Chapter 25 Harper
Harper
The warehouse had been too quiet for hours. Quiet enough to make every drip of water from the pipes sound like a countdown.
Then it changed.
The first blast rattled the walls, a white flash searing through the cracks in the door. Rosa screamed, Elena jolted awake with a broken cry. My heart slammed so hard it felt like my ribs might crack.
Shouts erupted outside—men barking orders, boots hammering against concrete. Then gunfire. Sharp, controlled bursts, not the sloppy thunder of panic.
I knew that sound.
My pulse leapt. Carter.
I pressed the girls closer to me, crouching low. “Stay behind me,” I whispered, even though I had nothing but my body to shield them. “Help’s here. Just hold on.”
The lock on the door scraped. Heavy footsteps pounded closer. My throat closed, praying it wasn’t the boss, praying it was—
The door blew inward, crashing against the wall.
Smoke curled through the room, and then he was there.
Carter.
Vest strapped, rifle raised, eyes wild and locked on me. For a split second, the storm in his face softened, like the sight of me was the only thing tethering him to earth.
“Harper.” My name was a growl, a vow, a relief all at once.
I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. My body wanted to collapse, but my heart—my heart surged like it had been waiting for this exact moment.
He crossed the room in three strides, dropping to his knees, ripping the ties from my wrists. His hands shook, not with hesitation but with rage barely caged.
“Did they hurt you?” His voice was rough, breaking.
“No.” My throat burned. “But the girls—”
“I’ve got you,” he cut in, his forehead pressing hard to mine for half a heartbeat before he turned, barking orders to the team behind him.
River and Gideon flooded in, covering the hall. Aponi rushed to the girls, her calm voice a balm as she checked their injuries. That’s when I remembered Aponi was a doctor.
But Carter never let go of me. His hand stayed on the back of my neck like if he released me, I’d vanish.
And for the first time since they’d dragged me into this hell, I believed I was safe.
Not because the danger was over. But because Carter Robinson had come for me like a storm, and nothing in this world was going to stop him.