Shit.
“Zia, get here now!” I hear Faiz yell, and my worry only grows. All this time, I have been waiting for them to show their hand, and they finally are, but why did it have to be now of all times?
That gets me moving. Hanging up, I glance at the ring. Nikko will kill me if I leave him here, which means he needs to end this now so we can leave. I ignore Julies’s shouts and make my way through the cheering, bloodthirsty fans to the ring, drawing Nikko’s gaze.
“End him. We have somewhere to be,” I murmur, and he nods.Turning away, I wink at two girls who are staring at me. They are familiar, but I have bigger fish to fry as I stalk toward the exit. I need to get to Yuki, but a noise has me stopping in my tracks.
My eyes widen at the first shot, and I know I’m too late.
Yuki was right. Something is happening, but it isn’t there.
It’s here.
FORTY-NINE
Gunshots fill the air, loud and unmistakable, and everything else is forgotten.
My only thought is Zia. He stands tall in the midst of the screaming crowd, everyone ducking and scrambling to escape as the shots grow louder.
“Nikko, get out!” Lucas barks as he heads past me. “I’ll get the exits open for the crowd.”
“Thanks.” I nod as I glance at my dad to see Charlie tugging him away. The sight fills me with relief, and I spit out my mouth guard and pull off my gloves as I clear the ropes and jump into the crowd. I use my height and size against them, pushing through their panicked masses until I can catch my boy’s hand and turn him to me.
“We need to go!” I hiss.
He nods, sliding his hand into his jacket, and I shake my head, but he pulls out a gun. “They are here for me,” he discloses. “I’ll draw them outside. Get everyone out, okay? We can’t have anyone injured.”
“Baby,” I hiss, but he leans in and kisses me quickly.
“Do as you’re told. Please.” He fades into the crowd, even as I yell his name. Turning, I see two girls struggling in the mob, so I wade deeper and hold out my hand.
“Come with me.” The pink-haired one eyes me before giving me her hand, keeping the other girl’s, and I barge my way through the crowd, around the ring, and to the back door where my dad waits.
“Nikko, let’s go!” he yells. “Something is wrong.”
“Here.” I push the girls at him. “Get everyone out.”
He catches my hand. “Son, let’s go!”
“I can’t leave Zia here alone.” I yank my hand free. “I can’t, Dad.”
“He can take care of himself!” Charlie yells, but my dad nods, his expression blank.
“Go,” he orders before he pulls me close. “You both get your asses back alive.”
“Yes, sir,” I respond before I rush through the swarming crowd, grabbing someone’s discarded hoodie on the way and pulling it on. I’m still barefoot, but I ignore it as I burst through the main doors and into chaos.
Zia’s guys are spread out, with three SUVs blocking the venue as they stand behind them, firing over the top. Zia is with them, crouched behind the hood, putting himself in danger. I can’t see who shot first, but there are other cars with open doors blocking the exit to the parking lot. Clearly there are more than a few attackers, and whoever it is knew Zia would be here.
They wanted to kill him and make a statement.
Is this what he’s been worried about?
Is this why he’s increased his guards?
Despite it all and being weaponless, I focus on my man, uncaring about anything else.
The gravel cuts my feet, but I ignore it as I head his way, ducking when I reach the car. He crouches down to reload, his eyes widening when he sees me. “Nikko, what the fuck are you doing?”
