Chapter 32 Alaric
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
ALARIC
“The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.” - William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
Time is of the essence and the sand in the hourglass is nearing the end. Each grain falls gracefully down the funnel causing dread to puncture me right in the gut. Fear has never been an issue for me until now.
Antonio’s foot is like a cinder block, weighing down on the accelerator but no matter how fast we go, it doesn’t seem fast enough. The landscape outside the window is a blur as we race on before the last grain of sand hits the bottom.
Anxiety.
Rage.
Worry.
I can't decipher between the three what has a stronger hold on my neck. It’s like the demon is fighting its way up to the surface to wreck havoc on everything in sight but the new version of myself is trying to keep it tame.
Deeper and deeper, we drive to the middle of nowhere as the city blurs in the rearview mirror.
The FBI would no doubt have traced the IP back to the cult-like community, but they would have never found out where the victims were really held.
They would have run in circles over and over again searching the perimeter only to come up empty-handed.
I guess there are perks for working with the Mafia.
Reckless, ruthless, and violence is what gives them the answers they need.
Even if bodies are dropped and blood is spilled.
Lucky for them, they have a clean-up crew, probably why the police can never gather any concrete evidence to charge them.
“Your anxiety is clouding the car. Push that shit down,” Antonio grumbles without looking my way.
I have no idea how he’s so damn calm when his cousin is literally cut up and bound.
The difference between him and me, he’s built for these situations.
They’re trained at a young age for these types of situations.
They keep their mouths shut and endure whatever pain is inflicted on them.
I’m built to find the dead before we even have the chance to save them, or find someone who is so mentally fucked up they end up ending their own life to keep the nightmares away.
“She’s your family. How do you keep it together without losing it?” I glance over at him, trying to catch any glimpse of emotion from the ruthless Italian in the driver's seat.
He doesn’t answer right away as his brows pinch together. It seems like he’s looking back at a memory, running through it over and over again. His hands tighten around the wheel, giving me a smidge of emotion.
“This isn’t the first time she’s been held captive.
The difference between the two, the first time was not planned and this one was.
The first time was a hit job. Get rid of the Mafia king and the heiress.
When we finally found her, well, she found us, she emerged from an alleyway beaten up but alive.
Then the news of her father passing away right after she came back to us.
” He pauses, contemplating, picking and choosing which information to give me.
I had no idea she’s been through this once before. She wasn’t quite forthcoming with her history or who she really was anyway. To be captured and then finding out about her father’s passing, that has to mess someone up to the max. But she seemed to turn it into power, power she held over everyone.
Cold.
Calculating.
Secretive.
Untrusting.
No wonder she warned me of her demons that laid awake. I can understand it though. I struggled with it for a long time, taming it and pushing it further down to avoid destruction.
“That’s when my anxiety ran deep. She’s my cousin but we grew up as if we were siblings.
Trained together to be prepared but we weren’t prepared for those events.
I thought we lost her that day. Once she recovered, she came back something darker, driven by vengeance and determination.
Her getting herself taken this time was to get her family back and we would all do it.
We tried to stop her but that earned a screaming match.
She’s alive, I know it.” He nods as if he’s trying to convince himself.
We turn off from the main road onto a dirt one and drive deeper into the trees, getting closer and closer to the destination. The rocks kick up against the side of the road and the tunnel we seem to drive through seems like it’s never ending.
“She has unresolved plans and mysteries she’s going to dive right into once she’s home.
If you love her truly, you’ll stand by her side as she sits on the throne, bringing the enemies to her knees.
If you can’t handle it and are too worried about the badge, I suggest you leave now before both of you get hurt. ” He side eyes me with a warning.
A warning that tells me if I hurt her, I’ll be done for. My family won't have a chance to say their goodbyes as my body will be nowhere in sight. I’ll be wiped away from existence without a single trace.
