Chapter 29 Gianna
Gianna
I knock on the window, and Ailish stirs awake, blinking slowly like someone roused from a pleasant dream. How can she sleep at a time like this? My nerves are on fire, and she's out here dozing like it's just another day. She unlocks the door, and I climb into the back seat.
"Let's go," I say, and she looks back at me.
"How did the meeting go?"
"Lovely," I answer, my voice laced with thick sarcasm that doesn't even try to hide my disgust. Ailish scoffs.
"I see it went well." She starts the engine.
I roll my eyes, my thoughts already spinning, trapped in the question I've been obsessing over since I left the cafe.
How am I supposed to get Declan on recording?
She pulls out onto the road, the tires crunching softly against the gravel as we head straight to what might be my doom.
When we finally pull up, I step out of the car, nerves thrumming under my skin.
Ailish follows me, calm as ever. We approach the hidden side entrance, and she presses the code.
The door slides open, revealing the elevator.
I step in, expecting Ailish to follow behind me.
She doesn't. I turn to her, brows knitting as I meet her eyes.
"What are you doing?" I ask, frowning. "Let's go."
"This is where my help ends," she says. "I can't go with you."
"Are you kidding me?" I hiss, keeping my voice low. "You said you'd help me find Finn," I whisper, trying not to alert any guards.
She nods. "Yeah, and I did. I found out from the guards where he's locked. I'll wait for you here. Someone has to keep watch, Princess."
I want to scream at her, but I know she's right. It still doesn't feel comforting going there alone. My insides churn, but I know there's no time to waste. "Where is he?" I ask, bracing myself.
"Take the elevator to the fourteenth floor. The only room on that floor is where Declan's holding him," she answers.
I swallow hard, my heart crawling into my throat. "Okay," I nod, more to myself than to her.
"Good luck," Ailish says, and I press the button. The door slides shut, and the elevator begins to move up. I bite hard on my lip, mapping out my plan, praying everything goes well.
The elevator jerks to a stop. The number "14" glows white above the door.
It slides open with a slow hiss, revealing a dim hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. The only room on the floor.
I walk down the hall, trying to find an opening similar to the one I found in Declan's room.
My steps are heavy, and so is my heart as I inch closer to where Finn is. I hope he's still conscious.
I run my fingers along the wall. Nothing. I press my palm to the panel beside the door, hoping and praying it reacts. I glance around again, searching for something, anything that resembles a trigger, a groove, a loose panel.
Then I spot it. Just barely visible, a faint seam low on the wall near the frame.
I press into it and feel a soft click under my palm.
The door hisses open. I step in and glance at the door disguised as a shelf.
But it's not a bookshelf like Declan's room.
This shelf is filled with boxes, dusty boxes.
The room is dimly lit, the only light source a single overhead bulb flickering in the far corner, but I can barely see because of the large nylon blocking my view.
I walk slowly, trying not to attract any guards if they're in here. I push the nylon aside, my heart beating so hard, I'm sure anyone in the room might hear. I freeze. My heart drops.
Finn is there.
He's lying limp on the floor, his wrists bound behind him. His shirt is torn open, blood staining the fabric. His face is bruised and his lips split, but he's still alive. His chest is rising and falling, barely, but it's there.
"Finn..." I whisper, rushing forward. My knees hit the concrete floor as I slide beside him, reaching for his face. His eyes flicker open, and even with his face covered in blood, he looks surprised, shocked even to see me.
"Gianna...?" he rasps, his voice nothing more than gravel and pain. My heart shatters, and I blink back the tears threatening to fall. "Shh. I'm here. I'm going to get you out of here." Finn groans in pain, trying to sit up as I help. Every area I touch on his body elicits a deep groan of pain.
How can Declan do this to him? I reach behind him and loosen the rope that binds his hands. From the looks of it, it seems he's been trying to escape. His wrists are bleeding and raw from the rope's friction. "Oh my god," I gasp, slowly taking the rope off his wrists to avoid further damage.
I move to face him, and a relieved sigh escapes him.
"Thank God, you're safe," he says, cupping my face with his bloodied hand.
I place my hand on his cheek, tears filling my eyes as I take a proper look at the damage done to his body.
