Page 79 of The Watcher's Bride

There’s only one way in and out of the basement. Weapons drawn, we brace ourselves for a gunfight. We throw in smoke bombs and descend into the bowels of hell.

There are no gunshots. No shouts of men. Nothing. Just silence.

Then, the sound of muffled cries comes from one of the rooms.

Slowly, cautiously, listening for danger, for the first sign of a trap, we make our way toward the source of the noise. I kick the door down, gun raised and ready to fire. Through the smoke, I can make out someone sitting in a chair. As the air clears, I can see more clearly.

“Hold your fire,” I order as I rush over to untie Nadya.

She’s been beaten badly. Her body is a mess of bruises and cuts, one eye is swollen shut, and I can see someone has extracted two of her fingernails, but she’s alive.

“Nadya, it’s me, Leo. It’s okay, we’re here to help,” I soothe.

I try to remove the duct tape as gently as I can from her mouth, but she screams out in agony as it tears away the healing flesh from where her lip has been flayed open.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur.

“Leo?” she says dazedly. “Where’s Nora?”

“It’s okay, she’s safe. She’s at home,” I assure her.

From outside, I can hear the shouts of my men, confirming that downstairs is empty too. Quinn isn’t here.

“Nadya, where is Quinn? Do you know where he’s hiding?” I ask urgently as I untie her.

“No, no, no,” she mutters, and I think she’s in shock. “You have to go to her, Leo. He’s on his way there now!”

Ice runs through my veins. I don’t hesitate, I race as fast as I can out of there.

“Get Nadya somewhere safe and bring everyone to my place. Quinn’s going after Nora!” I yell at Nikolai as I sprint past him.

There’s no time to waste.

I jump onto one of the motorbikes in Quinn’s collection, needing to move as fast as I can. I can’t wait for the others. I don’t even dwell on the fact that there’s a traitor in my midst, whether they’re Chinese or one of my men. My thoughts are consumed with Nora.

I could already be too late.

As I tear out of the compound, there’s an explosion of noise behind me. Quinn’s men have finally emerged from their hiding spaces to attack. I weave, trying to avoid the shots that are being fired at me. A bullet passes by dangerously close to my helmet, then another grazes my arm. I swerve, almost losing control of the bike, but I manage to right myself. I’m running on pure adrenaline, so I don’t even notice the pain. I push on, ignoring the war that’s erupting behind me. My men can handle themselves.

Without backup, I’m heading into unknown danger alone. Nothing will stop me from trying. I don’t care if I have to carve my way through a hundred men to get to Nora. I’ll die trying. A life without her isn’t a life worth living. And I’ll drag Quinn to hell with me.

Chapter 49

Nora

The sound of waves is the first thing I hear. Confused, my eyes blink open. I’m greeted by the enormity of the night sky towering above me.

How did I get here? The last thing I remember is Tatiana coming to my room with a drink, a tea that would soothe my throat, hoarse from shouting.

As my mind becomes more alert, I come to a horrifying realization. I’m completely paralyzed.

I can’t move a muscle.

I try to cry out for help, but I can’t even do that.

Panic sets in as I feel the waves lapping over my feet. The tide is coming in.

“Oh, good, you’re awake,” Tatiana says conversationally.

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