Thirty-Three
Magnus
Time was slipping through our fingers, but I knew we couldn’t tackle this alone. We needed Mario, Stefan, and their men. Ashlee was out of her mind to confront Dmitry solo—stupid, reckless, and now Ethan was trapped in there with them. No matter what he claimed, I couldn’t trust him not to sacrifice himself for Ashlee.
It felt like an eternity before Mario’s car finally screeched to a halt, Luca and Blake emerging from the vehicle.
"Took you long enough," I growled, my patience fraying.
"Planning a battle requires proper preparation, Magnus. You know that," Mario replied with infuriating calm, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Stefan and the rest of the team are on their way. Is Ethan in the warehouse?"
"He is, and if he hasn’t already offered up his life, he will soon!"
"I'm counting on it," Mario said, his voice as cold as ice.
My blood boiled. "That’s your fucking brother-"
"Who we’re here to save," he interrupted sharply. "Now trust me and stick to the plan. I'm counting on Ethan to draw Dmitry's attention. It'll make our task easier."
"And if Dmitry doesn’t fall for it?"
"Then you better be ready to unleash hell to get your girl back."
I drew in a breath and nodded. I’d give my life for my Red. She was my world.
Three sleek, black cars screeched to a halt, their engines purring ominously. Stefan emerged from the lead vehicle, his eyes ablaze with a fierce determination. The night air crackled with tension; he had come for one purpose – war.
"Everyone knows the plan. Now let's move!" He bellowed, his voice slicing through the tension like a knife.
"Wait, what?" I called out, my heart racing as adrenaline surged through me.
"You’re with me, Mags," Mario said, gripping my arm firmly.
I raised an eyebrow, my pulse quickening. "Care to share the plan?" I thrived on missions, but not when it was my family at stake.
Mario’s eyes flickered with a mix of urgency and resolve. "Our task is Ashlee. Dad’s handling Dmitry."
A shiver ran down my spine as the pieces fell into place. Ethan was the perfect decoy to divert Dmitry’s lethal attention. This wasn’t just a plan – it was a deadly dance, each of us playing a critical role. We exchanged a look, understanding the gravity of the night ahead. Every second counted, and the stakes had never been higher. The fate of the family hung in the balance, and failure was not an option.
I just prayed that Ethan was enough for Dmitry to forget Ashlee’s attempted murder on him.
As we closed in on the warehouse, Mario grabbed my arm and dragged me away from the door. “There’s another back here.”
“How do you know?”
Mario laughed. “I bought this entire estate last year, Magnus. Only dad knows. The deed is in a fake name. This is the only warehouse empty and since I can’t think of a use, I’ve out it up for sale.”
A laugh escaped me. How the pieces of the puzzle fell in our favour..
“What’s in the other?”
Mario winked. “Weapons, drugs, a few toys for my club. These things require storage.”
I shook my head. Fate was in our hands.
I burst through the back door with Mario right behind me, my heart pounding with the urgency of the moment. The room was chaos. Ethan was on his knees, blood streaming from his nose as Dmitry’s fists landed blow after brutal blow. Ashlee was nearby, her hands bound, tears streaking her face, but her eyes blazing with defiance. Then I spotted two men - two traitors – men who worked for Stefan who had their guns trained on them, their sneers widening as they relished their power.
“Now!” Mario shouted, and I sprang into action as one of the men darted towards us.
I dove towards the closest thug, slamming my shoulder into his midsection and driving him into the ground. His gun went off, a wild shot that embedded itself harmlessly in the wall. Mario engaged the other, a brutal exchange of punches and gunfire filling the air as they fought for control.
“Fucking traitor!” I roared. “You’re going to die!”
Stefan and his men crashed through the front door like a force of nature, their guns blazing. The room erupted into a deadly cacophony, bullets whizzing past and thudding into flesh. Stefan’s men took out the traitors with surgical precision, their bodies crumpling to the ground beneath Mario and I.
Dmitry’s eyes widened as he realised his advantage was slipping away. He reached for another gun on his belt, but I was faster. With a roar, I launched myself at him, tackling him to the ground. We rolled, fists flying. He was strong, fuelled by desperation, but I had something he didn’t – a reason to fight beyond myself.
I caught a glimpse of Ethan, staggering to his feet, determination etched in his bloodied face. He made his way to Ashlee, tearing at the ropes that bound her hands.
Dmitry’s knee slammed into my ribs, the pain exploding through my side. I gritted my teeth, refusing to let him get the upper hand. I managed to get on top of him, my fists raining down on his face. Blood splattered, his growls turning to cries of pain.
Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. I froze, my breath catching. Dmitry’s eyes went wide with shock, then glassy. He slumped beneath me, a dark red stain spreading across his chest.
I looked up to see Stefan lowering his smoking gun, a grim satisfaction on his face. “It’s over,” he said, his voice like steel.
Mario and I moved quickly, helping Ethan and Ashlee to their feet. She collapsed into Ethan’s arms, sobbing with relief. I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me, but also a deep sense of triumph. We had done it. We had rescued them and put an end to Dmitry’s reign of terror.
“Let’s get out of here,” Stefan said, his eyes scanning the room one last time.
“What about Alexis?” I asked.
“He won’t be a problem. He’s not threat to me.”
“Mags,” Ashlee sobbed, shakily breaking free from Ethan’s embrace.
“Red.” My heart swelled as I had her. “Fuck, are you hurt?”
Stupid fucking question. Her face was bruised.
“I’m fine.”
My gaze hardened. “Ashlee.”
Ethan limped closer, his arms wrapping around us both.
“I just wanted this to end. I wanted you to be safe,” Ashlee sobbed.
Was I angry at her?
Fuck yes. She’d put herself in danger.
Did I forgive her? Always.
Ethan chuckled. “You’re the strongest woman I know, baby, but that ass is still being spanked for this mess.”
“By both of us,” I added.
“It’s over, sweetheart. It’s over,” Ethan murmured.
“Get yourselves checked out, son,” Stefan said. “I’ll deal with this.”
Ashlee broke free from our protective grasp and staggered towards Stefan, her resolve palpable despite the bruises marring her skin. “Thank you for coming, and I apologize for the trouble. I just needed him gone.”
Stefan met her gaze with a mixture of respect and concern. “You’re part of this family, Ashlee. We protect our own. But next time, come to me first before facing danger alone.”
Ethan, still seething with worry, interjected sharply, “She’s not doing anything like this again!”
Stefan chuckled lightly, a glint of admiration in his eyes, as he signaled for his men to regroup. I glanced at Ethan and Ashlee, my heart swelling with pride. They were my family. “Let’s get you two home and cleaned up. It’s all over now.”
Ashlee’s smile was radiant despite the pain etched on her face as she took hold of both our hands. In that moment, with bruises forming like badges of honour, she was more beautiful than ever. She had risked everything for us, the ultimate testament of her love and loyalty.
I exchanged a proud, knowing glance with Ethan, then turned back to Ashlee, overwhelmed with gratitude and love. In her courage, I saw the true depth of her heart. And as I stood there, surrounded by my family, I couldn’t help but feel like the luckiest man alive.