Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70370 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Did you get anything else?”
“Yes. I flew the drone inside, avoiding the cameras. I got a good view of the door that leads to her room. It’s rigged, but I think you can disarm it. I also turned the camera and swept the room so you could see what you’re dealing with. I’ll send it all to your laptop.”
Julian spoke. “Yuri and his family were moved a short while ago. So, we can go with that plan, unless you’ve changed your mind.”
Damien looked at me. “How do you want to play this, Egan?”
I rubbed my chin, my mind racing. I studied the pictures of the warehouse again then made a decision. I needed Sofia safe. I needed to end Ivan. In that order. A plan formed in my head. Dangerous. Possibly deadly. Ivan thought he had the upper hand, but he was wrong. He was working with a skeleton crew with little experience. The gaps in their planning would benefit us at the moment. Once Sofia was safe, I would deal with the fallout.
“Forget that plan. We know where she is. We go now. Get Sofia and make sure she is safe. Find Ivan. This ends tonight.”
“How?” Damien asked. “What is the plan?”
“We’re going to do what we did to get Raven out. Loop the feed, and I’ll dismantle the explosives they have keeping her trapped. You’ll take her away, make her safe. I’ll unscramble the loop, so Ivan sees the place blow.”
“And then?”
“Alex’s tracker is active. I know where he is. I’m going there, and I will end them all.”
“Not without backup.”
“No, I go in alone.”
“Not happening.”
“I need Sofia safe. That is the most important thing.”
Damien shook his head. “Getting you out safe is equally as important. My cousin needs you.”
“I will not endanger any of you. This is my past catching up with me.”
Marcus stepped forward. “Damien and I will back you up. Matteo and Julian can take Sofia to a safe place and guard her. Get her medical attention if needed. We will help you end Ivan, and we will all walk out of there.” He met my eyes steadily. “That is how we work, Egan. As a team. We have one another’s backs so we all walk away.”
I began to protest, but Damien stood. “Marcus is right. You have laid your life on the line for each of us. We are returning the favor. Once you dismantle whatever is holding Sofia captive, we will get her out of there and move to step two—finishing Ivan.”
I nodded, knowing I was outnumbered and realizing they were right. Together, we could do this.
“Let’s go.”
The warehouse sat deserted and dark. There was a slight drizzle coming down as one by one we slipped through the broken window. Matteo patrolled the outside, Damien in the van overseeing all the technical equipment we needed. Marcus and Julian followed me to the staircase, and we used one another as ladders, climbing up to the camera and attaching the equipment I needed to supply Damien with the feed. We waited patiently until his voice echoed in my ear.
“Go. I tapped into the feed in Sofia’s location as well. Both are on a five-minute loop. I’ll keep feeding it into the system. You’re invisible.”
“All is quiet out here,” Matteo added.
We headed upstairs, our feet silent on the cement. Using the heat imaging, we found the room Sofia was in, and I studied the explosives and wires Alex had set up. His rudimentary style was obvious, but I was worried about the bomb that sat in front of Sofia and the wires that ran under the door and around the room. I needed to see what was in there, and I needed Sofia to help me. I was terrified his inexperience, combined with his overinflated ego, could lead to an unstable design.
I crouched down, getting as close to the door as I dared.
“Sofia,” I called softly. “Iubirea mea, it’s me. I’m here.”
SOFIA
I was so cold, the shivers racking my body constant. I was terrified to move, not knowing what might set off the box in front of me. Or the explosives around the room. I stayed in one place, my head down, trying not to cry. Thinking about Damien. Egan. My life. Wondering if today was the last one I would have. If I would die in this room.
The light that filtered in under the door slowly faded, the blackness of the night swallowing it. As the darkness descended, so did my hope. Fear set in. I could hear the scurrying of animals in the walls.
What if they somehow set off the explosives? What if they startled me and I somehow activated something?
The longer I sat in the darkness, the more my fear soaked into my chest. Fear became terror.
I began to talk to myself. Whispering words of comfort. I thought about Egan. His warmth and smile. The way he surrounded me with his love—even when I hadn’t returned it.