“He's in one of Gideon's smaller office buildings, compared to his main business. This was one possibility Jace pointed out because most people are paying Gideon for protection, and he holds blackmail over their heads to make sure they fall in line and see nothing.” Noah taps away.
“Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!” I stand up, Noah grabs my wrist, pulling me back down.
“No, you can't go.”
“Fuck that, I'm going.” I glare at him.
“We just don't want anything to happen to you, pretty girl.” Luca puts his hand on my head.
“Don't try to sweet-talk me right now, Silvain. Jace is in there with Gideon. I deserve to be there to watch him fall.” I grit my teeth, refusing to stay back this time around.
Noah sighs. “Take it up with your dad.”
He closes his laptop, getting up.
“Let's go tell him.”
The engine hums beneath me.My pulse feels like it’s in my throat. Lucian acquiesced to my reasoning of why I should be there, not because he agreed, but he understood that there was no universe in which I stayed behind.
Not when Jace is out there, most likely hurting and bleeding.
Because of me.
Lucian didn’t even argue long, just gave me one long, assessing look then simply said, “Fine, you follow my lead.”
Follow.
Sure.
Luca sits beside me, not touching but close enough that his warmth reaches through the cold metal interior. His knee brushes mine briefly when the van hits a bump. When I glance at him, he gives me his charming, crooked smile.
It grounds me. Settles something in my chest.
“Tracker’s signal is holding; it hasn’t moved in a while. He’s alive.” Noah reports as we get closer.
For now.
My stomach twists. My fingers curl into fists on my lip. I tell myself I’m not scared, that I’m furious.
He knew this would hurt me, but he did it anyway.
Because he thought it was the only way, because he thought he would be protecting me. Because he didn’t trust me to be able to handle it. My throat burns, I blink hard and focus on the map, on the blinking light that represents him.
The van slows. Then stops.
The sudden stillness hits harder than the brakes. My pulse spikes as Lucian’s voice cuts through comms from the lead vehicle. “Positions. No one moves until I say.”
The back doors open, letting in a blast of stale city air—damp asphalt, rust, something sour from a nearby dumpster. We spill out, boots crunching on broken glass scattered across the parking lot.
The building in front of us has seen better days. A sagging four-story office block with half its windows boarded, the rest spider-webbed with cracks. With faded lettering, and only a few cars in the parking lot.
Nothing about this place is normal.
Noah taps away on his tablet as I grab a rifle, swinging the strap over my head and tightening my grip.
“From the notes I have, there’s an underground level where Gideon has cells where he holds people. Jace is most likely being held there. Since in his sketches, the interrogation room Gideon has is on the other side.” Noah shows Lucian the tablet.
He nods, “Luca, you and your team will go for Jace. Make sure you guys stay on comms. Keep an eye out for Gideon.”
