51. An Attempt (Bonus 8)

Anna was clutching Antonio's hand as he lead her into a storage room after passing through a few tunnels. It was quite cold in there. Antonio barricaded the door with as many objects he could see.

Anna asked "What are we going to do?"

Antonio said "We wait."

Anna sat down on a pile of fur "Where is this place?"

Antonio turned and walked to her. He sat opposite her "Its probably where he dumps anything he wants to store. Anything. Including dead bodies. So I wouldn't go looking around if I were you."

Anna said "We dont have a chance of escape. Do we?"

Antonio said "I cant be sure whats the best way. We just wait. The place is heavily guarded. Once he wakes up he will be calling more troops. I need to get word out that we are here. I couldnt see any phones that worked. He has cut off the communication lines. But he must have one for himself somewhere."

Anna said "There was nothing in his office that said its a phone."

Antonio said "He has alarms. But that just calls security. We need a phone to get to someone out there to come get us..."

Anna said "Do you know where we are?"

Antonio said "Yes. I do. But just getting word to your husband or Francesco that we are abducted by your ex is enough. They will find him even if he melts into the ground."

Anna breathed "They will kill him..."

Antonio said "They should. I would be very surprised if Jackson lives on... Anna... Can you be honest with me? Why do I get the vibe that you would want him to live?"

Anna said "I dont want anyone to die for me..."

Antonio shook his head "He has threatened to kill your husband. He has abducted you and brought you here. He has threatened to make you his wife or so you tell me. Yet you dont want him to die. He cant live after pulling a stunt like this..."

Anna said "You made mistakes and you live..."

Antonio said "You are right. I should be dead. I am only alive because Francesco doesnt want his eldest son to mourn me since he looks upto me. Since my crime was against Vincenzo and he wants me to live, I live... I wish they killed me to be honest... Now here I am stuck here... I cant get out. If I do step out, someone will spot me and Francesco said my wife dies if I come back. What kind of living is this, being locked away by Jackson?"

Anna said "You are blood... Jackson is not blood... So thats why Jackson cant live... I think he is hard to kill either way..."

Antonio said "But you want him to live either way. Isn't that right? You can tell me to mind my own business but we are in the middle of a crisis here Anna. You need to be honest with me. Do you have feelings for him?"

Anna said "Why do you ask me this?"

Antonio said "Because it matters. I need to know..."

Anna said "I dont wish to talk about how I feel. I am a married woman... Isn't that proof enough for you that Jackson is not part of my life?"

Antonio said "Anna. You dont understand... I need to know how you feel about him... It is because I am ... going to kill him..."

Anna gasped "What?"

Antonio said "I need to kill him but not while you are in this building. If you are caught and I kill Jackson there is no guarantee they wont hurt you. Yes, they take orders from Tristan. But if anyone kills their boss they have clear orders on punishing the killer and the accomplice. You cant be here. I dont feel comfortable with you being here when I kill him."

Anna said "You cant do that."

Antonio said "I wont get another chance. I know I wont. Once the alarms go off, most guards will go to where Jackson is some locations in the building will be clear at least for some length of time. I will use the gaps to get you out of the building. Once you get out, just run. Go to a shop maybe. Make a call. You will be picked up. I will stay behind. I will find him and kill him. But I want him out of this zone before I do it."

Anna said "Antonio. They will kill you if you do it."

Antonio said "They will torture me too. If I am caught. I wont get caught. Give me some credit."

Anna shook her head "I cant let you do this. I will escape. I will make a call. Then both of us can be rescued. You just have to wait."

Antonio said "I am a soldier Anna. I am not like other people. Even if I am rescued I will be back on the mission to kill Jackson. Anna you cant go soft now. I will tell you to leave and will run when I tell you. Do we have a deal?"

Suddenly alarms went off.

Antonio said "Its happening. Now its our chance." He stood up. Walked to the other entrance that he hadn't barricaded. He looked through its window that showed what was happening downstairs. The route was surrounded by glass. He said "Anna come. Its our chance. All clear."

