Page 139 of Betrayed in the Dark
“She’ll be okay,” Leo insists, staring out the window before glancing my way. “She’s a fighter. You know that. Not to mention stubborn as hell. She’s always insisted on doing everything herself.”
I shake my head. “But she shouldn’t have to. Not anymore. Not when I’m here.”
“I know.” He grins, grabbing my shoulder. “And when she sees you coming to her rescue like a damn knight in shining armor, she might finally realize that too.”
“I hope so,” I say, lost in thought.
“By the way,” Leo adds. “Welcome to the family.”
A sense of pride swirls through my chest from his words.
However, the warmth is short-lived as we turn onto a dirt road, currently covered by a thick layer of snow, leading deeper into the woods. In the rearview mirror, I see Vin’s SUV right behind us.
The location of Cressida’s car becomes increasingly close on the screen, prompting me to pull to the side of the road. Vin parks his car beside mine.
“What's the plan?” Vin asks, stepping out of his car.
I unclick the safety on my gun and secure it in my holster. “We walk the rest of the way, using the woods as cover. We don’t know how many guards she might have with her. We could be outnumbered, but if we use the element of surprise, it could work to our advantage.”
“I agree,” Alex replies. “We need to be ready for anything.”
We continue our path on foot, trudging through the snow with the full moon as our only source of light, and after about five minutes, we spot an old, abandoned warehouse up ahead. Each of us conceals ourselves behind a tree or the thick brush as we peek around for a better view.
“They must be in there.” Leo moves with stealth as he crouches close to the ground, his eyes narrowing on the warehouse’s front. “There are three armed guards outside. There could be more inside, but we can’t know for certain.”
I scan the area. “Alex, do you think you can get up there undetected?” I point to the lower portion of the roof that has access to windows. “You have the best shot among us.”
He takes off his glasses and rubs the lenses with his shirt as he looks up. “Yeah, I can go around to the back and see if I can find a ladder or something to use.” A deep exhale escapes him while he puts his glasses back on. “I just really hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“I understand,” I answer, knowing his hesitation. Our world is a dark place, one where killing men—evil men—has become a regular part of our daily lives. But we’ve never been in a situation involving a woman as our prime target. This is new for all of us. “It’s not ideal, but we need to be ready in case it does come down to that.”
He nods and starts walking around the thicker part of the woods, remaining hidden as he makes his way to the building.
I regard Vin and Mauro. “You two go in from the left, while Leo and I will go to the right.” I secure the silencer on my gun, watching as the others do the same. “Keep your eyes open in case there are more guards we aren’t aware of.”
They nod in agreement before we all depart. Leo and I round the right side of the warehouse and quickly press our backs against the wall when we hear voices coming from the front.
“Do you think she’ll kill her?” one of the guards asks. “She seemed a little high-strung today.”
“I’ve learned to expect the unexpected from her,” another guard responds with a chuckle.
“Maybe she’ll let us have some fun with that Alarie girl,” a third guard remarks.
And there goes the last of my restraint.
In one move, I have my gun held out before me as I turn the corner and shoot all three of them on the spot, none of them having a chance to raise their weapons in defense.
Vin and Mauro appear on the other side, dropping their guns as they view the three bodies on the ground. Disappointment flashes over their faces.
“Thanks for saving some for us,” Vin notes dryly.
I shrug. “You were taking too long.” I step over one of the men and stand before the sliding wood door. My fingers wrap around the edge as I carefully slide it open, unsure of what I might findon the other side. Vin, Mauro, and Leo stand behind me with their weapons drawn, prepared for an attack.
The moment the light from the moon shines through, illuminating the scene unfolding before me, my body freezes.
Cressida has her back toward me as she stands tall, pointing a gun directly at Madeleine.
My wife.
