Page 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

I blinked awake, then immediately closed my eyes again as the bright light sent a piercing pain through my skull. Where was I?

I took a deep breath, then took stock.

My head was slightly foggy, and my limbs felt heavier than they should. When I opened my eyes again, the stark, white walls came into focus, and with them, the memories of the attack and the realization of my current situation rushed back in.

A noise caught my attention—the seamless door that had almost appeared sealed was suddenly opening.

My chest tightened, and I scurried backward, putting as much distance as I could between me and the door. I backed against the wall, and my heart raced as the door was fully opened, but the entrance remained empty.

Then, someone peeked around the corner and pulled back immediately.

Every muscle in my body tensed, and I clenched my fists .

This was it; whoever was coming for me, they were in for the fight of their lives.

I got up into a crouching position, waiting for someone to appear.

And then someone stepped into the entrance.

And I was ready to attack.

It took me a split second before I recognized Birdie’s face. I deflated like a perforated air mattress as relief washed over me, and I sank back onto the floor.

“Are you okay?” Birdie whispered, her eyes scanning the room. But she didn’t enter. Instead, she turned her back to me and surveyed the outside.

I nodded, finding my voice. “Yes, I’m okay. What’s happening?”

Birdie glanced over her shoulder nervously. “Come with me.”

I got up on wobbly knees and followed her outside.

When I stepped out of the white room, I blinked as my eyes took a while to adjust to the dimmer light outside. As I turned to look back, I froze in shock. The “room” I’d been held in wasn’t a room at all—it was a massive, egg-shaped pod.

The stark, white interior I’d been trapped in was actually the inside of this high-tech cocoon. Its outer surface was smooth and pearlescent, reflecting the sparse light in a way that made it seem almost alive.

I stumbled backward, almost afraid it would attack me. The thing looked completely out of place, in complete contrast compared to the surroundings .

We were in what looked like an abandoned construction site. Bare concrete pillars stretched upward, and half-finished walls created a maze-like structure around us. Plastic sheets fluttered in the breeze, and piles of building materials were scattered about.

The egg-pod stood out like a spaceship in a junkyard. Its sleek, futuristic design was completely at odds with the rough, unfinished nature of the building. I could see wires and tubes connected to its base, disappearing into the concrete floor.

“What the hell?” I whispered, unable to tear my eyes away from the pod. “Birdie, what is this place?”

Birdie grabbed my arm, urging me to move. “I don’t know, but we need to go. Now.”

I followed Birdie who led me along a corridor. I peeked through an opening, and there were more of these egg-pods on the other side of the construction site.

The contrast between the stark-white, cutting-edge technology of the pods and the raw, unfinished state of the building was jarring. It was as if someone had set up a top-secret lab in the middle of an inactive construction zone.

Birdie suddenly stopped. “Everyone’s leaving in a hurry, and I need to find the others.” She grabbed my arm. “Listen carefully—there’s a side entrance through there, down the hall, then go right twice, then left. There are metallic outdoor stairs. Go down, but make sure nobody sees you. Outside, there’s a hole in the fence about 50 yards to the right. Slip through it and keep running until you hit the tree line.”

My mind reeled, trying to process the information. “But what about you? And Isa and Mira and Milli? ”

“I’ll find them,” Birdie assured me, her voice firm. “You need to get out now while you have the chance. We’ll be right behind you.”

I hesitated, torn between escaping and wanting to help. But Birdie was already pushing me toward the door. “Go, Jemma. Now!”

With one last look at her determined face, I stepped out into the hallway, my heart pounding as I began my dash for freedom.

I followed Birdie’s instructions, but my pulse throbbed so loud in my ears that I had to stop multiple times and listen for any outside noise.

It was eerily quiet.

I hurried along another corridor, which seemed to stretch endlessly, and my anxiety surged.

Right, right, then left. I repeated the directions in my head like a mantra.

As I rounded another corner, I realized with a sinking feeling that I must’ve taken a wrong turn.

The way Birdie had described it, I’d gone too far already. I turned on my heel and hurried back the way I’d just come. Panic clawed at my throat, making breathing more difficult.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed from somewhere in front of me. I froze, but they grew louder with each passing second. Without thinking, I ducked into the nearest room, pressing my back against the wall and holding my breath.

The bare concrete space was empty save for a partially constructed staircase leading down.

Down .

I stared at it, my mind racing. Should I hide in here and hope whoever was coming would pass by? Or should I take my chances and try to escape?

According to Birdie’s instructions, I needed to go down anyway.

I took a deep breath, crossed the room as silently as I managed, then stepped onto the first concrete step with slightly jittery knees.

Holy shit.

I winced as the concrete creaked under my weight.

Concrete wasn’t supposed to creak, right? My heart pounded in my chest as I descended, each step feeling more fragile than the last.

The stairs did not look very stable. The bare concrete was rough and uneven, with exposed rebar jutting out at odd angles. Dust and small pieces of debris rained down with each careful step I took. The staircase spiraled downward into darkness as if suspended in the air. I leaned sideways and stared over the edge but couldn’t see the bottom from where I stood.

