MARCOI paced back and forth, the text still open on my phone. My eyes scanned the same words over and over, my brain trying to process them while my body vibrated with fury and desperation.“We have your darling Sarah. Once we’re done with her, we’ll be ready to negotiate. We’re going to have a lot of fun with her before then.”The idea of someone touching her—hurting her—made my blood run cold, and then it boiled over into rage. I couldn’t let this happen. I couldn’t just stand here, doing nothing. Every second wasted felt like another second Sarah was closer to being lost. And it was my fault. I should have protected her. I should have seen this coming.The phone was in my hand before I realized it, and I dialed Petrov’s number, my fingers moving with a mind of their own. The moment I heard his voice on the other end of the line, I didn’t waste time with pleasantries.“Petrov,” I growled, my voice harsh and urgent. “I got a text.”There was a brief pause on the other end. “What kin
MARCOI sat behind the wheel, staring at the dashboard, my fingers gripping the leather so hard my knuckles turned white. The weight of the gun pressed against my side, cold and solid, a reminder of what I was about to do. I never thought it would come to this. Not here, not on what was supposed to be a vacation. But I had no choice.I punched in the location Petrov sent me into the GPS, watching as the route appeared on the screen. The distance didn’t matter. I would drive across the entire island, hell, across the entire world, if it meant finding Sarah. My wife—taken, held by some faceless bastards, probably hurt. That thought alone was enough to make my blood boil.As I pulled out onto the road, my phone buzzed again. Another message from Petrov. More names. More places. The list was getting longer by the minute. He was working fast, combing through every bit of information he could find. I couldn’t complain, but every ping of the phone reminded me how little time we had. Sarah wa
MARCOI narrowed my eyes, my hand still hovering near the grip of my gun. Rico looked pale, his eyes darting around like a trapped animal. I wasn’t sure if I could trust a single word out of his mouth, but I needed to press him again, just to be certain.“Are you absolutely sure it’s Carlos?” I asked, my voice cold and hard. “Because if you’re lying, Rico, I swear you won’t be walking out of here. You’ll be dead before you hit the floor.”Rico swallowed hard, his hands trembling. “I’m not lying, I swear to God, Marco! It’s Carlos! Everyone around here knows not to mess with him and the old guy. Please, I don’t want any trouble, I’m just telling you what I heard!”I stared at him, my mind racing. Carlos? Could it really be him? The thought gnawed at me, twisting everything I thought I knew. I didn’t want to believe it. Rico could be scared, desperate to throw anyone under the bus. But if he was telling the truth… If Carlos was really involved…I couldn’t stand there any longer. “Get ou
I arrived at the bar earlier than planned. It was tucked away on a quiet street near the marina, the kind of place where tourists barely trickled in, and locals came to drink away the island heat. The sun was starting to set, casting a burnt-orange glow over the water, but I wasn’t here for the view.I parked the car and leaned back in my seat, staring at the entrance. The bar was calm, almost empty, just a few patrons scattered at the tables outside, sipping drinks, enjoying the breeze. It was the perfect place for a conversation—one that could go south fast.*Carlos.* I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. I didn’t want to. The man had been like family to me. We’d built our operation from the ground up, weathered storms that would’ve crushed lesser men. And now? Now, he was somehow tied to Sarah’s kidnapping. I wanted to be wrong. I wanted this to be some huge misunderstanding. But every sign pointed to him, and I wasn’t about to ignore it.I pulled my gun from the glove compartm
MARCOI took off after Carlos, barely pausing to check my surroundings as I followed him out of the bar and down the dimly lit street. The cold moon cast long shadows on the pavement, but all I could see was Carlos, his figure cutting through the crowds as he darted ahead, weaving past tourists and locals who threw confused glances in his direction. He was moving fast, but I was faster, each step pounding into the ground as I zeroed in on him.“Carlos!” I shouted, my voice raw with anger and adrenaline. “You’re only making this worse! Stop!”He didn’t even look back. Instead, he picked up speed, his legs pumping harder, as though the very sound of my voice put fuel in his veins. I gritted my teeth, pushing myself harder. The chase stretched on, the distance between us shortening then lengthening, like some sick, twisted game of cat and mouse. He dodged around a family stepping out of a store, nearly colliding with a little girl, and I saw him throw a quick apology over his shoulder be
MARCOI tightened my grip, my patience wearing thin. Carlos was bleeding, slouched against the alley wall, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. But despite the pain, he looked up at me with a twisted smile, almost like he was enjoying this.“Carlos, start talking,” I said, my voice low, barely controlled. “I’m done playing games. I’m losing patience here.”He laughed, coughing as pain flashed across his face. “Oh, Marco… you have no idea, do you?” His voice was weak but taunting. “You really think you’re gonna get anything out of me?”I shoved him harder against the wall, the back of his head hitting the brick with a dull thud. “Don’t test me, Carlos. Where’s Sarah?”He closed his eyes, laughing again, his smile curling even wider as he cracked open one eye. “You’ll never find her in time. She’s gone, Marco.”I felt my fists clench, my whole body tightening with anger. “What did you do, Carlos?” I demanded. “Who’s helping you?”He coughed, wincing as he shifted his leg, pain clea
