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Her pale milky skin is covered in cuts and bruises, with both dried and fresh blood visible. There’s a cut above her eye that’s oozing down over her cheek, but the blood is being diluted as it mixes with her tears.

Her eyes are red and sore, like she’s been crying for a while, and her right eye looks like it’s starting to close thanks to excess swelling. She also has cuts and blood all over her arms, chest, and stomach.

With each wound I see, my vision grows hazy as a red mist descends, rage overwhelming me as I think of Gregg laying a finger on my girl. I’ve never felt such an all-consuming need to murder someone before, and I know it’s going to take all of my self-control not to kill Gregg today.

“What is it?” Marcus asks, when he sees me looking in the window.

I take a step back, my voice cracking as I say, “Indie.”

Miles rushes to the window, letting out some very colourful swear words when he sees the state Indie is in. “Motherfucking cuntwaffle. I’m going to cut his cock off and shove it up his arse, before ramming it down his bastard throat.”

Marcus pulls out his phone, and after pressing the screen a few times, he opens a picture of the farmhouse blueprints. He points at the room where Indie is being held, and we discuss the best way to get to her.

As we’ve not been able to see in some rooms, and we’ve not located Gregg yet, there’s no way of knowing where he is. So we have to be ready to confront him at any point, no matter what plan we come up with.

Eventually, we agree on the best route to take, and after we’ve all checked our weapons, making sure they’re ready, we move towards the entrance closest to Indie.

My heart is pounding and I can barely hold my gun properly thanks to the sweat on my palms, but there’s also an element of relief that we’re finally doing something. We have her in our sights, and she’s very much alive. All we have to do is keep her that way and get her out of here.

Marcus stands on one side of the closed doorway, Miles opposite him, with me behind Miles. Marcus stares at us as he raises his hand. “You ready?” he whispers.

We both nod as Miles says, “Ready.”

Marcus lifts three fingers, dropping one with each number as he counts down. As the final finger drops, and he says “One”, Miles kicks down the door. The wooden frame splinters as it crashes open, and we waste no time rushing inside.

There’s no doubt Gregg will have heard the noise, so our element of surprise is gone, but we knew that would be the case. Instead, we’re going for brute force.

With our guns drawn, we follow the path we’ve all memorised from the blueprints, heading straight for the room where Indie is.

We make it into the room together, and I’m not even remotely surprised to find Gregg standing beside Indie. When I see he has a gun to her temple and a knife to her throat, I pause, ice rushing through my veins as my fear spikes.

“Stop or I’ll kill her,” Gregg shouts, even though the three of us are already frozen to the spot.

“Drop your weapons or we’ll shoot,” Marcus says, sounding almost bored.

I look over to find him wearing his cool, disinterested expression, and I wonder, probably for the millionth time, how he’s able to switch off his emotions so expertly.

I’m sure my anger and fear are written on my face for all to see, and when Gregg’s gaze lands on me, his lips twist into a smug smirk. “I don’t think so. How about you drop your weapons, or I’ll kill her?”

“Don’t,” I say frantically, lowering my gun just a little.

Indie has a gag in her mouth, but she’s shaking her head from side to side, her sobs hitting me like a punch to the gut. The fear in her beautiful emerald eyes has me spiralling.

Gregg actually laughs when he sees me lowering my weapon, and I hear Marcus growl in frustration beside me. Gregg’s sneer gets under my skin as taunts me.

“Oh, it looks like my little slut has been opening her legs. Her tight pussy has obviously made you lose all good sense. Aren’t you supposed to be one of the most feared leaders in Blackthorn? Yet you’re lowering your weapon for a dirty whore.”

Each insult he throws at Indie makes my blood boil, as my anger sizzles away underneath the surface. I’m seconds from losing my shit when…

BANG!

A loud gunshot rips through the room, and the next thing I know, both Miles and Marcus are rushing towards Gregg, tackling him to the floor. I don’t even think, I run over to Indie and pull the gag out of her mouth, running my gaze over her to make sure she’s not injured.

“Are you okay? Did you get shot?” I ask her frantically.

She shakes her head, a sob ripping through her. “I didn’t get shot.”

I look over at the bodies on the floor, and find that Miles and Marcus have grabbed Gregg. He’s bleeding profusely from a hole in his thigh, while Marcus holds his legs and Miles his arms. Gregg’s head rolls to the side, and it’s clear they’ve knocked him out.