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“Two.” Guns were raised across all three rows.
Zsanine’s brothers stayed back. Their collective hearts drummed a steady fast beat in anticipation of what was to come. Most of all, they were hopeful their sister was okay.
“One.”
The group moved like one unit, quickly stepping to the front of the house as the B Team penetrated the doors both front and back. The assault was so covert and quick, no one inside had a chance to react. The men that entered from the back immediately restrained the two Di’Carlo women. Their shrills and shrieks were the only sounds that permeated the space.
“Let me the fuck go,” Bella demanded as she was held down by two guards. Even though Bianca had more of an expectation of what was coming, she had no idea the level of impact and force they would face. She didn’t protest. All she could do was cry. The one guard who had been patrolling the first floor barely mounted opposition. He was overrun quickly and had no opportunity to warn the guard upstairs.
Zsanine’s ears piqued, hearing more movement than she had before. She wasn’t sure what to make of it as she was still blindfolded, held in a dark room. It only took seconds for the B Team to lock down the first floor. Zander stayed in formation as long as he could but broke when he saw the staircase to his right. He followed Isaac up the stairs, taking them two at a time, guns raised. They were ready for a fight.
“Don’t shoot,” the guard on the second floor yelled, his hands already in a position of surrender. Zander was in his face before he could exhale.
“Where is she?” Zander demanded.
“Two doors down,” the guard offered without resistance. He’d been kind to Zsanine before. He wanted to see her get out of this situation without being hurt. Members of the B team kept the guard in place while Isaac and Zander moved down the hallway. It was hard for Isaac to keep Zander behind him, but he had to. If there was any opposition in the room where Zsanine was being held, he wanted to be the first to enter to put down the threat.
Zander was close on his heels as they quietly moved to the door the guard designated.
Zsanine could feel her pulse start to race, hearing but not being able to see. She remained quiet, though, uncertainty breeding a new level of fear in her. This time, when the door opened, it didn’t open quietly. There was a thud as the door swung back against the wall. She heard more shuffling, and her heart skipped a beat. His heart pounded hard in his chest, too. He had imagined nearly the worst outcome. Zander was prayerful that all his imaginings were wrong.
“Zsanine.”
Even under her mask, Zsanine’s brow creased. That voice sounded so familiar, but it couldn’t be. She had to be imaging or wishing. And then, just as she dismissed it as a dream, she felt a presence in front of her, a gentle presence.
“It’s me, babe. Don’t be afraid.”
“Zander?” It was the sweetest sound Zander had heard in far too long.
“Yes, my love. It’s me.”
As he spoke, Zander dropped to his knees in front of her and slowly lifted the mask from Zsanine’s face.
“You came,” was all she could manage before tears spilled from her lids.
“Nothing could stop me from finding you, babe,” Zander leaned in, kissing her on the forehead, then on each cheek before finding her mouth, kissing her sweetly.
The smell of him began to settle her. Zander instructed Isaac to remove Zsanine’s restraints, and he told her that’s what was happening, so nothing startled her. No sooner than Zsanine hands were free did she throw them around Zander’s neck.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she uttered against his flesh. Zander had waited a long time to wrap his arms around Zsanine’s waist and pull her close. She fell into him, and he held her as she lifted from the chair and into his lap.
“Me? I’m the one relieved.”
“They said they were going to kill you. They knew you would come for me,” she cried. “I’m just so grateful you’re okay.”
“Shhh,” he hummed against her. “I’m okay.” Zander noticed the slight dark discoloration under Zsanine’s eye. “They hurt you.” Anger rose in him faster than anyone could have imagined.
“None of that matters now,” Zsanine breathed, so grateful that he had found her.
“It matters to me.”