That’s the thing though, every part of me screams at me to stay, to watch her take what’s hers and demolish anyone who opposes. I couldn’t imagine stepping away from her with the tight hold she has over me. Besides, after today's stunt, I doubt I have a job anyways.
“I’m not going anywhere. My demons cling to hers and I’ll drown in them if that means that I can keep her.” The omission hangs in the air.
“You surprised me with your little stunt back there. I think you’ll do just fine.”
We near the end of the never-ending tunnel and the SUV starts to slow down. A black van comes into view with the license plate we caught in the video. Before we start our invasion, we stop at the end, watching for any movements. The only sound to be heard is the wind that starts to pick up.
The sky begins to darken from unexpected clouds that barrel in and a crack of thunder vibrates in the air.
Large water droplets hit the windshield blurring our vision of the house.
Windshield wipers sweep back and forth giving us a split view before it blurs again.
A text chimes from my pants and I reach in and pull it out.
Beckett: FBI tracked down the IP to the church. They invaded but came up empty. The priest is missing. They found a photo of an abandoned house, though, with an address.
I don’t remember seeing a photo of the abandoned house but then again, we were in a hurry and didn’t have a chance to look around.
That means we have an hour to get in before the place is swarmed.
He might get too reckless and use one of them as leverage and create an escape plan or worse kill them all before they get his hands on them.
Me: We’re here at the house. How long do we have before they swarm in?
The bubbles pop up in reply and then disappear. This happens for another minute or so before my phone chimes in response.
Beckett: Thirty-minutes before the first wave hits the dirt road. I suggest you start moving now.
I pocket my phone before I pull my pistol out, checking to make sure it’s loaded with one in the chamber. Antonio eyes me, getting the hint, and pulls the SUV from the path off to the side.
“Beckett said the FBI will be here in thirty minutes. No doubt they’ll bring SWAT and everyone possible to invade. If we want to get them out alive, we need to go now.” I open the door before he can respond but he follows suit.
Scanning the area, we clear it before we push forward as quickly as possible without getting caught.
We squat behind the black van to take cover just in case we’re spotted.
Peeking around the corner, it appears clear and we head up the old rickety steps with our guns raised.
Each of us stands off to the side and pull the screen back before I reach in and slowly turn the handle.
The front door is unlocked to our surprise and I push it open to get a better view. We wait a moment, listening in for any footsteps, and we file in back-to-back clearing the hall and rooms off to the side.
There’s no sign of Oliver so we take a chance and begin calling their names. Going deeper inside the house, we begin moving furniture, looking for any hidden doors behind them. We listen in for any response but none comes.
We clear the upstairs before coming back down. Where the hell is he keeping them and where is he? He had to have heard us by now, unless he has another car and left this one here and he’s out moving them.
“Wait!” Antonio whispers, causing us to pause. “Do you hear that?”
Over my erratic breathing, I hear a faint crash and voices that sound like they’re down below. We each pick a wall and push our backs against it as we slowly make our way to the sound. One step causes the floor to squeak, causing me to pause and wince.
Next thing I know, there’s multiple erratic footsteps trampling up what seems like stairs. Pointing the gun in front of me, two figures appear right in front of me after rounding a corner.
A scream pierces as they look up at us, nearly jumping out of their skins. They’re dressed in white night gowns, hair matted, pale skin with bruises and raw skin where it looks like they were bound. How the hell were they able to get out? Where’s the third?
“Monroe, it’s me. You’re safe. Where’s Celeste?” I look behind her frantically.
I keep my gun raised but move them behind me to protect them from whomever might come up after them. I take a step forward, peering around the wall to a door wide open that leads down to a basement.
“Sh-she’s down there,” Monroe stutters with a haunted look in her eyes.
“Is she hurt?” She nods in response. “Is he down there with her?”
“Yes, but he’s not able to harm anyone now,” the other girl murmurs with relief.
“Antonio, get these two out of here, I’m going down,” I order. Before giving him a chance to protest, I push forward, taking one step at a time slowly.