I pulled back when I got slightly dizzy, paused, and strained my ears for any sound.

Silence. The footsteps I’d heard earlier seemed to have faded. Did they walk by?

I took a deep breath and continued my descent. The air grew cooler and damper as I went deeper, and the smell of mold filled my nostrils.

It was getting pretty dark, but I was almost down at the bottom. Suddenly, my foot slipped on a loose piece of concrete, and the world tilted .

I flailed, desperately trying to grab onto something, anything, but my hands met only air.

Shit.

I was falling, tumbling down over the edge in a painful, dizzying blur.

I landed hard at the bottom. First with my body, then with my head. The impact knocked the wind out of me.

Ouch.

For a moment, I just lay there, stunned and aching all over. I looked up, then to the side. A hot flash of pain shot through my head, and I groaned. How could I’ve been so clumsy? After everything, to mess up like this.

I gritted my teeth against the throbbing pain and forced myself to move. I couldn’t stay here. Somebody might’ve heard my fall. I had to keep going. I needed to get out, to find the hole in the fence.

I got on all fours, and a sharp pain shot through my arm. I glanced down, but it was too dark to see. I got on my knees, then lifted my sleeve and probed at my skin. Warm and sticky. I’d probably scraped my skin when I fell.

Great. Just what I needed. I pushed the thought aside and ignored the pain. I couldn’t afford to worry about injuries now. I gritted my teeth and crawled away from the stairs and toward the only opening in the room—what I guessed was intended to be a window.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed from above.

My heart leaped into my throat. Someone was coming. Panic surged through me as I turned my head and frantically looked for somewhere to hide .

But my vision suddenly started to swim, and the edges grew fuzzy. No, no, no, Not now. I couldn’t pass out, not when I was so close to escaping. I spotted a dark corner that looked like a potential hiding spot just a few feet away. If I could just reach it…

I dragged myself forward, my movements growing sluggish. The footsteps were getting closer.

Just a little further…

As I stretched out my hand, darkness crept in at the edges of my vision. I fought against it, but it was no use. The last thing I felt was my cheek pressed against the cold concrete as consciousness slipped away.

I slowly drifted back to consciousness, enveloped in warmth and a feeling of safety. Strong arms cradled me, and a strong heartbeat pounded rapidly against my ear. My body ached, but the pain felt distant, overshadowed by the comfort and warmth of being held.

Someone was holding me.

I stiffened, forced my heavy eyelids open, and blinked against the diffuse light.

I was outside. Vince’s face swam into focus above me, his features tight with worry and relief, and I immediately relaxed.

I lifted my arm and cupped his cheek.

He jostled me as he came to a sudden halt. He looked down at me, and his usually guarded eyes were wide and vulnerable as he scanned my face. “Hey, Punk,” he said, his voice cracking .

I tried to smile, to tell him I was okay, but my lips felt numb and uncooperative.

Vince’s gaze darted over my body, his brow furrowing deeper with each injury he cataloged. “Where does it hurt?” he whispered, and the devastation in his eyes made my heart clench.

“I’m okay,” I managed to croak out, my voice barely above a whisper.

He narrowed his brows.

“Really, just a little dinged up.”

He stared at me for a couple of seconds, then clenched his jaw. A muscle ticked in his cheek as he fought for control. He didn’t believe me.

“You can let me down. I can walk on my own.” I actually wasn’t so sure about that, but I was willing to try if it meant he would worry a little less.

But my words seemed to have little effect. If anything, they made him squeeze me tighter against him as if he wanted to shield me from the world with his body alone.

“Not going to happen,” he growled, then cradled me tighter against his chest and began to move again, his steps quick but careful. Tension radiated from him in waves, and his body was coiled like a spring, ready to snap while he surveyed the area.

As we rounded a corner, Vince’s grip on me tightened even further. He held me as if I might disappear at any moment, his eyes constantly darting around, scanning for threats.

The intensity on his face was unlike anything I’d seen from him before. He was like a predator. An angry lion, ready to kill anyone who dared to stand in his way .

We reached a group of people, and I blinked twice as Hawk suddenly leaned over me and cupped my cheek. “Hey, Little One,” he said.

Tears welled up behind my eyelids as relief washed over me, momentarily dulling the ache in my body. He was alive. Thank God.

Milli and Birdie emerged from the shadows, joining our group. Birdie looked battered and bruised while Milli looked slightly disheveled but very much unharmed.

There was a commotion, then Max emerged like a Greek God and bear-hugged Milli with a “Thank fuck,” which expressed everything I was feeling, as well.

I felt such a surge of gratitude seeing them all safe and alive that it took me a moment to realize the slight shift in Vince.

I pulled my focus from Milli and Max and shifted my attention to Hawk who had Birdie cornered against one of the SUVs.

His eyes were locked onto Birdie, and his face transformed from relief to anger in an instant. “What the hell were you thinking?” he growled, his voice low and intense. “Going back in alone like that? We were five fucking minutes out. You could have gotten yourself killed!”

