Chapter 29
29
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T he SUV speeds down the dark highway, headlights cutting through the thick night. We’ve been on the road, traveling west for over an hour. Heavy clouds cover the moon, making the darkness feel more oppressive than usual. Shadowy trees zoom by, and Asher’s face lights up every now and then from the blue glow of his phone as he quickly types out messages.
I clench my jaw and focus straight ahead. Deep down, I know we’re doing the right thing. Sure, we could’ve called the local police to check out the property, but the bodyguard in me, trained to protect, knows that cops get bogged down in red tape, especially when Micah has so many people in his pocket. The last thing we need is for anyone to tip him off.
“What’s on your mind?” Nick asks.
“We can’t let Micah get away this time,” I reply.
Nick nods, clearly thinking the same thing. “He’s gotten out of trouble too many times in Newport.”
Asher looks up from his phone. “That’s why we’re dealing with this ourselves first. If we go to the cops right away, they’ll hesitate, ask questions, and take their sweet time. By then, Micah could move Mia somewhere else. Or worse.”
I can’t shake the image of the woman in Micah’s grasp. She looks so much like Harper, and that fucking infuriates me. It very well could’ve been Harper instead.
Asher sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Just so we’re clear, if this goes sideways, it’s our asses. Are we ready for that?”
“That’s why we don’t let it go sideways,” Nick says confidently. “We find Mia, deal with Micah, and then hand him over. Easy-peasy.”
“Easy-peasy,” I repeat, knowing this is anything but.
A tense silence falls over us, broken only by the sound of tires on the asphalt.
“Relax, Ash,” Nick finally says with a smirk. “You’ve got me and Brod. What could possibly go wrong?”
“I appreciate your optimism,” I say with a hint of sarcasm. “But I just want to get this over with.”
Nick presses down on the gas a bit more, and the SUV lunges forward. Every second counts, and this time, we can’t afford to fail.
Eventually, he turns off the paved road and onto a narrow gravel path, hidden by overgrown branches and thick brush. The headlights slice through the dark woods, casting long shadows on the trees. Gravel crunches under the tires, the noise way too loud in the heavy silence.
“Kill the lights,” Asher whispers from the passenger seat, his eyes scanning ahead.
Adrenaline pumps through me, and I crack my neck, getting ready. I used to live for trouble like this, but now that I’ve got a future waiting for me, I’m not sure if I want to keep putting myself in danger. Once I get Mia out, I’m done. This will be my last mission, and then I’m focusing on protecting and loving Harper. Retiring from this life feels right.
My eyes narrow on the dim outlines of the road.
We creep forward until the house pops up in the dark, looking like a ghost in the faint moonlight filtering through the pines. Boarded-up windows and peeling paint make it seem abandoned, but I spot fresh tire tracks on the grass. Someone has been here recently.
Nick parks under a shadowy canopy of trees on the other side of the brick wall. He cuts the engine, and silence wraps around us again.
“It’s quiet,” Nick finally says. “Too quiet.”
“Exactly why we need to move fast,” Asher replies, still focused ahead. “Let’s fucking end this.”
His words remind me that Harper, Billie, and Mia are caught up in Micah’s vendetta. It’s our fight now, and I can’t back down; I have to face it, end it. I won’t let Micah slip away again.
Nick catches my eye in the rearview mirror. “Ready?”
Asher turns slightly, his face set with determination as he pulls out his gun and loads it. “We do this fast. No mistakes.”
The weight of responsibility sinks deeper onto my shoulders. “Let’s go. Be invisible,” I say, pushing open the door.
We hop out of the SUV and carefully shut the doors. Each move is smooth and seems almost practiced. Gravel crunches under our boots as we take the driveway toward the house. The cool night air brushes against my skin as we hustle forward. My heart’s steady, but I’m overly aware of any noise or movement around us. I’ve trained for moments like this, and while it’s not ideal, I know I could handle it solo. Having Nick and Asher with me just means we’ll get Mia out safely. Hopefully.
I take the lead, signaling with simple hand gestures for Asher and Nick to spread out and create a tight perimeter. We fall into our positions seamlessly.
