I freeze. Suck in air. I don't make a sound. I don't have the fucking luxury. I just clamp my hand shut and swear a thousand times inside my head.
Fucking hell. Blood drips. I wipe it. Keep searching.
Oh.
Metal. The box. I grab it. Both arms. Tight.
Now I hear footsteps. Stairs.
Oh God. I don't even think. I spin and run to the balcony door. "Come on, fucking open." I slip outside.
Close the door behind me. I'm breathing like I ran for miles. The box is still in my arms.
I'm bleeding. I'm scared out of my fucking mind. But I got it. I'm outside. I don't know what I'm doing. I'm shaking so bad I can't feel my legs. The box is heavy. My hand is bleeding.
Shit. Shit. Where do I go? Where the fuck do I go?
They're coming. They're inside. They're going to check here. They're gonna fucking find him, they're gonna find me.
I spin around, eyes darting everywhere. There's nowhere. There's nothing.
…There. Corner. All the rugs. Rolled up like fucking towers. I rush over. Practically fall. Stumble. My foot slips. My knee hits concrete.
I bite my lip to stop from crying out. Get in. Get the fuck in. Now. I shove one rug. Doesn't move. Shove again.
"Move, fuck, MOVE—" I wedge myself behind them. Box in my lap. Arms around it. Pressed to my chest.
I pull one rug toward me, grab a chunk of it and yank it over my head, over my shoulders. I bury myself in it. Squeeze my knees up. I try to stop breathing so loud.
My hand's burning. It's wet. Blood's still coming out. "Shit, shit, shit," I whisper. I can't cry.
If I cry I'll choke.
If I choke I'll get caught.
If I get caught, he's done. He's going to jail because of me. Because I was too fucking slow. Please don't come out here. Please don't see me. Please don't open that fucking door.
Please.
I press my forehead to my knees. The box is cold against my stomach. I'm going to pass out. Don't pass out. Stay still. Shut the fuck up. Please.
Gio I'm sorry. I'm trying. I swear to god I'm trying.
Footsteps. Boots. Someone's out here. Someone's fucking out here. The balcony door creaks open.
"Clear so far." A woman's voice. Too close to me and the box. My heart almost explodes out of my chest. I clamp a hand over my mouth. I'm shaking so hard the rugs around me are probably moving. I try to stop it. I press my knees together. Dig my elbow into my stomach. Anything. She steps closer.
She's right fucking there. And I'm sitting here. Holding a box that could end Gio's life. Thatwillend his life. If she sees me. If she finds me. That's it. It's over.
I can't breathe. I literally can't breathe. There's too much air and none at all. She shifts something. I don't see what. Just hear it.
Metal.
Something falls. Rolls. It hits me. Right in the shoulder.
God. I almost scream. Almost. I press my hand harder over my mouth and bite my own palm.
Don't scream. Don't make a fucking sound.
