Chapter 113 Chapter One Hundred and Thirteen
Chapter 113 Chapter One Hundred and Thirteen
Diana
“Shit!” Kendrick cursed immediately as the lights went off. “They must have followed us here…”
Everything else didn’t matter at this point. I wanted my son. Matteo put on the torch of his phone, and I rushed toward the door.
A hand held me back. It turned out to be Alessia.
“I have to get him, please…” I tried removing my hand from hers.
“I will come with you,” Alessia said.
My eyes dropped to her chest. The bandage beneath her hospital gown was already stained with blood where the wound had reopened.
“You are injured…” I reminded her.
“I will heal.” Her golden eyes met mine, and there was no hesitation in them.
“You can’t.” I shook my head. “They can’t see you. They should all think you’re dead.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do!” My voice cracked. “I don’t want you to get hurt again because of me again… so please, just allow me…”
Matteo stepped between us, blocking the doorway. His expression was hard.
“She’s right, Alessia. Sit this one out…”
Alessia’s eyes narrowed. As she wanted to speak—
“Everyone stay calm…” Kendrick said. She turned to Nurse Reyes. “What was strange about them?”
All eyes shifted to her. She swallowed.
“They were showing pictures of Diana.”
“What?” Alessia’s grip on my hand tightened.
“They offered money… It’s only a matter of time before the other nurses give in…”
My heart skipped. If they said a word, they would go to my son. I felt my knees go weak.
“Thankfully, they are not here for you…” Matteo said to Alessia, disinterested in the fact that I was the target.
I pulled my hand from Alessia’s.
“I need to go get Thomas!” My voice came out louder than I intended.
“Diana—”
“He is out there vulnerable. I don’t know what’s happening to him. I can’t just stand here while—”
I stopped.
What if they had already found him and taken him? No, I refused to finish the thought.
“I just want my son,” I whispered.
A tear slipped down my cheek, then another.
“He is my whole world… I can’t…”
My mind began producing images that hadn’t happened yet. Thomas being taken by unknown men, screaming for me.
Alessia stepped closer, her eyes soft. Her thumb brushed over my knuckles.
“We’ll get him.”
I looked at her. God, I wanted to believe her. But promises couldn’t protect Thomas. Only action could. All I wanted was my son in my arms. Tears slipped out of my eyes.
Kendrick’s phone vibrated. She glanced at the screen, answered, and listened for several seconds. Her face was expressionless.
She ended the call and immediately pulled a small handgun from beneath her jacket.
“Is there a secret exit from the hospital?” Kendrick asked Nurse Reyes.
She nodded sharply.
“There is. It leads through the old service corridor.”
“How long is it?”
“Five minutes if we don’t run into anyone.”
Kendrick nodded.
“Natasha is waiting outside in a red van.” She looked directly at me. “Diana, I’ll get Thomas.”
I stepped forward immediately.
“I will come with you.”
“No.”
“Kendrick—” I tried to protest.
“We can’t risk them taking you.”
“But—”
“I promise I’ll bring him out in one piece.”
I bit my lip. Every instinct screamed at me to go.
Thomas was my son. My everything.
But I knew Kendrick was right.
If I walked into that ward and those people recognized me, Thomas wouldn’t be their only target anymore. I looked at Alessia.
She stood quietly by my side like quiet armor. Her chest was bleeding. Her face was already pale.
I took shaky breaths.
“I trust you, Kendrick.”
The words felt strange leaving my mouth, but I meant them. Kendrick gave a small nod.
\~~~~~~~~~
Alessia
I have never felt this fucking useless before.
I was always in control. Whatever threatened me was destroyed. Not to talk of when someone touched what belonged to me, I made them regret having hands.
But now?
Diana needed me, and there was nothing I could do. I looked at her standing near the door, tears shining in her eyes as she begged to go after Thomas. And I couldn’t even promise to bring him back myself.
My chest tightened.
“I trust you, Kendrick.”
The words shouldn’t have hurt, but they did.
My eyes remained on Diana as Kendrick nodded.
That was meant for me. I wanted to be the person she called when she was afraid. Someone she could trust to protect her and Thomas. Instead, when her world was collapsing, she looked at Kendrick.
I clenched my jaw.
It was irrational of me, considering the situation. But the jealousy still stayed. There were voices in my head whispering selfish things to me, but when I looked at the terror written all over her face, I couldn’t do shit.
I looked down at our joined hands. She was holding me like I was her anchor.
Maybe that should have been enough.
\~~~~~~~~~
Diana
Matteo, who had been silently working on his phone, looked up.
“My security team in Horrixo is fifteen minutes away.”
Kendrick shook her head.
“We don’t have fifteen minutes.”
“I know.” He slipped his phone into his pocket.
“They could be a Plan B.”
A loud crash echoed somewhere beyond the door. Everyone froze. Reyes’ face went pale. Kendrick stepped forward, raising the gun up. Matteo grabbed a pair of scissors from the dressing tray.
I held Alessia’s hand. I could feel the slight tremor in her fingers—whether from pain or from holding herself back, I couldn’t tell.
The sounds stopped. What followed was the sound of hurried footsteps. My heart hammered against my ribs.
“I will go out first…” Kendrick said.
Alessia nodded at her.
“Stay safe,” I said.
She turned the doorknob just in time,