Page 74 of Under Their Protection

Isaac spins to face the front entrance when sirens approach the building. He looks tense suddenly.

“I took everyone's phone. She is here. She called them,” He screams at Rowan.

“She left, Isaac. It’s over man,” Rowan says.

“Then she gets to be a widow,” Isaac says as he lifts the gun to Rowan’s head. Panic shoots through me and before Theo can grab me, I drop the gun at his feet and sling the office door open.

“Stop!” I scream. “Stop it. You have me, so let them go.” I walk toward him and away from the office so I don’t draw attention to Theo. He can’t come out here or Isaac will snap.

“They lied to me,” he states as he keeps the gun on Rowan.

“No, they didn’t. They told me to leave out of the back entrance and I didn’t. They thought I left, Isaac. You have me, let everyone else go.”

Isaac turns to face me and points the gun at me. “You cost your sister her spot on the transplant list.”

“I will sign and donate. Just let everyone go, Isaac. No one needs to get hurt,” I say calmly.

“You’re lying,” he screams.

“I’m not. If donating a kidney will keep everyone in this building alive, I will do it,” I say. “What do you need from me, Isaac? What can I do to get you to let everyone go?”

“They deserve better than you,” Isaac yells at me.

“I know they do. They deserve way better than me,” I say.

“You ruin everything,” he screams.

“Please, Isaac. Let them go,” I ask softly as I step closer.

“Fine,” Isaac says after a beat. “Everyone get the fuck out.”

Everyone stands and rushes to the door. I stand completely still but Max and Rowan aren’t leaving.

“Guys. Go, please,” I beg.

“We aren’t leaving you, Nika,” Max says softly.

Once the room is clear, besides the four of us, Isaac walks closer to me. “What can I do?” I ask.

“Your husband and boyfriend are stubborn,” Isaac states.

“I know.”

“You will ruin them like you ruined me,” he says.

“I know.”

“I loved you, Anika. You loved your job more,” he says.

“I believe you thought you did,” I say.

“I’m not leaving here alive,” he says.

“You will if you put the gun down,” I say. Isaac is looking past me at the office.

“Who is in the office?” he asks.

“No one is in the office,” I say calmly.

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