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The look in his eyes was cold and as hard as steel, and his broad shoulders were stiff.
I knew something was wrong.
Chapter 17 - Nikolai
“Niko?” Giselle called my name gently and I turned around.
Her big brown eyes grew large at the sight of my clenched fists and nose flared, and I knew she sensed danger.
I was on the phone with Sergey and was furious to find out that the Italians had followed me to the mall. Somehow, despite our attempts to cover our tracks, they managed to pinpoint our location, and according to the information Sergey had received, they had been scouting the mall, looking for us.
My first instinct was to protect Giselle and our baby. I was going to get them out of there, unharmed.
I pulled out my phone and placed a call to rally my men at the entrance. The call was brief and to the point. They got the message loud and clear: we needed backup.
“Niko, talk to me,” she whimpered and looked over her shoulder. “what’s going on?”
Fuck!I hated seeing her so scared. I grabbed her hand and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Giovanni’s men are here, Giselle. But don’t worry. I promised to keep you safe, didn’t I?”
She nodded and held my hand tightly. Her eyes were glassy, and her breathing picked up. I knew she was only trying to put up a brave front.
“I think I spotted one of them,” she said hurriedly. “I mean, I-I wasn’t sure, at first. He could have been anyone. But he was watching me, and it was creepy.”
My blood boiled. If I got the fucker, I was going to rip him apart for so much as looking at my wife. I leaned forward and pressed a kiss on her forehead.
“It was probably one of them, but don’t you worry. We’re getting out of here, okay?” I held her close and kissed her hair, letting her scent linger for a while before I pulled away.
“I am going to get us out of here, Giselle. Trust me and follow my lead. Also, try to act normal. I know you’re scared, but they shouldn’t see that. If they know we’ve discovered them, they could become aggressive and attack.”
She nodded, and it broke my heart to see her so terrified. She sniffled and put on a brave smile. Then, we blended with the crowd, walked cautiously past the massage chair section, and hurried down the escalator, our steps brisk and coordinated.
I looked over my shoulders, but Giselle kept a straight face trying not to make it obvious. We got to the central floor, which had less people passing by, and I hurriedly scanned the area for a more subtle passage to the exit.
I found one.
“We’re going to go through there, to the exit,” I pointed at a connected pathway by some pillars. “Then, we’ll make a run for it to the car. Hopefully, before they figure out what’s happening, we’ll be long gone by then.”
“Okay,” she managed a small smile.
Right there and then, I wanted to kiss her, to reassure her that everything was going to be okay. But I knew the situation was dire, and every second counted.
Turning back to Mikhail, I ordered him, “Turn on the fire alarms. Make sure to keep those fuckers distracted.”
“The cars are in the parking lot, boss,” he said.
“Tell Danil to drive one to the emergency exit.”
Mikhail nodded, took a few bodyguards, and left. Soon, a piercing blaring sound filled the air. The other customers froze in their tracks, their expressions shifting from curiosity to alarm.
After a moment, panic intensified in the mall as the customers began to make a run for it, screaming and struggling towards the front exit.
Giselle tightened her grip on me, and I hauled her closer. We began walking with our heads slightly bowed, blending in with the chaotic crowd around us.
“Stanno scappando!”Someone shouted from the top floor.
Shit!
Before I could speak, deafening gunshots fired in our direction and more screams filled the air. The previously tranquil atmosphere shifted. The entire mall sprung into a frenzy. Fear spread among the crowd, and they started running and hiding. People reached for whatever they could to protect themselves.
