Chapter 93: Zachery
The low buzz of the phone by the bed woke Zach. It was the house's central alarm that was programmed to his cell phone. It meant the perimeter of their home had been breached. Zach opened the nightstand drawer and removed his Glock .45. Even in the dark room his hands knew the gun; he tested its weight and relished its familiarity.
Quickly he slipped on his slacks, placed his hand over Angel's mouth, and nudged her. He could see the whites of her eyes in the dark. "Follow me to the safe room. Stay close."
She knew the drill and didn't reach for clothing, just followed a foot behind him with her hand on his hip so both his arms were free. They took the back stairs and he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Marguerite waiting at the bottom.
The safe room lay hidden behind a solid wood bookcase and had been built by Monroe and Stephens. It wasn't in the original floor plans and only five people knew of its existence. The outer shell and door were bulletproof, and inside were clothes, supplies, and a charged cell phone that would let them notify the police if needed.
"Only come out if Stephens or I tell you it's safe. If one of us isn't back here in thirty minutes, notify the police and stay put until they arrive."
He kissed Angel briefly on the lips then released her and waited until the door closed and the lock engaged. He pressed the button that freed the bookcase and moved it back into place.
Zach knew something was seriously wrong because he hadn't heard from Stephens. The older man was their first line of defense and he took his job seriously. Zach also knew if Stephens was alive and unable to contact him, Stephens would stay out of the house so he wouldn't accidently get shot by Zach. The sound of breaking glass drew Zach to the front rooms. The noise came from the studio. Zach heard another sound from the opposite direction and immediately knew there was more than one intruder. He turned at a noise behind him and ducked just in time to keep a fist from smashing his face. The heavy blow glanced off his shoulder, causing him to drop the gun. Zach landed a palm strike to the side of his attacker's head. The man gave a low grunt, but didn't go down. Zach couldn't avoid the kick directly to his bad knee, which immediately crumpled beneath him. He managed to grab the man, taking him to the floor.
A gun exploded. Zach expected to feel the impact, but didn't. He rolled, keeping his attacker in front of him and lurched up and away. He caught the man in a chokehold and dragged him back. Zach held on, hoping his assailant would black out. He also braced for a bullet that could pass through both their bodies.
A low groan, followed by a thud, had Zach searching the darkness for the other threat. The man he held gave a last desperate kick and Zach's grip loosened. Twisting, the man wrapped both his hands around Zach's throat.
Zach's hand made contact with his gun and he managed to lift it and fire into the head of his assailant. The body above him became dead weight, falling onto Zach. He didn't wait to see what happened, and rolled again, coming to his good knee and pointing his gun in the direction of the next threat.
The shadow of a man stood in front of him, but the outline was familiar, the voice even more so.
"Zachery."
Monroe stood still, but even in shock, Zach looked around for more threats.
Monroe, reading his mind, spoke again, "Stephens has the other one. There were three total, but they're dead now."
"What?" It was all Zach could think to say. His adrenaline was too amped up to allow completely coherent thought.
"Lower the gun Zach." Monroe waited as Zach's arm slowly sank and then spoke again. "Are the women in the safe room?"
"Yes." He felt Monroe's warm palm against his cheek and, for just a moment, relished the feeling. "Am I dreaming?" It was the only explanation.
"No, Zachery," Monroe said with a sigh as he moved his hand away.
"Then why the fuck did you do this?" Zach's question was also a plea. This had to be a dream, but he desperately needed it to be real.
For several moments there was no reply, but then a soft, "I'm sorry," came from Monroe.
"Sorry?" Fury replaced disbelief.
"We can't discuss this now. Can you walk with that knee?"
Zach put the gun in the waist of his pants and used a table to stand. The low, steady throb would turn into full-blown pain within a few hours. His anger carried him toward Monroe, who was lifting the legs of one of the men and dragging him across the tiled floor. Resisting the urge to plant his fist in Monroe's face, Zach managed to limp to the front door, draw his gun, and open the door slightly. He was relieved to see Stephens.
The older man helped Monroe, while Zach stood by and watched the two of them get the bodies outside.
Monroe looked at Stephens. "Bring the Range Rover around. We'll load the bodies, then I'll leave you both to clean up the foyer before bringing the women out."
Zach couldn't have heard him right. "You're fucking leaving?"
"My assignment is not finished, Zachery."
Black spots of fury clouded Zach's vision. "Yes, your fucking assignment is finished. Now it's time for your family-the people who thought you dead this past month, you son of a bitch."
Monroe put his hand on Zach's shoulder, but Zach jerked away.
"Keeping my family safe is my job. Angel can't know I'm alive until this is complete. If something happens to me, and it still could, she doesn't need to go through this twice."
"Fuck you. She didn't need to go through it at all."
Monroe's mouth tightened and later Zach would realize how on edge the man was to actually show his feelings. But right now, Zach wanted something more. And Monroe leaving with no explanation didn't work.
"How long will you be gone, and if you die, who will tell us this time?" Pure belligerence poured out with the question.
Monroe gave him his usual blank stare. "Two weeks. If you haven't heard from me by then, it's over and I'm not coming home."
Something broke inside Zach and more than losing Monroe the first time, Zach knew he couldn't live through the "what ifs" again.
The large SUV pulled around and Stephens got out and assisted Monroe with the bodies. When the men finished, Zach stood by, watching Monroe walk away again. He didn't look back as his hand went to the driver's door handle. Zach stumbled slightly, but used the car to keep him upright as he followed. He didn't pay attention to where Stephens stood or if he could see or hear them.
"Nathanial." Zach placed his hand solidly on Monroe's back and waited until he turned. Zach moved in closer, grasped Monroe's shoulder with one hooked arm and grabbed the back of his hair with the other. His mouth slammed into Monroe's in a desperately savage kiss using his lips, tongue, and teeth. Several moments later, he pulled marginally away and spoke against Monroe's lips, "It's not just Angel who can't go through losing you again, you bastard."
Zach could have laughed at the stunned look on Nathanial Monroe's face. The god of rope and control looked shaken to his core. It didn't surprise Zach at all when he recovered quickly.
"You are probably minutes away from Angel calling the police. It would not be wise for them to stop me from leaving with three bodies in the car."
Zach stepped back and then watched Monroe get in the vehicle and drive off. He turned toward the front door and noticed Stephens standing there. "Did you know?"
"No, sir, I was as stunned as you."
"I might kill him for this."
"I'll get in line behind you in case you do not succeed."
Zach smiled and limped up the front steps. "My knee is going to fucking hurt."
"Go to the kitchen, sir, and I'll bring the women to you so Marguerite can tend your leg."
"I'm too tired to argue."
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