Chapter 54 Asha
ASHA
Consciousness crept back in like an unwelcome visitor. Everything hurt, but my face felt as if someone had pressed a scorching brand into both cheeks.
When I forced my eyes open, the dark room was empty. I didn’t know how much time had passed, but all my fingers and toes were still attached, so it had to have been less than an hour since the video had been filmed.
I drew in a shaky breath, pushing my mind past the pain and the utter hopelessness of the situation.
Rook would be here soon. I couldn’t let him hand himself over to Baranov. Earlier, my gangster had said he’d fight for me, but I needed him to fight for us.
I dropped my chin to my chest as a sob escaped me. Blood streaked down my neck and soaked into the velvet bodice of my once-pretty dress.
My dress.
The one Rook had given me with a listening bug stitched inside. If it still worked, he’d be able to hear me.
“Rook,” I whispered hoarsely. “I don’t know if you can hear me, but if you can, I’m not going to waste time telling you not to come.
We both know you’re too damn stubborn for that.
Just in case the microphone didn’t catch it, Baranov admitted to being the Soul Collector.
I doubt he plans on letting either of us live, so don’t even think about showing up on your own.
Bring everyone and annihilate these assholes.
I’ll give you what information I can. Pay attention. ”
I glanced around the room, not confident that describing it offered anything to help Rook plan. “I’m taped to a chair in a locked room. There’s only one door in. It has windows, but I can’t see much through them from here. Hold on a second.”
I leaned forward and stood awkwardly with the chair stuck to me like a tortoise shell. Hunched over, I made my way to the windows and sat again. The effort left my wrists raw where the tape cut into my skin.
The glass was nearly opaque with decades of grime. I lifted one leg and dragged a bare toe across it, marking a crooked X.
“There,” I murmured, breath fogging in the cool night air. “I marked an X on the dirty window. That should help you find me.”
I leaned as close to the window as the tape allowed, peering through the thin streaks where moonlight broke through.
“I’m up high. Third floor maybe. I can see the river. There’s a train bridge going over it.”
Shadows moved below. I squinted, counting shapes pacing the perimeter.
“There are guards outside. At least six carrying automatic weapons, and that’s only on the side I can see.
There are more guys inside. I can hear boots moving around and people talking.
Can’t be sure, but it seems like ten or more.
I’ve heard radio chatter from above, too.
I’m guessing they have snipers on the roof. ”
I licked my dry lips. “That’s all I can tell you. I hope it helps. Don’t you dare die coming for me, Rook. Please.”
I steeled myself. The rest of what I had to say was much harder.
“There are some other things I need you to hear in case this goes sideways.”
My chest ached, not from fear, but from everything I’d left unsaid. I’d been too afraid to face my feelings. Too proud to admit that maybe I didn’t want to be alone anymore. And too damn confused that I had feelings for a ruler of the Philly underworld.
Nothing like the threat of imminent death to make you realize what was really important.
“I forgive you for everything. I mean, there’s a lot, and you’ve got years of groveling ahead of you, but I can get past everything that’s happened these last two weeks.
” I looked at the massive emerald on my ring finger.
It didn’t represent a prison anymore. It felt like a safe haven.
“I even forgive you for not telling me about Sierra. That one’s hard, but you’ve caught me at a vulnerable moment, so it’s your lucky day, gangster.
” My strained laugh got cut off by a sob.
“There’s plenty I’m thankful for, too. Thank you for the fancy studio and for understanding how much the podcast means to me.
Thank you for ridding the world of Greg fucking Holbrook.
You’ll never know how grateful I am for that.
But most of all, thank you for loving me.
” I shook my head as my vision blurred. “God, you love just as fiercely as you do everything else.” A sad smile formed on my lips.
“When you told me how you feel, I wanted to stay mad at you. I really did. The problem is, I think I might be a little bit in love with you, too, you crazy Irish bastard.”
A tear slid down my face, stinging the fresh cut.
“If we survive this, I want us to try to be together for real. And if you feel the same, we need ground rules. No manipulating me to get your way, and no more hiding things from me, either. Even if you don’t like how I’ll react.
” My breath hitched. “Just promise me we’ll figure things out, okay? We have to.”
The door banged open, and I flinched.
Blondie strode in, then Baranov, with a blade glinting in his hand. Their expressions were flat and businesslike, as if mutilating women were no different from signing a contract.
“Your husband has made his choice,” Baranov said, his tone almost bored. “Now we make another video.”
