The explosions rock the foundation of the building and I barely manage to keep my balance. Leandro’s shout of “pull back” gave us no time to do shit before the world exploded. Thankfully, it seems to be concentrated in the front, so there’s still a chance for us to reach Roman and Lio.
There’s no sound coming through the earbuds—all chatter was abruptly cut off. Without specific guidance, we need to rely on our wits, and each other, so of course Cristian decides to be a fucking idiot and take off on his own. Cursing him, and myself for getting stuck with him, I speed up just as he turns into a hallway. Grabbing the back of his shirt, I yank him toward me, slamming him against the wall.
“We need to be careful,” I growl. “Rushing in blindly could get us killed, and unlike you, I don’t actually want to die today. I’d much prefer we save your son and Lio. So we need tobe smart about this, which means, no taking off like you’re a fucking novice.”
His lips tighten, but he grudgingly nods. Glaring, I hesitate, unsure whether to trust him, but I don’t have time for this bullshit. Not when we need to find my Boys. Letting him go, I jerk my head toward the second hallway.
Thankfully, Hollis went over the blueprints with us before we left, and we have a good idea where they’re being kept. Still, the smoke that's beginning to fill the building is obscuring everything, and my eyes are watering from it. I crouch down, pulling Cristian with me as I hug the wall. Another explosion goes off and…fuck! Cristian does it again, taking off without thinking.
Chasing after him, I pull my shirt up and use it as a mask to breathe through as we start getting closer to where the smoke is coming from. I’m tempted to let the asshole run to his possible death, but I don’t want to hurt Roman. His father does enough of a job on that. Just as he hits what should be the final corridor to reach them, I catch up. This time I tackle him, swinging him back. As I twist us around, fire licks my skin and I stumble forward. Thankfully, Cristian keeps me upright—even if that was not his intention.
Stepping back from him, I glance down at my shirt. Fucker managed to clip my upper arm, and blood drips from it. Great. At least, it’s not my dominant arm. Though Hollis is going to fucking kill me for getting shot—again.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I snap at Cristian.
Sweat beads along his brow as he looks away. “I didn’t think anyone was left. You’d think the fucker would have pulled them out. It’s a fucking death trap in here.”
“Right. And this asshole is obviously not the type to sacrifice any of his men, right?” I scowl, shaking my head in disgust. “Stay the fuck behind me.”
Carefully, I approach the hallway again. I’m tempted to shove Cristian out there, so he can take a bullet and draw out whoever is waiting. I’m saved from having to do that when several shots ring out, even though we’re still safely tucked away.
I wait for a moment, despite Cristian becoming increasingly impatient, and notice there’s a pattern. Three shots in a row, a pause, then three more. I’m moving as soon as the second one goes off, timing it so the third sails by me as I step out into the hallway. One shot…that’s all it takes for the idiot shooting at us to die. It’s too easy for him, but we don’t have time to mess around.
The heat is getting worse, and my heart thumps rapidly. Another explosion goes off, and as I pick up speed, Cristian’s hand clamps on my shoulder. Grinding my teeth, I remind myself to be more cautious, but fuck. All I want is to find the Boys and bring them home.
We head further down the hallway, kicking the dead body of whoever was stupid enough to stay behind out of our way. There are three doors in this hall, or at least there should be, but damn if I can make shit out as thicker smoke blows in. It’s hard to even keep a grip on my gun at this point with the heat.
The first door opens easily. One glance is enough to mark it as empty. Same with the second. Struggling to breathe, we get to the third and it doesn’t open. Exchanging a look, we both use our shoulders to break it down. The pain in my arm is far worse afterward, but I don’t give a fuck. We’re running out of time.
Cristian stutters to a stop before rushing forward—at least, as much as he can in a crouch. Smoke fills the room.Fuck.It’s bad. Both Boys are slumped on the floor, and neither move at the sound of us entering. The only thing giving me hope is that I can hear them both coughing.
“Figlio Mio,” Cristian shouts, his hands automatically reaching for Roman. I do the same for Lio.
The steel bands holding them in place aren’t easily broken. Glancing over, I note that Roman’s barefoot, and is missing toenails. Stepping back, I carefully point my gun at where the manacles are bolted down. It takes three shots before Lio’s are off. Moving over, Roman’s restraints only take two bullets before breaking, and Cristian has him scooped into his arms immediately.
Bending down, I pick Lio up, putting him over my sore shoulder, so I still have easy access to my gun. I’ve never been more thankful for his twink size than right now. The roar of the fire is louder, and we need to get the hell out now. Cristian and I exchange a grimace, and with a nod, we rush out of the room, hoping to reach freedom before we die in this fiery blaze.
“Daddy’s got you,” I whisper to Lio. “We’re getting you both out of here. Alive.”
Fuck if this hell thinks it’ll swallow us whole. There’s no way I’m leaving my loves here. When I get my hands on that Senator, the death of his daughter will look merciful.
It takes seemingly forever to get out, but finally, we reach the door that leads outside. We stagger out, eyes sharp, looking for anyone hanging around, but thankfully, Marcus is right there. He must have rerouted for us. When he holds open his arms to take Lio, I glower at him. Holding up his hands, he backs off, but not before staring at me in worry.
We probably look like hell, but I couldn’t care less. What matters is that we got Roman and Lio back. As soon as I get these two home, I’m never letting them go. I’ll leash them to me if I have to, because fuck if they get to leave me or Hol again. My heart can’t take it. Not now that I have everything I’ve always needed, and the monster feels something like content. Fuck if I’ll ever let someone take that from me again…
Stupid fucking explosives. Who even uses explosives? What a chickenshit way out. Hollis curses to himself as we simultaneously work on trying to find a signal to reach Cristian and Tennant’s comms, and keep an eye on what’s happening outside. The check-ins haven’t done anything to ease the minds of those in the room with me—not when the voices they want to hear are silent.
“If this was another trap…”
“It’s not.” My voice is steady as I answer Hollis, but barely. The tension in the room is thick, and the waiting is even starting to weigh on my nerves.
The longer time ticks by without a word from Tennant or Cristian, the more I can feel the stress from Hollis, Ignacio, and Carter, as it seems to waft off them in waves.
My own frustration rises, because fuck this shit. I didn’t go through everything I did to take down the Senator and his operations for nothing. Everything I've done has been for Roman and the people who have become family—whether they believe it or not. No one gets to justtakethat from me.
“What the hell? Fucking idiots want to die?” Hollis’s words get my attention, and I scan my screens until I see what he does.
There’s movement on the shitty satellite images we’re getting, and I fight not to roll my eyes and make a scathing comment about whichever Martelli—because only they’re dumb enough to return to an active hostile site—decided to play hero.
