“Here.”
Sergei’s knife worked the door’s panel.Those hands—violent, saving—dizzied her.
“Keep watch,” he said.
Keisha scanned the hallway, ears straining hearing creaks, maybe footsteps.Her heartrate jumped.
“She in there?”she whispered.
Sergei focused on wires, knife glinting.The green light blinked faster.“Sergei—”
“Almost there.”The panel sparked, clicking.
Tiana was behind it.Had to be.Sergei’s eyes met hers.“Ready?”
No.Not for this, the danger, trusting a man she’d called enemy weeks ago.Her hand shook, reaching for the handle.Sergei’s fingers brushed hers, steadying.She eased back, his warmth lingering.
“Together,” he said.
Her throat caught, nodding.They turned the handle, stepping into darkness.
Darkness swallowed them, Keisha’s foot hitting a chair leg, triggering a whimper.Tiana.Sergei flicked a switch, a bulb glaring.Keisha’s stomach dropped.
Tiana sat tied to a chair, duct tape over her mouth, wrists roped.Torn socks showed raw ankles.Her eyes welled at Keisha, tears spilling.
“I’ve got you,” Keisha whispered, kneeling, peeling tape gently.“You’re safe.We’re getting you out.”
Tiana’s shoulders shook, gasping, “You came,” voice raspy.
Sergei stayed by the door, knife ready, eyes splitting between hallway and them.“Hurry.Five minutes, maybe less.”
Keisha’s trembling fingers fumbled Tiana’s ropes.Frustration burned.She pulled a hairpin, tremor making it dance.
“Easy,” Sergei said, calm.“Breathe.”
She wanted to snap but inhaled, held, released.The tremor eased, pin working the knot.
“They hurt you?”she asked Tiana, dreading the answer.
Tiana shook her head, braids swinging.“Just scared me.Said they’d hold me till you stopped digging.”Her voice cracked.“Said no one’d notice I was gone.”
The pin slipped as a tremor hit.Keisha swore, grabbing it.
“Who brought you here?”she asked, pin back in the knot.
“A man.Cold eyes.Called Dmitri.”
Tiana’s words made Sergei stiffen as he crouched, eyeing a smoldering cigarette butt.
“He’s been here,” he said.“Recently.”
Keisha’s heart raced.The first knot gave.She moved to the second, fingers cramping.
“You’re shaking,” Tiana whispered, fear shifting to concern.
“I’m okay,” Keisha lied.
“Someone’s coming,” Sergei hissed, stepping back.“Move.”