SARAHThe moonlight barely crept into the cramped, stifling room where I sat, casting a faint, sickly glow on the four cold walls around me. I’d lost track of how long I’d been here. Hours had blended into days, days into a blur of nothingness. It felt like time was playing tricks on me, slipping through my fingers whenever I tried to grasp it. Eventually, I stopped trying, letting it all blur into a single, endless stretch. The only thing that marked one moment from the next was the tray of food they’d shove under the door.It was there now, sitting by the door in silence, like an unwanted visitor. Soup. A hunk of bread. All stale, cold. I hadn’t touched it, not once. Hunger clawed at my stomach like an animal, but every time I looked at the food, I felt a surge of revulsion. I couldn’t trust anything they gave me. For all I knew, they were lacing it with sedatives, something to make me docile, compliant. No, I wasn’t going to give them that satisfaction. I’d drink a few sips of wate
SARAHThe sight of Danzo standing there made my blood run cold. I couldn’t believe it—Danzo, here? Of all people. Was he here to help? To save me from whatever nightmare Carlos had planned? My mind clung to that single hopeful thought as he stepped into the room, looming in the dim light. His eyes scanned the small, bleak cell as if he were bored with the entire scene, and I found myself searching his face, hoping for even a hint of compassion, something to reassure me that he hadn’t completely lost his humanity.I opened my mouth, voice barely above a whisper. “Danzo… please…”Before I could say more, he interrupted me with a soft, mocking chuckle. His eyes glinted with something far from kindness, more like amusement. “Carlos really outdid himself, didn’t he?” he sneered, a twisted smile playing on his lips. “Managed to get you away from Marco’s watchful eyes. Now that’s something I didn’t expect. I would’ve bet he’d bungle it all up.” He chuckled again, shaking his head like this w
MARCOThe flashbang was still working its magic as I stumbled forward, my vision blurry and my ears ringing like an alarm clock from hell. But there was no time to wait for things to settle. The moment the light hit, I felt the chaos erupt behind me—grunts, shouts, the clatter of boots on the floor.Instinct kicked in. The first guy behind me was flailing around, clutching his face like someone had poured hot sauce directly into his eyes. I took the opportunity, jabbing my elbow into his ribs with enough force to knock the air out of him. He let out a strangled wheeze and crumpled like a cheap folding chair.Unfortunately, his buddy wasn’t as incapacitated. The second man had somehow managed to pull out his gun, though he was aiming like he’d never used his eyes a day in his life. The first shot rang out, going wide and hitting a piece of metal somewhere to my left.“Great aim, sharpshooter,” I muttered, yanking the first guy’s body up as a human shield. The next shot hit him square i
MARCOI stared at the scene before me, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and regrets. Tony lay crumpled on the floor, motionless, and Petrov wasn’t faring any better. My eyes darted back to Danzo, standing tall and smug, his expression carved with triumph. His words echoed in my head, striking me like a hammer with every repetition: This is where your poor planning has gotten you.Poor planning.Was that really it? Was it my fault that Tony and Petrov had been brought to this state? That Sarah was here, caught in Danzo’s grasp, her wide, fearful eyes pleading silently for a rescue I wasn’t sure I could give?You should’ve seen this coming, Marco, I thought bitterly.Danzo had been working against me from the shadows, a viper I had failed to notice until it was too late. But was it just him? Had I been so blind, so arrogant, to think that I had anticipated everything? My chest tightened as my mind spiraled further.Tony’s bloodied face flashed in my mind, followed by Petrov’s ragged brea
MARCO“Tony!” I choked out, the word barely escaping my lips as I turned toward the source.He was on the ground, his body crumpled awkwardly, blood pouring from his side. The crimson stain spread across the floor, pooling beneath him like some sick painting. My heart stopped as I stared at the scene, every ounce of air in my lungs evaporating.“No… no, no, no,” I stammered, stepping back instinctively, my boot catching in the slick blood pooling around him. I staggered, almost falling, my mind spinning.“Tony!” I called again, my voice cracking as if saying his name louder would wake him, make him look at me, make him respond. But he didn’t. His chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths, his eyes fluttering as if he was fighting to stay conscious.Danzo’s laugh broke through the chaos—a guttural, maniacal cackle that made my blood boil.“Ah, the mighty Marco. Look at you now,” he sneered. His voice was sharp, cutting through my panic like a razor. “I told you, didn’t I? You thin