Once closer to the house, I can see how run-down it is. Ivy creeps up the walls, every window boarded up, and the front door looks heavily barricaded. I scan for other ways in. Nick points toward a side entrance, barely visible. Asher gives a quick nod and carefully moves to cover our flank. I follow Nick, my footsteps steady as we approach the door. My grip on my gun tightens instinctively, muscles ready for action.
We pause just outside, pressed against the wall. A faint glow seeps out from beneath the slightly open doorway. That means the house has power—not completely abandoned then.
Nick looks over at me. Ready? he mouths.
I nod firmly, exhaling, knowing this will take us less than an hour.
We hang back at the side entrance. Adrenaline races through me, but I keep my breathing steady. Nick shifts beside me, ready to jump into action, and on my other side, Asher’s tense silence is electric. The light spilling from the doorway looks eerie, like a warning for whatever’s waiting inside.
My military training kicks in.
Micah isn’t a soldier. He’s dangerous, reckless, and desperate, but he doesn’t have combat training. I hold on to that thought; it sharpens my focus. It’s an edge we can use.
Nick gives a countdown with his fingers, starting from three. I take a deep breath, getting my head straight as he hits one. Then he quickly swings the door open and slips inside smoothly. I follow him, gun up, scanning the dark space quickly.
The room is small, cramped, and lit by a single bare bulb hanging overhead. Dusty furniture fills the place, clearly abandoned ages ago. It’s dead silent, broken only by our careful breathing and my racing heart. Asher shuts the door behind us. The house feels like a tomb. The stale air almost chokes me, and every creak under our feet echoes around us.
Nick heads toward the next doorway, signaling us to follow. We fall into line, and the weight of my retirement feels heavier with each step.
I’m set on ending Micah’s reign of terror tonight.
We clear the first room quickly. The next one is a kitchen, dimly lit by a flickering yellow bulb. It’s empty too. He’s around here somewhere—I can feel it—and a chill of dread settles in my bones. Suddenly, Nick stops, spotting something at the back wall. He tilts his chin, pointing out a faint outline, partially hidden behind an old pantry shelf. It’s a door.
My pulse races with excitement. Everything in me knows that whatever’s behind that door will lead us right to Mia and then to that motherfucker.
Asher moves stealthily toward it, careful of the creaky floorboards; his movements are calculated. He glances back at me, eyes asking. I give a quick nod, and he pulls the pantry aside just enough to fully reveal the doorway.
A shadowy stairwell is behind it, and it goes down into pure darkness. Every muscle is tense with anticipation, as we’re just moments away from facing whatever’s down there.
I step up, taking the lead. It’s my responsibility, my fight—one I’ve been waiting over a decade to end.
I glance at Asher and Nick. Their faces are hard but supportive; they’re ready to follow wherever this goes. The bond we’ve built over the years, even though they’re total pains in my ass, gives me strength.
I head down the stairs, overly alert, picking up on every little sound or movement. Each step creaks under my weight, loud in the heavy silence, but I can’t help it. Asher and Nick follow behind me, guns ready, keeping an eye on my back as we go deeper into the depths of the basement.
The air gets colder and thicker, smelling like mildew and something else—something familiar. I think I hear a whimper, barely there but unmistakable, sending a surge of protectiveness through me.
Mia.
Anger bubbles just beneath the surface, sharpening my senses and only gearing me up for what’s ahead.
I pinpoint where I think I heard it from and signal to Nick and Asher behind me. We carefully move deeper into the basement, weapons raised and senses on high alert.
Every step gets me closer to Mia and to Micah Rhodes. Can’t fucking wait.
I push down the surge of anger rising inside me. My eyes scan the dimness, taking in the shadows. Nick moves past me. He narrows his eyes, quickly checking every corner and potential hiding spot. The room feels abandoned, with dusty furniture and forgotten items scattered around. It’s a snapshot of life before Micah brought his bullshit here.
I stay alert as Nick suddenly pauses. He signals with two fingers toward the far end of the room. My heart races, adrenaline kicking in as I follow his cue. Behind an old, rusty fridge, a small space comes into view. It’s a partially hidden doorframe, barely visible under layers of dust and grime. It’s the perfect secret entrance—easy to miss unless you know exactly what you’re looking for.
This has to be where they are.
