Chapter 18

The giant man with the mohawk pulls the trigger again. Ryder yells my name, pushing me back into the door with all his might! It causes us both to fall into the suite. Ryder lands on me, causing my head to hit the floor.

Hard!

I groan in pain as I grab the back of my head. A massive headache erupts. I can't even get my bearings.

Looking towards Ryder, everything looks hazy, but I can see his silhouette. His back is against the door as he starts to fire both guns down the hallway.

I then see him holster one of his guns and pulls something from his pocket, all while bullets are still coming at him. It must've been his phone because he puts it to his ear.

"I've been made! Get the plane ready! Tell Charlie to be in position! Special package coming down! Fire escape! Straight to the airport!"

My vision starts to clear as I rub the back of my head. Ryder hangs up the phone as the sounds of more bullets flying by erupts. Some hit the door frame causing Ryder to duck. He starts to shoot into the hallway again.

"Samantha, baby, get up! I need you to get my black suitcase! Please, get up!" He shouts, never wavering from shooting.

I know I have to get up, but I am in so much pain! I slowly turn to my side and get on my knees. Ryder's going to run out of bullets soon, and the other guy will have a chance to come in and kill us.

I stand, still holding my head, and rush to the table. I am still a little woozy, but I can hear the bullets and Ryder grunting loudly.

The sound of bullets hitting the wooden door frame and marble floors is the scariest sound I had ever heard!

I grab the case and crawl back to Ryder.

"Listen to me!" He yells. "You have to shoot at him while I get my weapons out! Don't stick your head out!" A bullet hits our door, making Ryder duck.

"Do you understand me?! Pull the trigger three times! Then pause! Do it again three times, then pause! Okay?!

I begin to shake. I have never been in a gunfight. What if I am shot?! I sit there frozen.

Ryder ducks, and I scream, covering my ears when more bullets come flying at him. He fires at the shooter again.

"I'm going to hand you another gun! This one will run out of bullets soon! Keep shooting!" He yells.

I am completely terrified! I rip my wig off.

While handing me the gun, another set of bullets hit the frame of the door. I hesitantly crawl as Ryder, and I switch places, my back against the door. I inhale, duck, and scream as more bullets flew by. Ryder grabs the suitcase and opens it.

I look down at my hands. They are trembling! I have to calm myself down. Ryder trusts me to protect us. I can't let him down. My life literally depends on it!

Inhaling, I stick my hand out into the hallway and begin to shoot. I just kept shooting!

Another set of bullets hits the door frame causing a chunk of wood to fall off.

I scream when the wood falls onto my shoulder.

Have I been shot?!

Looking to where the wood hit me, I notice I am fine! I breathe a sigh of relief as my heart continues to race.

"Sam, keep shooting!" Ryder yells. I keep firing down the hallway. He takes out four different guns from his big, metal suitcase and places them on the floor.

Ryder then gets up and runs to the table. He grabs his laptop and paperwork, which is scattered all over the table. He comes towards me and throws everything into the metal suitcase—even my wig and sunglasses.

"Sam, where's the lipstick?!" He yells, looking around. I go into my pocket and toss it at him as I begin to shoot again.

Ryder then throws the lipstick in, grabbing my bag from today's outing, and takes the cell phone out. The bag goes into the suitcase, and he places the cell phone onto the floor.

He shuts the suitcase and hits a few buttons at the top of it. He then strides quickly into the bathroom, slides the suitcase in, and shuts it.

There's a small explosion!

I look towards the sound. Is there a bomb in the metal case?!

It must've been to get rid of any evidence. Any evidence that we were here!

I am brought back to reality by a bullet hitting the door frame again. I scream and duck. The shooter with the mohawk continues shooting at me!

Is he ever going to run out of bullets?!

I pull the trigger but the gun clicks. I look at it. The gun is out of bullets! I begin to panic until Ryder hands me a second gun, and I start shooting again.

"Keep shooting but listen to me, okay?!" Ryder yells to me as more bullets start flying towards me. I duck and nod.

Another set of bullets hit the door frame. I scream and put my hand to my ear! That bullet hit right next to me, causing my hearing to go for a second. I looked over at Ryder, scared. Tears are sliding down my face.

This is terrifying! More tears pool in my eyes. I quickly wipe them away. Now isn't the time to be emotional. I have to listen to him if I expect to get out of this alive!

"When I say, I want you to run to that window! It's a fire exit!" He points to the hallway. "The window is three doors down! Make an immediate right! Then climb down! There's a car waiting! It'll take you straight to the airport."

What?! A hail of bullets interrupts my thought.

"And you!? I am not leaving you here by yourself!" I scream as I begin shooting again. I was beginning to find some courage. I slowly get up to my feet, continuing to shoot.

"I'll be right behind you, okay?! Keep the phone on you no matter what!" Ryder stands also.

Ryder grabs the gun from me, gives me the phone, and pushes me gently behind him. "All right! When I say!"

