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“Nobody leaves that place alive.” I look at each of them as I finish strapping on a Kevlar vest and attaching the knives in the pockets.
“Not a soul,” Malice grins back at me. My little brother is in his element and happier than a pig in mud. Whether Odette will be pleased with me about that or not remains to be seen. I can’t let her feelings be a concern if I’m to get Della out alive.
As we head back upstairs, Asher and his team block the doorway. “You can’t just go in there; they’ll see you coming.”
“Good. It’ll be a fair fight then.” This guy has no idea what I’ll do to rescue Della.
“You don’t fucking get it! You’ll make it worse for her. They’ll know it’s you, and before you can breach, they’ll have your girl in a chopper and out of the country before you can finish your search of the building,” Carson growls, annoyed that I don’t give a fuck about a plan.
“What do you suggest, then?” Johnny asks. He’s more level-headed than the rest of us.
“I have a plan,” Wilde grins, and I get the feeling he’s a little more unhinged than he lets on.
“Let's have it,” I say. They know more about this shit than I do. I’m not about to ignore a solid plan and lose Della forever.
CHAPTER 15
Della
My chest is tighter than it’s ever been. My lungs feel like they’re on fire, and my body is weaker than I thought possible. I can hardly move my head to look around the room where I’m chained to a wall.
I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve been taken. It feels like weeks, maybe months, but I don’t think it’s been more than a day or two.
Dr. Graves keeps shooting people and forcing me to heal them, which is taking its toll on my body. Especially with her drawing enormous amounts of blood after each healing. I’m not sure how much more I can take.
My mind is fuzzy, and my ears constantly buzz. I haven’t been fed, and I’ve been given only enough water so I don’t get dehydrated.
As my legs shake from the effort to remain standing, otherwise my weight is too much for my arms and shoulders to take, all I want to do is lie down.
“Dr. Graves?” My throat is parched, and I can hardly form a coherent thought.
I hear clanking and metal banging on metal before the door across the room is finally opened. “Yes, Della?” Her phony smile makes me want to kick her teeth in…when I get the energy back.
“Please let me down.”
“Sorry, dear, it’s part of the testing to keep you like this.” I’d cry at her refusal, but I have no tears left.
“Please, I can’t stay up much longer. I need a break.”
Her head tips from side to side a few times before she finally snaps her fingers, and two of her guards bring in four more captives. It’s obvious what she’s going to do before I can protest.
Four shots ring out, each making me flinch before one guard comes over to unbind me and shoves me towards the fallen bodies. “He’s dead.” I point to the one closest to the door. They shot him right in the heart.
Dr. Graves yells at her guard as I crawl across the floor to the other three victims, recognizing that this time might kill me. There’s not much left in me to give to them.
“Heal them, and I’ll have someone bring a bed in here for you,” she explains as they all leave. The dead body remains where he is. A reminder of a failure that isn’t mine, but I feel to the depths of my soul.
“Let me die,” one man pleads. He looks to be in his thirties or forties. “Don’t let her win.” I already feel the rattle in his lungs as fear washes over him.
“I can’t,” I cry as I grip his hand tightly. He’s the direst. The other two were lucky, with one shot in the shoulder and the other in the side.
“No.” The man rips his hand from mine and pushes himself away. “She’s killing you, and I won’t be part of it.” I could cry at his compassion.
“I don’t have a choice,” I whisper as I grab him again. “She’ll kill me if I don’t.” It’s a losing battle for both of us if I’m honest.
* * *
I feel my body being lifted, but I can’t summon the strength to open my eyes. My senses are dulled to the point I can hardly feel the hands on me. When I’m lowered to a soft surface, I whimper from the agony washing through my veins. I saved all three men before passing out.