Asher quickly joins us, his face darkening as he realizes what the hidden doorway means. He locks eyes with mine, and we know Mia’s here. And where Mia is, Micah’s not far behind, ready for trouble.
“Make the call as soon as you can,” I whisper to Asher, and he nods.
Nick gestures again, his movements sharp and calculated. He steps up, pushing the fridge aside, trying not to make any noise for anyone who might be listening on the other side of that door. The scraping sound is soft, but it feels way too loud.
Asher moves next to me, gun steady and aimed at the entrance. He gives me a quick nod, letting me know he’s ready. I keep my weapon raised and steady; my military and security training grounds me. My hand is steady; my mind is focused.
Nick carefully turns the doorknob, inching it open. The hinges creak, but luckily, it’s quiet enough not to draw attention. Beyond the doorway is a long, dark hallway.
I take a deep breath, bracing myself for whatever’s lurking inside. Nick goes first, moving silently down the narrow hall. I follow right behind him; each step feels heavy. Asher watches our backs, covering us as we slip farther into the hidden room. The air grows damper and musty, mixed with a metallic smell that makes my stomach turn.
Suddenly, a scared whimper breaks the silence, faint but unmistakably real.
My throat tightens, and I clench my jaw, knowing we’re closer than ever. We’re moments away from facing the nightmare Micah is forcing this poor woman to live. I lift my hand for Nick and Asher to move carefully. We step closer and closer, the faint sounds of Mia’s frightened breaths guiding us.
I want to reassure her, but I don’t know if Micah is close by.
A muffled sob comes from the corner, shaky and scared. Each sound hits me hard, pushing me to bring her home safely and finally make Micah Rhodes pay for all the pain he’s caused.
Adrenaline sharpens my senses. One wrong move could ruin everything. I grip my weapon tighter, ready for the showdown just ahead.
I click on my tactical flashlight, and it cuts through the darkness, lighting up the space as we reach the end of the hallway. The room feels large but somehow cramped because of the low ceiling. I scan the room slowly, each second dragging on, until I finally spot a figure huddled against the far wall.
Mia is curled up, knees pulled to her chest, her wide eyes filled with fear. She’s trembling under my gaze, her dark hair a mess around her pale, scared face. She sits in her bra and panties, and she’s filthy. My breath catches when I realize how similar she looks to Harper—those same striking blue eyes full of fear, the same delicate features. I vaguely remember meeting her a few years ago.
For a moment, I freeze, caught between the present and memories of Harper’s own fear. A wave of anger rises in me; protectiveness grips my chest.
I relax my stance, lowering my gun. “Mia,” I say, my voice calm, crouching down to her eye level. “I’m Billie’s cousin. We came to save you.”
She flinches at first, pressing back against the cold wall, her eyes darting to Asher and Nick, who are just out of the flashlight’s beam. Her breathing picks up, fear spiking, but she stays quiet, trying to trust me.
“It’s okay,” I assure her, keeping my tone steady and soothing even though my muscles are tense. “Come with us. We’re getting you out of here. Micah can’t hurt you anymore.”
At the mention of Micah, she shudders, shaking her head, tears slipping silently down her cheeks. Her voice breaks into a small, barely audible whisper. “He said no one would ever find me …”
“We did,” I say, holding out my hand. “I know you’re scared, but you’ve got to trust me. Can you do that?”
She studies my face, looking for some reassurance. After a tense moment, she finally gives a small, unsure nod. A wave of relief hits me, and I extend my hand, palm up.
“I’m going to help you up,” I tell her, keeping my voice gentle, not wanting to overwhelm her fragile trust. “Stay close.”
Mia’s shaking hand reaches out to mine, fingers cold as they brush against my palm. I grab her hand, helping her to her feet. She sways a bit, her legs shaky, and I steady her, trying to keep her out of sight as much as I can.
Her eyes lock on to mine, wide and vulnerable, wearing the same expression Harper had when I rescued her. It brings me back, and anger nearly blinds me.
I glance at Nick and Asher, giving them a quick signal. They’re still by the hallway, weapons drawn, eyes sharp. Their tension matches mine, confirming we’re all in this together.
For a moment, it’s quiet around us.
Mia reaches for my hand, and I let myself feel a sliver of hope.
Maybe, just maybe, we can all get out of here safely.