He crossed the room, and my heart pumped overtime with a kick of adrenaline. Cold dread sank through me as he reached for my hand and pried at my fingers.
“No.” My voice trembled. I shook my head frantically. “Please—”
The window exploded inward in a spray of glass. Baranov’s skull snapped back, and crimson mist sprayed across my lap. His body crumpled at my feet; his knife clattered to the concrete. Then came the delayed crack of the sniper rifle that had fired the shot.
Blondie cursed and turned, but the next shot punched through his skull, dropping him like a puppet with its string cut.
Chaos erupted outside. Automatic bursts rattled the air, men yelling, orders barked in Russian. Somewhere nearby, an explosion shook the floor and walls. A cloud of dirt and rust rained from above.
Rook was here. And it sounded like he’d brought an army.
My heart surged, then dropped in terror. The Russians had their own legion. What if the Beasts were outnumbered? Outgunned?
The building became a war zone. Bullets pinged into walls. Screams abruptly ended with gunfire. Footsteps raced down the hallway.
The firefight drew nearer. I couldn’t take cover. Couldn’t even block my ears.
There was a long hiss outside my door, and smoke flooded through the gaps. More bursts, closer now, followed by ominous thuds that could only be bodies hitting the floor.
Then the door burst inward.
Rook filled the frame, rifle at the ready, smoke curling around his silhouette. Black fatigues, tactical vest, heavy boots. His blue eyes were frantic until they locked on me.
He lowered his weapon. “Wildfire.” His voice almost shattered on that one word.
He charged for me and hacked through the tape binding my wrists to the chair.
The moment my arms were free, he caught my face between his hands, gently tilting my chin up.
His jaw clenched. Rage and pain churned in his eyes as he took in the bloody slashes carved into my cheeks.
For a heartbeat, I thought he might break down right there.
“I’m so sorry.” His thumbs hovered just shy of my skin, being careful not to touch the wounds.
“It doesn’t matter.” I clasped the nape of his neck. “We’re alive. That’s all that counts.”
Rook nodded and pulled me to my feet. I wrapped my arms tight around him, pressing my forehead into the solid warmth of his chest.
The world narrowed to his scent of gunpowder and sweat, and the thunder of his heart against mine.
Gunfire still popped in the distance, but it was fading. Sporadic shots instead of a deafening storm. Then silence.
Aidan appeared in the doorway. Tension turned to relief when he saw us. “Thank fuck.” He lowered his rifle and moved forward, one finger pressed to his earpiece. A beat later, he nodded. “That’s the last of them.”
“Did you keep one alive?” Rook asked.
“Aye,” Aidan replied. “Liam has him in the car already. We should go. Torin can’t hold the cops off forever.”
Rook kept his hands firm on my shoulders, and his eyes scanned my face. “Can you walk?”
“I think so.” I wasn’t certain in my answer. My legs quaked beneath me, but adrenaline had me wired.
“Good. I need my hands free for my rifle. Stay close. Don’t let go of me for a second.”
He shifted his weapon into position and guided me to the door. Aidan went through first, his head swiveling in all directions, on the lookout for threats.
I gripped a strap on the back of Rook’s tactical vest, staying right behind him every step of the way.
Smoke still drifted through the corridors. Debris fell from the damaged roof as we picked our way past rubble and fallen bodies. The occasional echo of gunfire silenced the pained groans of enemies one by one.
My eyes darted over every dark corner. The closer we got to the exit, the more relieved I felt that this nightmare might finally be over.
Then movement snagged the edge of my vision.
One of the Russians, sprawled on the floor, blood pooling beneath him, reached for something at his side. His hand trembled as he recovered a pistol. With a shaky arm, he aimed it at Rook.
I didn’t think. Just shoved Rook forward. A shot rang out. Fire tore through my side. White-hot agony stole my breath and dropped me to my knees.
Rook spun and fired once. Twice. The Russian jolted as each bullet found its target.
I slumped over, clutching my side. Blood welled hot and thick between my fingers. Each breath felt like a searing knife probing my middle.
Rook caught me before I collapsed completely. For a moment, he looked confused. Then his gaze dropped to the spreading crimson on my dress.
“No,” he choked out.
Sheer terror lined his face, his wide eyes, his furrowed brow, like his whole world had been ripped out from under him.
Fuck. This was bad.
“Sorry, gangster. Guess you’re carrying me out of here after all.”