good, so what distraction do you have in mi-" My words are cut off when we come to the end of the hallway, leading into a small corridor at the back of the mansion.

It's quiet, except when we make out the sound of two people talking in hushed tones coming from the right. Dante and I plaster our backs against the wall as there voices near.

"They must have already escaped." A deep voice grumbles.

"I doubt that." The other voice responds, "Do you really think Elijah would run away from this fight. Nikolai brought this on himself, I'm glad that stupid bomb went off."

Dante and I share a look. Seems like Nikolai has some disloyal men working for him. Can't say I'm surprised though.

I silently hope they walk past this hallway and straight towards the other one but they don't.

As soon as they round the corner, their eyes clashing with ours, we strike.

Dante immediately grabs the bigger looking man by the head and swiftly brings his head down as he brings his knee to his face. I hear a loud crack and grunt before the man grabs a hold of his now broken nose, blood gushing out of it as strings of curse words leaves his mouth.

I get ready to strike as well but the other shorter looking man just stands there stunned, looking wide-eyed at the both of us.

When his eyes lock on mine a sort of familiarity washes over me.

"Angela?"

•••••••••

A little hint on who the two guys are is from the first book, chapter 8 ;)