Chapter Thirty-Five

Zach

Zach walked inside the compound, together with Jackson and Ethan. The people in the safe room were released, and everyone who was not wounded or physically weak was helping clean up the mess made by the fight.

“Zach, you should go to the clinic and let someone take care of that wound of yours,” Ethan looked at him, worried.

“Later, not now. It’s not as bad as last time.”

“I know, but the faster they treat it, the faster it will heal. If your senses still aren’t working properly, your healing will take longer as well.”

Zach sighed and halted for a second to look at Ethan. “I will make sure it’s been taken care of, but right now I want to see if my destined is alright.”

“Alright then. I’ll come with you.”

As they were walking in the direction of the room that Irene had been given, Ethan stopped suddenly in his tracks. He signaled Zach to stop and be quiet.

Zach looked at him, confused—what was going on?

“I sense one of them.”

“What? How is that possible?” Zach frowned.

“Just a gut feeling. Let’s keep going.”

They quietly walked farther, Zach behind Ethan, who was showing him where to go.

The feeling was getting stronger, the closer they came to Irene’s room. Now Zach sensed it too.

They stopped at her door. Ethan looked at Zach. “Is one of them in Irene’s room?” he asked. “What do we do now?”

“Go in. Let’s see what’s happening in there.” As soon as Ethan opened the door a little, they could hear a woman crying.

Then a voice called out, “Stop right there! I’ll kill her if you even think about getting closer!”

When the door fully opened, Ethan gasped. Zach was furious.

Angelo.

Angelo stood behind Irene, one of his hands around her waist, the other pushing a knife into the skin of her neck. He smiled viciously.

“You know I’ve upheld my promise, Boss. I told you I would get to your little destined, and here I am.”

Zach took a step forward.

“Oh, I wouldn’t do that, Boss,” Angelo threatened. “Don’t come closer, I said!”

He pushed the knife a little further into Irene’s skin. Her skin broke under the pressure of the knife, and a little droplet of blood ran down her neck.

She winced. Tears streamed down her face. It was obvious that the girl was scared to death.

Zach couldn’t help but feel all the helplessness Irene was feeling at that moment. He had to get Irene out of here, out of this situation.

Zach could endure a lot of stress, a lot of pain, and a lot of emotional pressure, but he knew Irene couldn’t. The fact that she wasn’t used to the dangers of their world made her his weakest link.

Angelo had figured it out well, he had to admit. He put his hands in the air, a sign of surrender. “Wait, Angelo.”

Angelo looked at him, surprised when he saw Zach’s hands in the air. Ethan nudged him in the side. “Zach! What are you doing?”

“I need to get Irene out of here. She can’t handle this. She is already scared to death from the fight. She can’t handle being kidnapped, being tortured, or anything else.

“I am already losing her; I want to make sure she is safe.” Zach said so only Ethan could hear.

“But Zach, let me get the soldiers here. We have a chance.”

“No, Ethan, I have to do this. When this situation is over, you get Adrian to take over my position. Don’t ever give up my family to these bastards!

“But before anything, make sure Irene is safe. Don’t let her leave as long as Mr. Mercer and Angelo are still a threat.”

Ethan looked at his boss with a serious frown on his face, sadness appearing in his eyes. He realized he would do the same for his own destined.

“I’ll have your back, Zach. But why do I have the feeling this is the last time I am going to see you?

Zach took one last look at Ethan and then started walking forward. “Angelo, let me take her place,” he said.

Irene’s eyes grew wide with surprise and her crying got louder. “No, Zachary, no, you can’t do that,” she protested, her hands clutching the arm Angelo has put around her neck. She tried to pull it away, but he was too strong.

“Let me take her place.” He looked Angelo straight in the eyes, his hands still in the air. “Let her go and take me. You’ll be rid of me; I’ll be out of your way.”

“Don’t take one step closer!” Angelo shouted. He got stressed out because Zach was getting too close. Angelo moved Irene a little to the left of him, as Zach was approaching his right side.

He tried to keep Irene away from Zach. Behind him, Zach felt Ethan quietly moving closer, remaining a little to his right. Zach was about three feet away from Angelo and Irene.

