Page 78 of Shâhzâdeh

I ran to the door and tried to rush him inside as Shoaib and Quentin protected him while his focus was directly on me. His face was still hard, and I could see his eyes flickering over me through the glass and still checking the front of the building. And my God he looked like a sexy warrior. His black suit and stark white shirt were crisp. His buttons gleamed in the light like they were black diamonds peeking through as his tie swung back and forth. I couldn’t take it any longer and reached the front of the door just as he was getting ready to knock on it. I smiled at him through the tears that had fallen and I had to admit I hadn’t felt right until I saw him. I got the lock flipped to open the door when the first bullet rang out.

“Malake-am ra mohafezat kon(Protect my queen!)!”

I snatched the door open at the same moment Xerxes screamed out. I was hoping they would come inside, but Xerxes turned with his hand on the door, pulling it closed to keep me behind the glass. He whipped out the biggest gun I’d ever seen as he kept one hand on the door before glaring at me as if to dare me to open it. Shoaib and Quentin were already returning fire and once Xerxes released the door, he pulled out another weapon with his now free hand and began pointing toward the others. The noise of it was far louder than anything I’d ever heard. Dolby surround sound didn’t have shit on the real thing. The gun that must’ve been used to end that girl’s life in the Consortium building had to be a pew-pew. These were boom booms and I wondered how long before this place was swarming with police.

A bullet hit the glass at the top of the door and I almost bit a hole in my fucking lip to keep from screaming. I watched them ducking bullets like they were the size of dodge balls instead of the size of well, bullets. A few more hit the glass and I had to put my hand over my mouth because I didn’t want to distract this man as he was in a whole shoot out. I should’ve run and hid in my damn office or behind a desk but I had to be as close to him as possible. Even amid bullets flying, Xerxes was my safety. I knew he would be worried if he looked around and didn’t see me so I stay put right near the door. A bullet struck it causing the door to partially open and Xerxes must’ve had eyes in the back of his head because he reached to close it again and let out a grunt. As a bullet narrowly missed him. He raised his hand to angrily fire back but then I saw his arm jerk. I knew it wasn’t from recoil because he’d been handling both weapons like the pro he was. It took me a few seconds to realize that he’d been shot. Without hesitation, I snatched the door open, pulling him inside with my body over his.

“Quentin! Shoaib!”

“Leave one!” Quentin yelled out that command before doing some signal in the air.

They moved in practiced precision while shots still rang out. I’d been so focused on Xerxes I didn’t see that the ring of cars had gotten tighter around one area and people were hanging out from all sides firing in that direction.

I used to love the tree line in front of my building but now I saw how they could be a huge hinderance to security. I’d never thought about things like this before but it was obvious I would have to in the future.

Xerxes was trying to push me behind him and return to the fight, but I gripped him tight, bringing his eyes off the battle and down to me.

His adrenaline and his anger were driving his responses instead of his common sense. He had people who were handling everything. He didn’t need to be there, he just wanted to be. “Ziba, I am fine, let us finish—”

The gunfire stopped and Xerxes looked through the door annoyed. Quentin and Shoaib lowered their weapons and came in through the door, taking stock of the condition of the glass before turning to Xerxes.

“He got shot.” Xerxes grunted as I ratted him out to his friends. Their eyes went to him and I could sense his on me and his aggravation at me telling them.

“It’s a graze. I vant to see who did zhis!” He started to make a move to the door but I stood in front of him again.

“We need to move. The 911 channels have been blocked so no police are going to respond to the area, but someone could get nosy and want to see what’s going on.” Quentin was giving a report like he was speaking to a general. I had questions, but I was just glad he was telling Xerxes he needed to get a move on.

“Zhe cameras—”

“Anyting zhat wasn’t ours has been cut and disabled so zhey haven’t seen anyzing. Clean up is already vorking to get up every shell casing, body and trace of us being here. Ve need to get him in, Ms. Vanya.” Sho stopped giving his report and turned to me like I held some type of authority. Blood had dripped onto the light tan Berber carpet of my office.

Xerxes turned to Shoaib as he shook his head. “I’m not going in—”

Quentin stepped in and it was clear he was gonna be the tiebreaker. “Rules are rules, Xerx. You already sent out the call and they’ll expect your ass to be there. Your brothers are not going to sit around while you act hardheaded. If nothing else, they’ll be trying to have my Black ass and Sho’s tan one trussed up in some shit that Priest built. No fucking thank you.”

Xerxes chuckled slightly but he grinned as he did. He put his gun away and I noticed the blood on the floor that had leaked from his wound. “That’s how you’re coming? Blackmail?”

“I’m trying to appeal to your love for us.” Quentin was making a joke but looked serious as hell.

“Xerxes, please. You’re bleeding. I’m not even worried about this floor but you’re hurt. Can we at least get someone to look at it? Blame me. I don’t care but I gotta hear from someone else that you’re going to be fine before I lose it.”

His eyes came to mine and I tried to keep the tears back but it didn’t work. It was my fault he’d gotten hurt. I knew he understood the risks, but that didn’t ease the guilt I felt. Xerxes caught it and his face immediately softened. “Fine.”

Quentin was tucking his phone back in his pocket when he caught our attention. “We got the clear. Let’s go.”

“Is one of zhem still breazing?” He was still conducting business as usual and I didn’t understand how he could ignore the pain the way he was.

Shoaib grinned slowly and I felt like his hesitation was because of me. “For now.”

“Good.” He turned to me and it wasn’t until his hand was on my arm did I realize I was shaking. “If it vill make you feel better—”

“It will. The nearest hospital—”

“Is one ve’re not going to. Ve have a facility in our building in Uptown. Come, ziba, let me stop your vorrying about zhis scratch.” He motioned with disgust at his injured arm. “I should awake them from the dead and kill them again for ruining zhis suit.” He looked down angrily at the cuff of his suit and shirt that were now soaked with his blood.

“You were shot and you’re worried about your suit?”

He turned to me and caressed my cheek with the pad of his thumb. “Like you, I take pride in my clothing and my appearance. I’m equally offended by zhe graze as I am zhis hole in my blazer. But come, ziba. Shoaib is playing nursemaid and is already angry. Let us not make it vorse by delaying zhis trip any further.”

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