Page 95 of Before Broken Vows

We park a half mile out, just like we planned, down a tree-lined service road behind the hangars.

The men file out of the car. I get the keys to hand them to Stassi and then give her a gun.

"You remember how to use one of these?" I ask.

"Yes," she says simply.

"Good. Use it on anyone who tries to get in here. Also," I say and look up at her, "if shit goes sideways, cops come, or something happens - get the fuck out of here. Don't wait for me. Just get to safety."

"Okay. Should?—"

I kiss her deeply and with everything I've got. I know I'll see her again. I know I'll return with our son. But in the off chance something does happen, I want to die with her taste on my lips.

"I love you, Stassi. Stay here. Stay safe."

I turn to leave, and she grabs my hand.

"I love you too, Theo. Bring our baby back to me."

I smile.

"Give me 30 minutes," I say and shut the door.

I turn to the men. "Let's roll."

We move fast and low as we make our way toward the blue dot that beats to the rhythm of my son's heart.

We come to an industrial complex. Six massive rectangular buildings rise into the sky, all concrete and sheet metal.

Andrew shows me the tablet. "Looks like he's in that one," he says, pointing to the one farthest away.

I stare at it. The one that holds my son.

And the man who betrayed me.

"Remember, Milo's my kill," I say flatly.

They all nod in the understanding that comes with what I've said.

Pain.

Suffering.

A message.

We kill everyone else first.

"We don't know what we're dealing with, so proceed with caution. Kill everyone. No one lives. Understood?"

My men nod.

I turn to Andrew. "Good. Let's go."

Andrew looks at his crew. "Team One, take the east wall. Team Two, back entry. Move fast. Shoot faster."

We fan out, weapons drawn. No more talking. Just the deadly quiet of killers on a mission.

We round the front of the warehouse. The metal door is padlocked, rusted.