At first, I thought the rhythmic pounding that was getting steadily louder was just the headache throbbing in my skull. But soon, even muffled by walls, I recognised it as footsteps. Running footsteps.
“Sounds like they’re almost here,” a third man remarked. Cockerels Cap? I’d never heard him speak before. “We’ll let you get your bit out of the way. Come on, Josie.” Footsteps retreated and a door somewhere inside the depths of the space clicked closed.
“They’re down here!” A shout echoed from outside the room, and my heart leapt into my throat at the achingly familiar voice. I strained against the ropes wound around my chest.
“Henry!” I wailed, my throat burning.
Cold metal pressed to my temple, and all sound died in my throat.
“My apologies, Ri. This isn’t personal, I promise. It’s just business. But I’ll need you to keep that pretty mouth of yours shut.”
I finally connected the dots of who that voice belonged to, my chest constricting at how far he’d fucked us over.
Atlas. Thatnenorocitule.
A door banged open, and light blinded me.
“Irina!”
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Borrow Her
HENRY
Her thin cry was like a dagger to the heart. I forced back the wave of panic at how weak it sounded and raced in that direction, the phone-torch zigzagging the hallway, light licking the closed doors of once-luxury hotel rooms.
Two down, there was one door sitting ajar.
“Should we take this a bit?—”
I ignored River, shoving the door open with so much strength it crashed against the wall inside. My phone beamed into the space, landing on a pair of pale legs … Ri’s legs. Tremors in my hands, I trailed the torch up, up her body, tied immobile to a chair in the dark room. The light caught on a blood smear at the neckline of her pale pink oversized T-shirt. My heart stopped.
“Ri!” I gasped, staggering inside. My wife was a mess. The blood was on her neck and chin too. She flinched from the harsh light, eyes squeezed shut as the torch hit her face.
Where had the blood come from? My heartbeat thundered in my ears as I took two teetering steps towards her. “Ri … can you?—”
“Take another step, and I shoot.”
Only then I registered the glint of metal—a gun—pressed to hertemple. With a sinking heart I recognised that voice and pointed the torch at him.
“Atlas …” The word tore from my lungs, taking with it the piece of me that had been concerned for this man.
“Been worried about me, have you?” Atlas scoffed. “I listened to your frantic voicemails. It must get fucking exhausting, always taking responsibility for others.”
I kept my eyes locked on the gun at Ri’s head.
“Put the gun down, Atlas,” My voice was as calm as my thundering heart, my too-tight chest, the tension seizing every muscle in my body would allow.
“Yeah, nah, I don’t think I will,” he replied conversationally. “Not until I get what I need from you. It didn’t have to come to this, but you’ve forced my hand, Chewy.”
White-hot rage almost blinded me. How could he so casually drop his nickname for me while he threatened my wife?
Don’t lose your cool. Keep your wits about you. Get her safe. That’s all that matters.
“What do you want?” I asked through gritted teeth, fingers pulsing in and out of fists by my sides. “Is this about the algo?”
Atlas grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Bingo. You give me the decryption key to the algorithm, and I won’t shoot your mail-order bride.”