Ryder holds the gun with both hands. He takes a deep breath and waits for the man with the mohawk to finish shooting. All the while, I stand against the wall staring at him. I am still trying to catch my breath.

This is terrifying; I tell myself while looking up at the ceiling! Is this apart of his job description?! Why would any sane person put themselves in harm's way like this?! And why is this person trying to kill us?! Whatever happened to talk it out?!

I guess this whole situation isn't so far fetch. After all, I am standing alongside a man who was hired to kill me.

Without warning, Ryder suddenly runs into the hallway, hitting the wall and starts shooting. "Sam, go!!"

I waste no time! I turn right, out of the room, and head straight for the open window.

I climb all the way down while hearing a barrage of bullets. It is only four floors to the street.

Once I reach the street, I look up. No more gunfire and I don't see Ryder! I look around me nervously. I'm standing near the entrance to a dark alleyway.

Where is Ryder?! I look up, waiting for him to climb down. I turn, and a black sedan skids to a halt near me. The chauffeur from earlier yells for me to get in. I shake my head.

"Wait, where's Ryder?! We have to wait for him!"

More gunshots erupt above us and then the sound of glass breaking. I look up.

I still can't see him!

I don't notice the chauffeur jump out. He grabs me and throws me into the car. He then gets back in and slams his door shut.

"My apologies, but my instructions are to take you straight to the airport!" He takes off like a bat out of hell.

"Wait, we have to wait for him! Please, stop the car!!" I yell as I hit the window. I am so scared, more afraid for Ryder. What if he gets hurt?! Or worse?!

We get to the airport ten minutes later. I get out of the car with the chauffeur. He pulls out a gun and instructs me to get inside the jet.

I run inside.

The same flight attendant from earlier tells me to sit and buckle up just in case we take off unexpectedly. I sit and try to put my belt on, but my hands are trembling.

Where is Ryder?! I shouldn't have left him!

"We're taking off!" I hear the flight attendant yell.

"No, we can't! He's not here yet! Please! Five more minutes!" I yell as I try to stand.

"I'm sorry!" She bends down and straps me in. "These are Ryder's instructions. He will make it. But we have to leave now!"

She stands tall and walks toward the cockpit. It's the first time I get a perfect look at the Flight attendant's face.

She's pretty with hazel eyes. She's wearing a leather vest and skirt. A white button-up shirt and the tallest black heels. And she definitely looks like someone I shouldn't mess with.

"I'm closing the door now!" She walks to the exit and hits the button to close the door.

No, I tell myself looking out of the window. "Where are you, Ryder?"

Just then, I hear a commotion near the exit door. Then I hear a man's voice.

Ryder?!

"Where is she?!" He asks, out of breath.

I fight to take the seat belt off. I stand and stop in my tracks.

Ryder's in one piece, standing a couple of feet away from me. Beads of sweat cover his forehead, and he sighs in relief when he sees me.

I don't even notice, but tears are running down my face.

"Sorry I'm late. Got off on the wrong exit," he says, smiling.

I close my eyes and laugh.

This guy is really going to be the end of me!

Ryder walks up to me and grabs me, kissing me passionately. I never want to leave his side again! Our fight earlier meant nothing at this moment. He was here, with me now. Alive! I put my arms around his neck and stand on my toes.

"Don't ever ask me to leave you like that again," I say to him shaking my head. He sighs and then clears his throat. "I won't."

I wrap my hands around his back and relish this moment. We both could've been killed, but because of him, we are now safe.

Alive.

I kiss his neck and hug him tightly when I feel something wet. I hesitantly let him go and look at my hand.

Blood?

"Ryder," I whisper.

He looks at me and then at my hand.

Ryder blinks rapidly, confusion spreading all over his face. "Is that why the room is spinning?"

I do not notice we had taken off until the plane suddenly climbs at a steep angle. Ryder collapses onto me, making us both fall to the floor. He doesn't move.

"Ryder!!" I yell. "Miss!! Help me! Please! He's been shot!"

"Hold onto him! We have to wait till the plane levels out! I can't get up!" The Flight attendant shouts back, strapped to her seat.

"Baby, please hold on!" I keep tapping him in the face to get him to wake up. Tears are running down my cheeks as I sob uncontrollably.

This is my fault! I shouldn't have left him!

Minutes pass and we are still on the floor. I am holding onto the armrest as the jet continues upwards.

Ryder still isn't moving! If he dies in my arms I will never forgive myself! Why didn't I just stay with him?! We both could have taken the man with the mohawk!

"It'll take more than a bullet to kill me," he suddenly says with his eyes closed. Ryder's unusually pale.

I exhale loudly, thinking I am about to lose him. "No, but if you had died, l would have killed you myself! Are you okay?" I ask, hugging him.

He opens his eyes and smiles weakly, as I wipe my tears away.

"Let's go home," he whispers. "To New Jersey."