MARCOThe air in the room crackled with tension as I leveled the gun at Danzo, my finger firm against the trigger. He took a step back, his eyes darting between me and the scattered bodies of his men. For a second, I thought I saw fear, but it vanished just as quickly, replaced by that damn smirk he always wore, like he still had the upper hand.“It’s over for you, Danzo,” I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline pumping through me. “You might want to think twice before doing anything stupid.”He scoffed, a dry, humorless sound. His hand twitched near his side, hovering too close to the gun strapped there.“I mean it!” I barked, raising my voice. “You even so much as look at that gun, and you’ll die here, right now. No last words. No bargaining. Just done.”Danzo froze for a heartbeat, his hand still dangerously close to his weapon. “You don’t have it in you, Marco,” he sneered. “You think you’re the tough one, don’t you? You think you’re the hero in all of this?”“Shut up.” My
MARCOThe sound of gunfire outside was getting closer, louder. Each shot echoed like a drumbeat of inevitability, and I could see the panic setting in on Danzo’s face. His eyes darted around the room as though searching for an escape that wasn’t there.“You hear that, Danzo?” I said, leaning back in my chair. My wrists were still tied, but my voice was steady. “That’s the sound of your grand plan crumbling. Everything you set up here? It’s falling apart. And you’re dying here today.”Danzo’s head snapped toward me, his jaw tightening. For a second, he looked like he was going to lunge at me, but he held back. Instead, he pulled a walkie-talkie from his belt, his fingers gripping it so tightly his knuckles turned white.“Status!” he barked into the device, pacing in tight circles like a cornered animal. “What’s going on out there?”There was a pause on the other end, filled with static and the faint sound of chaos—shouting, gunfire, something heavy crashing to the ground. Finally, a vo
MARCO The ropes around my wrists burned as I strained against them, my jaw tight enough to crack a tooth. Danzo paced back and forth like a predator toying with its prey, his smirk wide and arrogant. His voice dripped with satisfaction, every word landing like a calculated blow. “You really don’t get it, do you?” he said, pausing to glance at me. “All this… it’s personal, Marco. You made it personal the moment you threw me to the wolves.” I stared him down, refusing to let the venom in his words show any effect. “You think I’m afraid of you?” “Oh, I don’t need you to be afraid. Not yet, anyway,” he said, laughing softly. “But you should be. You always underestimated me, Marco. Always thought I’d stay in your shadow, didn’t you?” I said nothing, focusing instead on Sarah, who sat just a few feet away, bound and trembling. Her eyes met mine, and the fear in them sliced through me like a blade. Danzo followed my gaze and chuckled darkly. “Ah, yes. The princess. Don’t worry, Ma
MARCOThe goons gathered my weapons with smug satisfaction, tossing them onto the floor like trophies. My knife. My Glock. The backup pistol. Each piece felt like a part of me being stripped away. I clenched my jaw as the masked man stooped to pick up my gun. He held it up to the dim light, turning it over in his hand like he’d just found buried treasure.“Nice piece,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he inspected the setup. “Who’s your plug, Marco? This stuff’s top-tier. Custom job? Or do you just know the right people?”I didn’t respond, glaring at him in silence. My hands itched to grab it back, to feel the weight of it in my palm, but my wrists were bound tightly behind my back.“Not much of a talker, are you?” he continued, pacing slowly in front of me. He raised the gun and mimed aiming it, letting out a low whistle. “Damn. This feels good. Might keep it. Hope you don’t mind.”I didn’t take the bait. Instead, I focused on what they hadn’t found—the tiny chip in my boo
MARCOThe silence inside the narrow hallway was almost unbearable. The dim, flickering light above me buzzed faintly, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls. My boots clicked softly on the metal floor as I moved further in, my breaths shallow and controlled. Every step felt heavier than the last, each one carrying me deeper into uncertainty.“Petrov,” I whispered, pressing a finger to the mic in my ear. “Petrov, can you hear me?”Nothing. Just static.I paused, my heart thudding harder as the realization hit me. The connection was dead. Whether it was deliberate or accidental, I was on my own now.“Dammit,” I muttered under my breath, scanning the hallway for any sign of movement. My hand instinctively drifted toward the gun hidden beneath my jacket. I didn’t pull it out yet, but just feeling its presence steadied me a little. Whatever was waiting for me here, I wasn’t about to face it unarmed.The hallway stretched further ahead, leading to an open door on the left. The sh
MARCOThe night air clung to me like a heavy cloak, thick with tension and the metallic scent of salt from the nearby docks. As I stepped out of the car, the first thing I did was adjust the mic in my ear. Petrov’s faint voice buzzed briefly in the connection, a reminder that I wasn’t entirely alone in this. But still, the silence surrounding me felt absolute, broken only by the distant hum of machinery and the soft crunch of gravel under my boots.My hand hovered close to my side, grazing the cold steel of the gun tucked under my jacket. I didn’t draw it, not yet, but the feel of it was a small comfort. The shipyard was a maze of shadows and towering containers, each one a potential hiding place. My eyes darted left, then right, sweeping for movement. Nothing. Not yet.“Marco, can you hear me?” Petrov’s voice crackled in my ear, low but clear.I pressed the mic lightly. “Loud and clear.”“Good,” he replied. “We’ve got eyes on the perimeter. Cameras are feeding us everything in real t