Chapter 29
Zachariah
I pushed the gas pedal, urging the car to go as fast as it possibly could. I didn’t give a fuck if a cop tried to stop me. My wife was in danger, more danger than either one of us probably thought or realized.
I had a good inkling of what Cody was up to and what he wanted.
I was aching for a good fight, as no one ever dared to go against me, with good reason. I was a man that didn’t take kindly to being tracked down. I have killed in cold blood. I’ve had enough of tip-toeing around, waiting.
I was tired of waiting out whoever was behind a number of things. Cody showing up was the last straw. I just hoped that my wife would stay hidden in the panic room until I had this issue taken care of.
Icy fear pumped through my veins at Avidya’s phone call. She had never once called me; I was always the one to take that first step. So, I knew something was wrong right away.
I was never happier than hearing that she followed my orders to get to that safe room. I wasn’t sure what I would do if she didn’t follow my orders because I knew Cody would hurt her if given the chance.
I had hoped that I never had to use that room, least of all now. The safe room was small but had enough food and water to last seven days if needed for whatever reason. I had yet to have a reason to use it and prayed that I never needed to. It had been there for quite some time before I got the house from my grandfather years ago. Thanks to my mother, it had been revamped to be livable and safe.
I talked to her the entire way home. I knew she was safe once she was hidden, but I couldn’t help my own fear of what could happen if I hung up. Instead, I quickly sent a coded text to a number of men, knowing I needed the backup, no matter if it was only Cody, or if he had more men around.
I didn’t ask Avidya to look out the window, knowing it would just frightening her more, or get her killed. It wasn’t something I was willing to risk. I’d walked in blind on a number of things, so this was only yet another thing that I would be doing.
All in a day’s work.
Pulling into my driveway, I saw two cars. One I knew to be Cody Ray’s blue Mercedes parked haphazardly. Another black car with tinted windows was parked behind him. I couldn’t be sure if that car belonged to one of my men or not. I couldn’t trust my men at the moment too well as it was.
I saw no one outside, which I expected. If Cody was able to break a window, then he was certainly inside already.
I briefly wondered how much damage he was able to do before now. That didn’t matter right now, though. What did matter was putting an end to this little escapade. I was done fucking around.
Taking out my Colt M1911 semi-automatic pistol, I flicked the safety off before opening the car door. Stepping out, I used both hands to hold my pistol, aiming it down towards the ground as I quickly took stock for anything out of the ordinary.
Seeing nothing, I made my way to the house while keeping my eyes on everything around me. I could never know if someone was going to jump out from behind a car and shoot at me. It had happened more times than I’d like to admit.
Foregoing the door, knowing that to get through it, I’d have to disable the alarm and possibly draw attention to myself, I went through the broken window that was just to the right of the door. The glass crunched underneath my shoes as I stepped into the living room area.
Scanning the room, I saw no one. The glass was scattered almost half way across the room. One of the chairs was knocked over, and there were what appeared to be knife marks cut into the material.
I paused, listening for any sound that was not normal. I listened for any sign of where Cody might possibly be, along with any men of his that tagged along.
Nothing. There was absolutely no other sound but my own breathing.
Where was he?
Moving one slow step at a time, trying to not make a sound as I moved my feet, I kept my ears and eyes peeled for any movement or sound. Cody had to be somewhere. He wouldn’t get far on foot, that was for sure.
Room by room, I cleared each little nook I could think of that he could possibly be hiding in. I kept my footsteps light and my gun at the ready with both hands. I was prepared for anything.
Rounding the kitchen to make my way upstairs, I saw Travis and Melio out back, no doubt sweeping the back yard for any men. As they saw me through the windows, we nodded at each other, a silent understanding that it was all clear from their end, and mine so far.
Deciding to check upstairs, I took each step as swiftly as I dared, still not making a sound. Midway up, I heard shuffling from one of the bedrooms before a door was closed, the soft click louder than it should be.
At that same moment, I heard Travis and Melio enter the house through the broken window, along with the sound of tires coming up the driveway at a fast speed. I knew whoever was arriving would be taken care of as I continued my way up to the second level of my home.
Step by step, I took a look in every room, bathroom, closet, and under the beds. I took my time, making sure that every place was looked at as my heart pounded in my chest. Fear and excitement ran in my blood as I stalked down this man.
“I know you’re in here,” I called, my voice low and dark with promises of pain for when I caught up with him. “You can hide, but you can’t run.”
Stepping into the last bedroom, I found the bathroom door closed.
