Page 74 of Taming a Ruthless Heart

I grip the spoon tighter, feeling its cool metal in my palm, a small comfort amid the terror.It’s barely a weapon, but it’s all I have.And if I have to shove it into someone’s eye to make it out of here, I won’t hesitate.

The hallway stretches out before me, dark and silent, but I don’t let my guard down.I move quickly, keeping my footfalls quiet and my ears pricked for any sign of movement from Igor’s men.Ahead, I see a faint glow under one of the doors, a sign that someone is awake, keeping watch.I hold my breath and slip past, my bare feet hardly making a sound against the cold concrete.

At the end of the hall, I pause, listening again.

Silence.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding and glance at the staircase leading up.Rose and Pete.I need to find them before they become the next victims in Igor’s deadly machinations.

Suddenly, a faint scuff of footsteps echoes from around the corner, and I freeze, pressing myself into a shadowed alcove.A man rounds the corner, his face familiar—a soldier from Igor’s ranks, one I’ve seen leering at me from across the room.His gun dangles from his hand, his steps lazy, oblivious.

He passes by me, his eyes half-lidded, bored, unaware of the predator lurking in the shadows.I hold my breath, every muscle taut, ready to strike if he notices me.But he doesn’t, and I watch as he shuffles further down the hall, disappearing into another room.

I exhale slowly, a shiver running down my spine.I won’t get another chance like this.Taking a steadying breath, I move from the alcove, my gaze fixed on the staircase that will take me one step closer to my daughter.

30

Dave

The air in this long, narrow concrete tunnel is thick and oppressive, every breath scraping down my throat like sandpaper.Shadows cling to the walls, their dark edges sharpened by the bare bulbs overhead.Their light is a weak, yellow glow barely cutting through the darkness, casting strange, distorted shadows over the faces of the men around me.We’re moving in near silence, every step a measured whisper on the hard floor.My heart pounds, steady but fierce, each beat echoing the relentless march forward.It also beats for Alexia and Rose as the weight of what’s to come oppresses me.There’s no room for error or fear.Still, relentless dread coils in my gut, a dark thing I keep locked tight beneath the surface.It’s the terror of failing them again, the horror of arriving too late.So, I choose not to think about these outcomes because I won’t survive this scenario.

Ray stands right beside me, his square jaw set so tightly that a muscle pulses under the skin.His baby-blue eyes are trained forward like he’s envisioning his next steps to ensure his son’s freedom.The dim light makes his red hair look like it’s on fire, highlighting his grim determination.While working with my family, he’s seen too much to be fazed by the scent of decay that clings to these walls.But I recognize something else lurking behind his gaze because it’s mirrored in mine: desperation.We can’t afford to lose today.Too much rides on this mission.

“Through here,” I say quietly, pointing to the narrow service door up ahead.It’s our way into Igor’s fortress.The intel says it’s barely guarded, that Igor doesn’t consider this tunnel a threat.Typical arrogance.But I know better than to assume it’ll be easy.I glance at Tommy, his face tense, brow furrowed in concentration.His hand tightens around the grip of his gun, a silent affirmation that he’s ready for whatever we find on the other side.

The memory of Rose’s tea party fills my mind, her innocent smile so bright and trusting.Her tiny hands pouring imaginary tea, the way she giggled as she pretended to serve me.Rose doesn’t know darkness, and damn it, she shouldn’t have to.But Igor enjoys taking what’s good and pure and turning it inside out.I won’t let Rose’s innocence become another one of his twisted victims.

We push forward, muscles wound tight, an electric energy crackling in the air.As we reach the door, I raise my fist to halt the team and press my ear against the cool metal.Silence.But that doesn’t mean anything.I know Igor’s games, his sick enjoyment of making his enemies walk into his traps.I grit my teeth, renewed anger flaring up—rage at him, at the brutal, endless cycle that brought us all here.But beneath that, there is something more potent: the memory of Rose’s smile or of Alexia’s soft gaze.I stand to lose these things if I fail here.

With a nod to Ray and Tommy, I signal to advance.We slip through the door and enter Igor’s compound, our steps swallowed by heavy silence.The concrete walls stretch, high and unyielding, so bare that it feels like they are closing in as we go.This place might be a fortress, but it’s also a tomb built to trap, to crush.It’s like even the walls themselves are eager to see us fall.

My earpiece crackles, and Nikolai’s voice cuts through the static, low and urgent.“Dave, I’ve tapped into Igor’s security cameras system.I’m feeding them images of empty corridors as I monitor your real-time movements.”

“Good.That’s going according to plan,” I state.

“You’ve got about fifty yards before you hit the first checkpoint.Move fast.”

“Roger that.”I grip my gun tighter.

I catch Tommy’s eye.His face is grim as he gives me a nod.We’ve faced death before more times than I can count.But this is different.The stakes are higher.The consequences, final.

As we push forward, my mind flashes back to Alexia.The cruel scars on her back, the haunted look in her eyes.She’s been through hell, and Igor’s twisted fingerprints are all over that journey.I know her strength and resilience.But the thought of Igor’s hands on her now, or on Rose, makes my vision go red.

We move in a staggered line, eyes darting, every sense tuned to the slightest shift or the faintest sound.As we approach the inner gates, all hell breaks loose.Gunfire explodes from the shadows, bullets tearing through the air, ricocheting off the walls.Igor’s soldiers have been waiting for us.Of course they have!

“Down!”I shout, diving behind a concrete pillar as rounds spray past, sparks dancing off the walls.A bullet zooms past my face and hits Ray’s shoulder, just a hair’s breadth away from the edge of his Kevlar vest.He drops to one knee, his face contorting in pain, clutching the spot.Blood seeps between his fingers, dark and unforgiving.He struggles but stands to his full height again.The next projectile shatters his kneecap, and he falls to the floor.

Ray’s breathing comes out in gasps as he tries to get to his feet, his hand slipping on the blood-soaked surface.

“Ray!”I bark, crouching beside him.“Stay with me.”

His eyes are fierce, sparkling defiance as his face turns paler.“I’m not done yet.But I can’t keep up, Dave,” he grunts, his voice hoarse with frustration and regret.“I’ll cover you from here.Go.Get Pete for me.”

His words hit me like a punch to the face, driving home the reality.We’re down one fighter, one shield between Pete and the nightmare Igor has created.But Ray’s giving us a shot I can’t waste.

“Tommy, cover Ray!”I snap, glancing at my brother, who’s already moving into position, his gun spitting fire at the shadows ahead.The tension ratchets up, every second stretching like an eternity as we fight to push forward.We’re down one key ally, and the realization hits me hard.Pete is defenseless.Vulnerable.My pulse spikes, anger burning hot in my veins as I force myself to focus, to adapt.

“Dave, I’ve got eyes on Alexia,” Nikolai’s voice crackles through the earpiece.I can hear his breath catch.”She’s moving, slipping past the guards as she goes.She’s heading straight toward the kids.Damn it, she’s moving too fast, not watching her back.”His usual calm is fraying at the edges, his voice tight.“She’s going to get herself killed if she keeps this up.”Anxiety breaks through his tone and digs into me like a thorn.Even Nikolai’s on edge.

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