As soon as I touch him, he lets out a gut-wrenching howl that makes my skin crawl. His knee’s a mess, bone poking through torn flesh, blood oozing onto the concrete floor.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I mutter, trying to steady him. “John, we gotta move. Can you stand?”
He grits his teeth, tears streaming down his weathered face. “Don’t think I got much choice, do I?” he grunts, his breath reeking of cheap booze and fear.
As I work on untying Lenny and Em, my ears prick up. Something’s not right. “Where the hell are all the guards?” I ask, glancing towards the door. “This place should be crawling with Zimniy’s goons.”
Lenny shakes his head, wincing as the movement pulls at his bruised face. “Don’t know. They all rushed out a while ago. Heard a lot of shouting, gunfire maybe.”
As if on cue, a muffled explosion rocks the building, followed by the unmistakable staccato of automatic weapons fire. It’s distant but getting closer.
“Jesus,” Em whispers, her eyes wide with terror. “What’s happening out there?”
I shake my head, focusing on getting the last of the ropes off. “Don’t know, don’t care. Our ticket out of this hellhole, maybe. Let’s move.”
We shuffle toward the door, Lenny supporting most of John’s weight. Every step draws a pained groan from the old man, his face ashen and slick with sweat.
“Come on, John,” Lenny urges, his voice strained with the effort. “Just a little further. You can do this.”
Em hovers nearby, her hands fluttering uselessly. “Maybe we should carry him?” she suggests, her voice trembling.
I shake my head, peering out into the hallway. “No time. We gotta keep moving. Lenny, you got him?”
Lenny nods grimly, adjusting his grip on John. “Yeah, I got him. Let’s go.”
We make our way down the corridor, every shadow making my heart race. The sounds of fighting are getting louder, punctuated by screams and the occasional explosion. What the fuck is going on out there?
As we near the stairwell, a scream cuts through the air. High-pitched, terrified. Alex.
My baby.
My blood turns to ice, then fire. I shove John at Lenny. “Get them out of here,” I snarl. “I’m going after Alex.”
“Wren—” Em starts, but I cut her off.
“Just go! I’ll find you, I promise.”
I don’t wait for an answer; I just take off running toward the stairs. My legs burn, my lungs feel like they’re full of broken glass, but I don’t slow down.
Momma’s coming.
72
Wren
Iburst through the door at the top of the stairs, my heart pounding like a jackhammer in my chest. The hallway stretches before me, all fancy wallpaper and plush carpet. At the end, a set of double doors stands slightly ajar. Bingo.
As I creep closer, the muffled sounds of a struggle reach my ears. Alex’s whimpers, barely audible, make my blood boil. I tighten my grip on the gun, my palms slick with sweat.
Just as I reach for the handle, a thunderous explosion rocks the building. The walls shudder, dust raining down from the ceiling.
What the fuck?
I charge in, gun raised, and for a split second, Elena’s eyes go wide with shock. She wasn’t expecting me, that’s for damn sure.
Elena stands there, looking like a fucking Vogue model in the middle of a warzone. Her silk blouse is splattered with blood,and there’s a wild look in her eyes that makes my skin crawl. And there, struggling in her arms, is my baby boy.
“You!” she hisses, her accent thick with rage. “How the fuck did you get out?”