Anna walked to Antonio and was lead through the route. He whispered "If anyone busts us, stand behind me and be quiet." He walked slowly as he looked around. He entered a room and said "We will go through the fire exit. Lets run." They ran down stairs and reached a door. Antonio sighed "Damn it. The door has a code. Lets go up. This route is out of question. We have to go through the roof."

Anna ran with Antonio up the stairs and shortly after reached the roof. There was beautiful pent house there. It looked luxurious.

Antonio said "Why have you stopped?" He then looked at the wall with Anna's pictures on it and her children's pictures. He said "The man has no shame. He is obsessed with you. It ends now. Lets go."

Anna followed him to further through the pent house and as Antonio had said above the pent house on the roof there was a helicopter there. There were two security guards there but Antonio being Antonio launched himself at them and knocked them down before they could call for help.

Antonio pointed to the helicopter "Come on Anna. Get in there. You can ride this helicopter to the closest safe place. This is to your freedom. What are you waiting for. Get in. You are better than me actually in manoeuvring helicopters. Your father made sure you got pilot licences for anything that could fly that has come handy."

Anna said "What about you? come with me."

Antonio shook his head "No. That was not the deal. I am going to stay and I am going to kill him. Just leave."

Just then there were noises. Antonio turned sharply "We have company. Get out of here. I will keep them busy. Just go." He then pulled the guns from the hands of those security guards and walked to the entrance and started shooting as he went inside.

Antonio couldnt hear the helicopter starting. He said to himself "Damn it Anna. Just get the hell out." He was running out of bullets and they were gaining on him. As guards came up he easily beat them down taking their guns buying himself time. He then heard the engine which was a relief.

Just when he ran out of the second round of bullets he ran back onto the roof. He had to fight some weapons to fight them and check what Anna was doing.

When he got on the roof he saw Anna in the helicopter starting the engine

Anna had tears in her eyes "She shouted. Come in. I dont want to do it. I cant leave you here. We go together."

Antonio shook his head with wide eyes as he looked behind him and then back at her "Leave. Now. Please...." Just then a bullet hit him from the back. It made him kneel as he put his hand on the wound.

Anna screamed and turned off the engine walking to Antonio "No." Anna sobbed. "I am sorry. I am so sorry."

Antonio looked up "Why? Why didnt you leave? You still love him dont you?"

Jackson's voice boomed from behind "Anna step away from him."

Anna looked up."He needs a doctor. No one touches him but a doctor. He is losing blood."

Jackson said "I said step away."

Anna kissed Antonio's forehead "Please hang in there. I am sorry."

Antonio asked "Do you love him?"

Anna felt a cloth going around her mouth and smelt chloroform. She then blacked out but not before she breathed "Get him a doctor."

Jackson's men restrained Antonio and he groaned in pain. "No. Let her go." He watched helplessly as Jackson held Anna and picked her up in his arms bridal style carrying her with care.

Jackson instructed to them "Take Antonio to the doctor but keep him restrained."

Antonio looked at Jackson "I will kill you..."

Jackson said "If you wanted me dead you would have killed me. You are too afraid to kill me. You know my death is not the end. I have made sure it wont be. I should kill you but you are worth more alive. After they treat you and if you live, I will deal with you... " He then carried Anna away to the pent house as Antonio was taken to the lift to be taken down.

Antonio was shouting "Let her go."

Jackson said "You saw she didnt leave. She does love me."

Jackson put Anna on a bed and looked at her. He closed the door to make sure no one disturbed them. He sat at the edge of the bed and started stroking her hair. She was beautiful. He recalled the look in her eyes when she had the chance for freedom. She hadn't taken it. She did love him. She had to have at least some feelings for him even if it was not love. He found it hard to resist kissing her. He badly wanted to kiss her and this was his chance when she was unconscious. But a string was pulling him back. She was married. He leaned down and inhaled her scent on her neck. She was irresistible but had another man's name on her. She had his ring on her finger still. He couldn't wait to make her a widow or better yet, convince Anna to divorce her husband and then she was all his.