Page 32 of Twisted Vows

I met her gaze, my jaw set. “They’ll wish they’d gone down quietly when we’re through with them.” With a final nod, I turned and strode from the room, already strategizing our assault.

The drive to the first location was a blur, the city lights streaking past as I wove through traffic. Malachi’s voice crackled over the comms. I put more pressure on the accelerator, having no regard for speed limits right now.

It felt like an eternity, but I finally arrived at the nondescript building, its exterior betraying nothing of the potential horrors within. Our team took up position on the opposite side, weapons drawn and scanning for threats.

Malachi and I stood together and were the first ones to surge forward. We breached the entrance, sweeping through the dimly lit interior. My senses were heightened, every sound and movement amplified in the tense silence.

The warehouse appeared deserted, crates and machinery casting long shadows in the flickering fluorescent light. We cleared each room methodically, leaving no corner unchecked.

A muffled thump from the far corner caught my attention. I signaled to Malachi, and we converged on the source, weapons raised.

A door stood ajar, a sliver of light spilling from the crack. I nudged it open with the barrel of my gun, revealing a makeshift computer lab, monitors and servers humming with activity.

Malachi swept the room, his voice a low growl. “Clear.”

I holstered my weapon and approached the nearest terminal, attempting to access the system. Layers of encryption blocked my efforts, the code shifting and morphing like a living entity.

“Damn.” I slammed my fist against the desk in frustration. “They’ve got some serious firewalls in place.” This was Valentina’s area much more so than mine.

Malachi’s jaw tightened. “Can you get through them?”

A feral grin spread across my face. “Give me time.” I cracked my knuckles, settling in for the digital battle ahead. I raised Valentina on the radio, and we worked together for several hours, coordinating our efforts as she guided me in areas where I had no experience.

Finally, we made a breakthrough. With a triumphant keystroke, I breached the inner sanctum, data flooding the monitors. “I’m in.”

Valentina whooped in my ear as Malachi leaned over my shoulder to stare at the screen. “What have we got?”

I scrolled through the files, sifting through layers of encrypted communications and financial records. “Looks like this was one of their main data hubs. There’s a lot of intel here, but no sign of Nika’s location.”

Frustration simmered beneath my skin, but I refused to let it consume me. “I’ll keep digging. There has to be something here that can lead us to her.

They’ve made a grave mistake by taking what’s ours, and they’re going to pay dearly for it.”

With renewed vigor, I delved back into the data streams. A series of encrypted messages caught my attention, their patterns and timestamps suggesting a connection to Nika’s disappearance. With renewed determination, I set to work unraveling the complex encryption, line by line, until finally, the true message revealed itself.

My heart skipped a beat as the words materialized on the screen—coordinates, addresses, and coded references to a “package” that could only be Nika. A surge of adrenaline coursed through me as I cross-referenced the information, pinpointing a location on the outskirts of the city. It was the second location Valentina had identified, but she’d steered us toward this location first.

Rage at her hit me for a dizzying second before I regained control. She had advised us based on the data available, and I couldn’t be angry with her for choosing the wrong location when I’d had final say.

Without hesitation, I turned to Malachi, who’d remained nearby over the past few hours. “I’ve got a possible location for Nika.”

He pounded my shoulder. “Good. Send everything to Valentina.”

I transmitted the data, forwarding every scrap of intelligence that could aid our mission. Blueprints, security protocols, and personnel files—nothing was left unturned.

Within minutes, Malachi was finished coordinating with our soldiers. “We rendezvous at the staging point in ten, and we’re going in hot.”

A grim smile tugged at my lips. “Understood.” I closed the connection and rose from my chair.

The drive to the staging point was a blur, my mind already strategizing our assault. As I pulled up, a flurry of activity greeted me. Bratva soldiers clad in tactical gear moved with practiced efficiency, checking weapons and loading equipment.

Malachi and I entered the fracas. “What’s the plan?” I asked, my voice low.

“We hit them hard and fast. No quarter given.” He handed me a tablet displaying the building schematics. “You’ll lead the breach team through the east entrance. I’ll take the main force through the front. Our primary objective is to secure Nika and neutralize any threats.”

I studied the blueprints, committing every detail to memory. “Understood. What about secondary targets?”

A feral glint flickered in Malachi’s eyes. “If we encounter Petrosian or any of his lieutenants, they’re fair game, but Nika comes first.”

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