Page 98 of Beautiful Things Obey
“Don’t underestimate him. Promise me.”
I walk over to her and tilt her chin up with two fingers. “I don’t underestimate anyone. It’s why I’m still alive. I’ll keep this family safe.”
I kiss her, hard but brief. And it’s a silent promise to come back to her with Nessa. I give my sister a brief nod, and her gaze seems soft, that understanding that our family has extended, and I know no matter what happens, she’ll look after them here. That offers me a sense of relief as I walk through the door.
47
SILAS
Idrive like a bat out of hell.
The city blurs past the windows as I push my car through intersections without slowing. At this hour, the streets are mine, and I devour them quickly.
The destination: a cold storage warehouse.
My phone vibrates on the console. Valen. He and my other men moved in about five minutes before I left the house.
“We’re in position,” he says. “Six men on the perimeter. Four going in with us. Thermal imaging shows one heat signature inside. Stationary. Ground level.”
One heat signature.
Assumably Nessa. That doesn’t sound right.
“No guards?” I ask.
“None visible. No vehicles in the lot. No movement on any approach.”
My spine tingles.
One hostage. No guards. No vehicles.It doesn’t make sense.
It’s more than likely a trap. But right now I need to keep my focus on driving and getting there alive. Once on-site, I will make the call. Until then, the plan remains in place.
“Okay, standby,” I instruct. “I’m two minutes away.”
I increase the speed and tear up the space between me and the warehouse in under two minutes.
When I pull into the deserted parking lot, Valen materializes at my window before I’ve even opened the door.
“Any change?” I ask, stepping out.
“No movement. Single heat signature hasn’t shifted in twelve minutes.”
I scan the warehouse. “Have you done a perimeter sweep?”
“Of course. There is nothing.”
My jaw clenches. Something doesn’t feel right. I quickly calculate multiple outcomes, always three steps ahead, but right now, I’m not feeling like I’m ahead. Something is missing.
However, going in is the only option.
Trap or no trap, I need to get Nessa out of that warehouse. I promised Leonore.
“I’m going in,” I tell Valen. “Alone.”
“No way. Not without backup.”
“This is probably a trap. You protect me from the perimeter,” I instruct him.