I can see patches of bruising through his torn shirt, and I clench my fist.
"Yes, I'm safe," I whisper. "We have to go. Do you think you can walk?" I ask, resting my hand on his knee, and he groans in pain, the sound coming out muffled. I take my hand off immediately. "I'm sorry," I whisper. "It's okay," he whispers, but pain is still evident in his tone.
"How did you find me?" he asks, looking to the main door.
I can see shadows of people who I assume are guards through the door.
"Ailish told me I'd find you here." His brows knit together, confusion tightening in his features, and I shake my head.
Of course, Finn doesn't know about Ailish. "Ailish is working with Liam."
"What?" he says in disbelief, and I can tell his mind is trying to make sense of everything he knows to be true.
"Liam wants me to get Declan on recording, breaking a rule that will turn the tide of Irish loyalty against him."
Finn groans, shifting painfully as he tries to sit up straighter. "That's impossible," he grits out, his voice raw and low. "You can't go near Declan. You need to leave this place and find Vito."
I exhale, the weight of everything pressing down on my shoulders.
"You think I can leave you behind?" My voice cracks before I can steady it.
"We're leaving together, Finn. Then I'll find a way to get the recording from Declan.
" It's reckless. It's dangerous. But it's the only plan I have. I just need to make sure Finn is safe.
He rests his head back against the wall, chest rising with shallow breaths, sweat beading on his brow. "And how are you going to do that, Gianna?" he whispers. "I get that you want to fight this battle, but it will mean nothing if you don't survive."
"Finn..." I reach for him, but before I can say more, his hand finds mine in the dark.
His fingers wrap around mine, firm but shaking.
"Declan might not be able to kill me," he continues, eyes glistening with pain.
"But he won't hesitate to kill you to start this war.
You're the spark, Gianna. Vito is the only one who can protect you now. "
His words sink in like a stone in my chest. But still, how can I run when he's here, hurt and broken, barely able to sit upright?
"I can't live without you, Gianna," he says, voice low, words scraping against the rawness of his throat.
"I love you." His eyes hold so many emotions that I suddenly don't know what to do.
I grip his hand tighter, a thousand thoughts storming my head.
I can't leave him here. But I don't know how to get to Declan. I don't know how to get the recording.
A heavy weight settles on my shoulders, and my mind goes into overdrive.
Then suddenly, it clicks. My eyes light up.
"Wait, that's it," I whisper, more to myself than to him, praying the idea taking shape in my head works.
Finn's head shifts slightly towards me. "What is it?
" he asks, his voice raspy, laced with confusion and curiosity.
My gaze locks onto his, intense and brimming with urgency. "What if Declan can kill you?" I say, watching his eyebrows come together. "I mean, I've seen him only get worked up a few times, and it's always with you. You're one person who really gets under his skin."
Finn narrows his eyes, studying me. I continue, the plan unraveling in my mind like a map. "What if you push him? Get him riled up. Provoke him until he says something, anything that will cause the Irish to turn on him?"
Finn is quiet for a second, chewing over my words. Then, finally, he nods slowly. "Do you think you can do it?" I ask.
"Yeah, I think that would work," he replies, and I blow out a relieved sigh. I run my hand through my hair, pushing it back from my face as I start to think aloud.
"Okay, we just need to plan what you'll say, exactly how to steer the conversation..." Before I can finish, the sound from outside interrupts me.
"Open the door," Declan's voice comes from behind the door, sending a cold shiver down my spine.
My heart races, and fear surges in my veins.
Panic claws at my throat as my eyes dart to Finn.
He looks at me, battered but alert, and mouths one urgent word.
Hide. Without hesitation, I scramble backwards, careful not to let my boot scuff the floor as I slip toward the secret passageway.
I don't dare look back. Every movement feels too loud, too slow, as though the walls are holding their breath.
"Okay, boss," a guard responds. I freeze just beyond the veil of the translucent nylon barrier that covers the opening. Keys jangle on the other side, the sound slicing through the silence. My pulse thunders in my ears.
I crouch behind the nylon, barely daring to breathe. The door swings open with a heavy metallic creak, and I thank the stars above that the nylon, though nearly invisible, is enough to obscure the entrance without drawing attention. There's no way I can close the door now, not without a sound.