Vince took a step toward them, but I laid my hand on his chest. “Wait.”

He looked down at me and stopped.

I watched the exchange with interest. Birdie stood her ground, chin lifted defiantly. “I couldn’t wait. They were evacuating. It was our only chance.”

Hawk narrowed his brows. “You had a fucking order,” he growled, and despite his harsh words, there was an undercurrent of something else in his voice. Concern, maybe even fear. His eyes never left Birdie’s face, scanning her for injuries with an intensity that seemed more than professional.

Birdie’s posture softened slightly under his scrutiny. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice gentler now. “Thanks to you, they didn’t have time. We all made it out.”

As I observed their interaction, a thought struck me. The tension between them, the way they seemed hyperaware of each other’s presence, and at the same time completely oblivious to their surroundings?—

It reminded me of how Vince and I had been in the beginning. Could there be more between Hawk and Birdie than just a working relationship? And what about Fee?

“Vince?” I turned my head and met his gaze with my eyes.

“What?”

“How’s Fee doing?” I whispered, and my stomach tightened. What if she wasn’t okay? What if there had been some side effects or a relapse or something?

Vince’s face softened, and the tension inside my body lessened immediately. “She’s doing okay. They expect a full recovery, and she can leave the hospital in the next couple of days.”

I sighed and snuggled deeper into his arms. Finally, something was going right. And soon, we would all be home again, together.

Such a happy thought—that was until the rest of the team emerged from the building, their faces grim.

I held my breath, hoping to see Bella and Mira among them. But as they approached, my heart sank. They weren’t there .

“Building’s empty,” one of the men reported, his voice tight with frustration. “No sign of the other two women.”

A heavy silence fell over the group.

Vince’s body tensed around me, his arms tightening reflexively. “Fuck,” he growled, the single word filled with a mixture of anger, despair, and resignation.

Hawk’s head snapped toward us, and he narrowed his eyes. “Vince?” he demanded, his tone sharp.

Vince took a deep breath, and I could sense his internal struggle. “My father,” he said, his voice low and controlled despite the fury I could feel radiating from him. “I confronted him. He didn’t deny he was trying to kill me, but he didn’t know about the kidnapping. And then there’s Zotov.”

I felt a chill run down my spine at the mention of Zotov’s name. Vince’s grip on me tightened slightly as if he could sense my unease.

“Zotov showed up at the office,” he continued, a hint of self-loathing in his voice. “He…showed me a video feed of Jemma.”

“And?” Hawk said.

“He wanted a trade.”

“A trade?”

“Jemma, for my cooperation…and Isabella.”

Hawk’s eyebrows shot up. “Isabella? Why the hell would Zotov want your sister?”

Vince shook his head, confusion evident in his voice. “No idea. It doesn’t make any sense. But he was clear about it.” He sighed. “It was right when you called, so I thought we had him. I turned him down—didn’t even entertain the thought.”

“And Zotov realized something was up and ordered them to evacuate,” Hawk said.

I looked up at Vince, my heart aching at the pain etched across his face.

He nodded, his brows pulled down and together, pain clearly visible in his eyes.

I cupped his cheek to draw his attention and waited until he looked at me. “You should go find Isa and Mira. I’ll be fine with Hawk and the others.”

The look in his eyes changed as if he snapped back into focus, the storm of emotions swirling in their depths replaced by determination.

For a moment, I thought he might consider it, but then his jaw clenched, and he shook his head firmly.

“No,” he said, his voice low and final. “I’m not letting you out of my sight again.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off.

“We’re going to the hospital,” he announced, addressing the group but keeping his eyes locked on mine. “You need to get checked out. No arguments.”

I wanted to tell him I was fine, that his sisters were more important, but the determination in his gaze silenced me.

Vince turned to Hawk, his voice commanding. “Once we’re at the hospital, I’ll contact Zotov. We need to find out what game he’s playing and what he wants with Isabella.”

Hawk nodded, his expression grim. “We’ll send one team with you. The rest should stay here to search the scene and see if we can pick up any information. We’ll take care of the chopper, and I’ll make a few calls. See if I can hunt him down.”

Hawk nodded at me. “Keep us updated.”

Vince nodded, and moved toward one of the waiting SUVs, still cradling me carefully in his arms.

Hawk, Birdie, Milli, and Max watched us go, their faces a mixture of concern and determination.

As we reached the vehicle, Vince paused for a moment and looked down at me with an intensity that took my breath away. “I love you,” he said softly, his words meant only for me.

I gave him a soft smile. “I love you, too.”

“I’m going to fix this.”

I nodded. “I know. They went to great lengths not to hurt us, so I’m sure Mira and Iset are unharmed.”

His jaw tightened as he awkwardly moved into the back of the SUV, carefully balancing me in his arms.

“You can let go,” I said, but he immediately shook his head.

“I’m not letting you go ever again.”

And he kept that promise all the way, even when we arrived at the hospital and the nurses tried to shoo him away.