Page 87 of Hateful Vows

My skin itches under the balaclava, and dread is a shadow at my back. I try not to let it weigh me down or hinder my stealth. It’s hard to keep my head on straight but Aleksei’s voice in the earpiece keeps me steady.

“Found anything yet?”

“No,” I answer. “You?”

“We’re almost done. Be prepared,malyshka. Something tells me you’re closer than I am.”

“Once you're done, get here with your men as soon as possible.”

“Will do. Be safe.”

“You too.”

The call doesn’t disconnect. We agreed to stay on the line the entire time. It eases the pressure inside my ribcage to know I can voice my concerns to him, checking in to make sure he stays alive as well. I can’t afford to lose him, too. That would break me completely. “Aleksei?”

“Yes,malyshka?”

“I love you,” I tell him, not caring who hears. I’ve wasted too many years hiding. I won’t ever let time take anything from me again. And certainly not the bastard who has my husband.

“I love you, too. Show no mercy.”

I let hot red rage fill my veins and fuel my movements as we come towards a small one-story house by the side of the road. I need something to keep me going. Stopping now isn’t an option. I won’t rest until my husband is returned to me.

Two weeks ago, my dreams were made of blood and violence toward the man responsible, but now, I don’t even care. I just want Dante. I want him safe and alive, healthy, sleeping in my bed and the sound of his laughter in my ears.

The broken signage by the door indicates that the place used to be a clinic. Isolated in the middle of breathtaking green hills, the whitewashed small house is the perfect spot. My nerves prickles with awareness and my throat clogs with something I can’t name but recognise nonetheless.

I hold up a hand, stopping the men in their tracks. With a few hand gestures, I direct them to surround the building. There seems to be only one entrance.

“Lorenzo, secure the perimeter, make sure there isn’t a hidden tunnel or some shit close by. That’s how rats live.”

Three men separate from our group and the others stand at my back with Lucie as I silently pick the front door lock and walk in.

Sweat beads at my brow. That fucking lock was too difficult and shiny new to be anything other than what we’re looking for.

Silence and darkness greet us. And the stench of bodily fluids. Unless someone died here recently, the smell is enough to have hope soaring through me.

On silent feet, we move through the only floor, finding nothing but dust and spider webs behind the boarded windows. The closed metal door at the back of the house is a feature that definitely should not be here. It’s locked and we still haven't found another exit.

We have found the elusive culprit.

And he’s locked in with us.

“Dead or alive,” I tell Lucie and the men.

“Lealtà, dovere, coraggio,” they all answer in unison.

This lock is impossible to pick and we opt for sawing our way in. The metal is thick and it takes us too long, probably alerting our prey but it doesn’t matter. He’s trapped. I just have to hope he doesn’t kill Dante in his frenzy and desire to escape.

The metal is loud as it clanks to the floor and we all pour in, descending a set of stairs, and that ominous stench getting stronger as we march closer to yet another door.

When we throw it open, bullets fly from the inside.

My heart batters in my chest, adrenaline sharpening my senses.

“Take cover,” I yell.

We reciprocate the assault with the force of our small army.