Their training kicked in. They had simulated countless scenarios like this. They would pretend Zach was surrendering, but both get closer so they could have a chance at overpowering him.

“Angelo, take me, please. Let her go. She’s innocent. She has nothing to do with this whole situation. It’s not fair. She’s just a normal person. She’s not one of us. Angelo, let her go.”

Irene glared at him; she really thought he meant what he was saying. Zach had to try hard not to smile. In a different situation, he would’ve laughed so hard. Carefully, he moved closer to Angelo, inch by inch.

Behind him, he noticed Ethan did the same, moving farther to the right. Angelo was so focused on Zach, he didn’t even notice Ethan was almost beside Irene.

Zach continued to look Angelo in the eyes. “Angelo, decide. Do something. Take me and release her.”

“Stay there. Don’t come closer!”

“How would you get out of here?” Zach asked Angelo. “You’ll have to pass me, you know.”

“Stay!” Angelo was nervous and wasn’t thinking clearly anymore. His knife scraped against Irene’s neck, making it look fiery red where the knife scratched.

“Don’t you think I’m offering you a good deal?” Zach asked him.

They both knew they had to get that knife out of Angelo’s hand.

If Zach could stretch his arms, he could easily take it away, but he knew that any unexpected movement could make Angelo stab Irene so he couldn’t risk it.

“I don’t know.” Angelo smiled viciously and looked at Irene. “What do you think, honey? Do you think Zach is offering me something good?”

She looked Zach in the eyes. He nodded almost unnoticeably, but she still had seen it.

Irene tried to nod. “Yes,” she said quietly. “I think it is an exceptionally good deal, and you should take it. When you get ahold of Zach, no one would dare to even try to stop you.”

“Hmm…” Angelo’s smile grew wider. Then he looked back at Zach who’d moved a little closer when Angelo wasn’t looking. “Maybe I should consider it, then.”

Angelo suddenly pushed Irene forward but didn’t realize he was pushing her straight into Ethan’s arms. At the same time, Zach grabbed Angelo’s hand that held the knife and squeezed it hard.

“Aargh!” Angelo cried out in pain. He tried to pull his hand out of Zach’s grip but didn’t succeed. With his other hand, Zach grabbed the blade of the knife and pulled it out of Angelo’s hand, quickly throwing it to the side.

Angelo stumbled back in astonishment. This was not what he’d expected.

Zach drove Angelo into the corner. He heard stumbling behind him and then he recognized the voices of some of his soldiers. They came from both sides and threw Angelo violently on the ground.

Zach quickly stepped away. He knew his soldiers had the situation under control. Then he turned around and walked out of the room.

In the hallway, he walked straight over to Ethan. He patted him on his shoulder. “Well done, Ethan. Thank you for convincing me not to surrender immediately.”

“You’re welcome, Zach. I’d do anything to keep you and your destined safe, you know that.” Ethan looked at him, worried. “Are you alright?”

“I am,” Zach said. “Where is Irene? How is she?”

“I asked Joanna to pick her up and bring her to see Jordyn. She was terribly upset, scared…you name it. It’s been too much to handle for her.”

“I need to see her.” Zach stepped away in the direction of the stairs.

“Wait! Zach, I don’t think that is a good idea. I think you need to give her some time to process everything. She’s been through a lot today.”

Zach looked at Ethan with a deadly gaze. Then he remembered what he thought before. If he pushed her too hard right now, he’d only push her away.

There was already a very good chance that she wanted nothing more to do with him and the mob. Zach looked down at his feet. A great feeling of sadness and dejection overwhelmed him. “You’re right,” he said.

“I’m going to see if I can help with the cleanup and the wounded. Make myself useful, distract myself.” He looked at Ethan.

“Make sure that bastard is tied down with handcuffs. Do not let him out of your sight until he is secured in the dungeons.”

“Alright, I’m on it,” Ethan turned around and walked back into the room to assist the soldiers and escort Angelo to the dungeons.

Zach walked away down the hall, ran down the stairs, and then outside to help his family members anywhere he could.