The tears. The grief. What could he have said to her for her to react that way?
“Call Willow,” I order Sebastian, “Make sure she’s safe.”
Bast nods, pulling out his cell to dial. He speaks a minute later, confirming Willow is fine. He then calls Savannah who is also okay.
I finally pass the city limits, not slowing despite the heavy traffic. The car weaves chaotically betweenlanes, a chorus of honking horns and angry shouts following as we force our way through traffic until I take a side road, the roar of the engine echoing down the street.
I can see the sea up ahead, rough and turbulent. The skies are an ominous grey and snow still lines the earth, leaving the roads icy and treacherous. I slam the brakes on just outside of the lot for the docks. The warehouses are further up but I don’t want to make them aware we are here yet.
“The only plan,” I tell them, “Get her out alive. Kill them both.”
“And if there are others?”
“Then take them out,” I demand, muscles stiffening as I force my heart to slow. I could rush in. I could shoot first but there’s a risk to my wife and I am not willing to make a mistake.
“And if Olivia…” Sebastian trails off.
If Olivia is dead…
A moment of grief stabs me right in the chest. There is no world to live in if Olivia is not in it. I don’t answer him because I don’t have one. All I know is that if Olivia is not here, not with me, then I won’t be in control of my actions.
I push the door open, refusing to believe that is a possible outcome. She’s their bargaining chip but they’ve rushed, they’re sloppy now they’ve been forced to do this too soon and that is their second mistake. Their first was going for Olivia in the first place.
We walk toward the warehouses, ignoring the curious looks the few dock workers give us until we get to therows and rows of warehouses. The alleys between each building give us the shelter we need until we get to one of the smaller warehouses closer to the water. None of the buildings have windows, making it impossible to see where exactly they are holding her but right there is my Maserati, parked directly in front of the shutters, the water beyond smashing against the concrete wall that keeps the sea from flooding the city.
“Move in as one,” I order, withdrawing my weapon and preparing, “Do not take the shot if you risk Olivia.”
“Understood,” One of them replies but the only thing in my head is getting to my wife, it’s all I hear and see so I don’t know which one of them it was.
Silently, as a unit like we’ve worked a thousand times before, we move toward the entrance to the warehouse. I pause, noticing the shutters are open and from within I hear voices, two males arguing softly. With no one around to hear, their guards are down.
I pause before the main entrance, at a door to my left used for when the shutters are down.
I try the handle, finding it unlocked and gently push it open, stepping inside. The stench of rotting fish stuffs itself up my nose and fishing gear is piled high across the entire space, old nets and rods, crab cages and rusty knives laying across the gritty warehouse floor.
I keep my steps light, careful not to disturb the loose dirt on the ground and the guys behind me do the same until I use some old crates for coverage and peer over the top, seeing both Stefan and, as I guessed correctly, Iwan. They argue quietly, the older man’s facetwisted in a mix of worry and anger while Stefan looks bored.
“Send the demands!” Stefan growls, “The sooner we do this, the better. Malakai is smart Iwan, if we don’t do it now, he’ll only find us first and then what!?”
“It wasn’t supposed to happen yet!” Iwan snaps back. “We do not have the backing of the council. It is just us!”
“They’ll back us,” Stefan says nonchalantly, before he disappears from view by crouching, “Because this little beauty is going to help us, aren’t you sweet Olivia?”
My spine straightens at the sound of her muffled cry. “We don’t need the backing when Malakai will step down and when he does, we will end him. We will not have the respect of the council if we kill him first.”
I needed eyes on Olivia so I knew how to take the shot.
Olivia cries again and I hear shuffling, like she’s struggling on the ground. I dampen down the rage pushing me to thunder for her, to save her and shelter her.
“I’m not so sure the organization will be better off in your hands,” Iwan grumbles, typing on his phone, “We should have waited.”
“And let Malakai sniff us out?” Stefan snaps, “It is now or never.”
I couldn’t agree more. I signal for the guys to get ready to aim and follow, keeping my eyes on the two of them as I prepare to show myself.
“I have to agree with Iwan here,” I walk out from between the crates, gun drawn and aimed at Stefan. The guys follow quickly behind, Sebastian aiming at Iwan and then I finally see my wife.
She’s tied at the wrists and ankles, laying on her side in the dirt with tape covering her mouth. And a gun is pointed at her head. Stefan was quick to draw, something I hadn’t counted on which tells me he already had his weapon out.
