Page 96 of Miki

My palms sweated, my stomach was in knots, and my heart was beating way too fast. It felt like I’d run a bloody marathon by the time I’d reached the end.

I hated not having everything under control. My plans were always meticulously thought out, and every scenario prepared for. But not this time. I hadn’t prepared for this, and I felt like a fish out of water.

Marko said the building Eilidh was in adjoined the factory and that there should be an emergency exit on the upper floor of the factory building, which led directly into it.

That’s how I planned on getting in and out with her, undetected by any police who were by now watching the building. It would be tricky though, as Roy and probably a good number of the Thomas gang would likely already be there. It was only about thirty minutes until the handover was due. Anything could go wrong!

Worry gnawed at me, and I had to admit, for the first time in my life, I felt truly scared.

Vlad went to climb the stair to the hatch, but I pulled him out of the way and headed up first. At the top of the ladder, I pushed my shoulder against the door leading into the small cupboard in the factory, moving the old carpet aside so I could peek out. It was empty, and I breathed a sigh of relief as I climbed into the cupboard.

“I’m coming with you!” Vlad said.

“No, stick to the plan,” I told him.

“You need backup!” Luca stated.

“No, I don’t. I can handle this. You two have a job to do. Do it!” I said.

Despite their continued protests, I made Vlad and Luca remain in the tunnel to wait for the informant signal as planned while I sneaked up the stairs and along the hall to the emergency exit door. It had been jammed open. I peered through, but there was nobody in sight. So far, so good!

All the doors were open except the one at the very end. I moved that way, double-checking the rooms were empty as I passed.

The last door was closed but not locked. I quietly turned the handle and pushed it open. Relief filled at the sight of Eilidh sitting on the bed, a bloody lump lying nearby, which I assumed was Jonson.

“Miki!” my Little Miss Red sobbed as I rushed over, pulling her into a gentle hug.

I was reluctant to let her go, but we needed to hurry. Pulling back, I opened up the blanked covering her and checked her over.

There were marks on her wrists, a large bruise on her abdomen, smaller ones on her head and cheek and what looked like finger marks on her neck, but otherwise, she appeared okay. My hands fisted at the sight of them. And she was fucking chained up like an animal too.

“Fuck!” I exclaimed in fury.

Closing my eyes, I fought the urge to go storming out to look for Roy. Since I couldn’t kill the fucker Johnson, I’d be more than happy to kill him instead!

“I’m okay,” Eilidh said, reaching up to cup my cheek, obviously seeing me upset at her appearance.

She wasn’t, but I appreciated the attempt to make me feel better even while it shamed me. It should be the other way around.

“Let’s get you out of here, sweetheart,” I said, wrapping her in the blanket again.

Eilidh nodded and pointed to a key on the desk, and I grabbed it and freed her wrist.

I gave her a quick kiss, then passed her the clothes and shoes I had in my backpack. She smiled her thanks, and I was glad that even in my overly anxious state and haste to get to her, I remembered to bring her something to wear.

After she dressed, I took her hand in one of my mine, and with my gun in the other, we headed for the door. As soon as I opened it, a figure lunged at me, hitting me on the head. I collapsed to the floor, barely conscious.

Eilidh cried out, but someone grabbed her and pulled her away from me.

My eyes wouldn’t focus properly, and I could barely make out the shapes of two bodies as I tried to force myself to stay awake.

“I hope you weren’t planning on leaving daddy, baby girl!” a voice said.

Roy! I thought before darkness engulfed me.

Blinking my eyes open again, I saw the room was empty. They were gone. Fuck! So was my gun.

My head pounded as I staggered to my feet and lunged for the door.

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