A shitty and a cringey chapter, also, not edited at all 🙂

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ARIEN

This will be Horace's last day on earth.

He had the fucking audacity to kidnap my girl and then hold her hostage against me, sending me the location and threatening me to release James in exchange of her.

"What's the plan?" Asael questioned, walking inside the office where Elmer and I stood.

He rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, preparing for a fight and grabbed the holster from the table, strapping it to his waist.

"Where did you leave Verena?" We are not going to take any risks.

"With Mom and Dad."

I nodded, turning to Elmer. "Bring him out."

Elmer gave me a curt nod before stepping out of the room.

My body was trembling with uncontrolled rage and I was on the verge of going into another episode.

Asael placed his palm on my shoulder, squeezing it with a slow shake of his head. His face showed his rage but he was able to control it.

"I can't lose her too." I croaked.

"You won't."

I breathed deeply, closing my eyes just as Asael stroked my head. "Everything's going to be okay."

Hearing the door open, I opened my eyes. Elmer dragged a bloodied James inside the room, throwing him on the floor as he landed on his knees.

His hands were tied together behind his back, his face bruised and cut, his pale skin red because of the blood.

Except for the boxer briefs, he was naked and drowsy yet he managed to glare at me.

"If we give him away, there's a little chance that you might not be able to kill him." Asael whispered to me, glaring at James.

"I don't care. Not anymore. As long as I get Zahria, I don't care about the revenge."

"Okay."

"Let's go."

.
.
.

"I fucking knew it." Asael hissed as the helicopter prepared to land near the location Horace sent me. "He has a fucked up sense of humour."

It was the same place, the one where I lost everything twelve years back.

Not again.

Never.

I won't make the same mistakes.

"I am going in alone. Give me ten minutes before you all infiltrate." I ordered as the helicopter landed.

"At least take some weapons with you", Elmer said.

"He can handle everything for ten minutes." Asael stated, giving me an encouraging look.

I nodded and got out of the helicopter and headed to the other one in which my men and James were travelling.

I grabbed James by his bicep and dragged him forward towards the godforsaken shed.

James was barely alive which meant he didn't even have the energy to speak which was good or else I would have ripped out his tongue.

As I reached the shed, I could practically hear the cries of my mother and sister, my vision turning black.

Fuck. Not the time.

I shook my head, clearing my vision and slammed open the door.

I was instantly held at gunpoint by almost ten men who surrounded me. Horace sat in the middle, behind his desk.

"Where is she?"

"Release him." He demanded.

I negotiated. "Bring me Zahria first."

He only smiled evilly in return. "Oh, she is a little busy at the moment."

I swear if anyone has touched her, I will chop off their useless dicks.

I wrapped my fingers around James neck. "Where. Is. She."

That had his eyes narrowing as he sat up straight. "What's the point? You are not walking out of here alive anyway."

"I don't care." I growled. "I need to see my wife."

"Wife?" He scoffed. "Very well."

He gestured to one of his men who nodded and lowered his gun before walking to the end of the room and crouching down, he pulled open a trap door.

I was instantly hit by the sound of her screaming out every curse word in the dictionary.

I was dying to go to her myself but I had no other option, my hands were trembling badly which was a disadvantage.

I have to calm myself or else I would be useless.

The man disappeared inside the door and a minute passed by before I could hear Zahria's voice more clearly.

She was struggling as the man grabbed her by her arm, pulling her up with him.

She looked angry, hair messy, dress torn and she was shivering badly.

He pushed her forward and her eyes finally met mine and I could finally breathe again.

Her lips quivered, tears welling in her eyes and I let James go.

The man released her and she ran towards me, colliding with me and I wrapped my arms around her.

I sighed in relief, running my hands over her, kissing her face. "You are okay, you are okay. You are safe now." I whispered to her.

I quickly shrugged out of my jacket and made her wear it instead and she buried her face in my chest, not letting me go. "I was so scared." She cried softly.

"Are you both done with the drama?" Horace snapped making me glare at him.

He looked disgusted but I couldn't care less. I have her now.

Any minute now.

"You have got James, I have got Ria. Let's call it even now." I lied, smiling coldly.

"Even? Everything will be even when you fucking die. You were not supposed to live that day."

I have spent a long time wondering why the fuck didn't I die that day. I wanted to die but as I glanced down to the woman in my arms, it made sense.

Had I not lived that day, I would have never met her and without her, nothing makes sense.

Three...

Two...

I tightened my hold on Zahria, ready to spring into action.

One.

I pushed Zahria away with all my force, jumping on top of her as we stumbled to the floor just as a small blast broke open the door with a deafening sound.

She looked panicked as she glanced around as everyone recovered from it and the sound of gunfire and shouts filled the air.

"Hey, look at me." I grabbed her face. "It's okay. We planned this. You are okay. We will get out of here, hmm?"

Her eyes were red with tears. "I...I...lost the ring."

"It's okay."

"No, I want that back." She sobbed.

I kissed her forehead. "It's okay, darling. I will get you an exact one made."

"Here." A gun was thrown near us by Elmer who stood over us as a shield. "You can continue having your reunion later. Get to work."

I shot him a glare as I got up to my feet and then helped Zahria too.

"Get her out of here." I told Elmer who nodded.

"No." She clutched my t-shirt. "Don't leave me. Please."

"This is going to get ugly, you don't want to see that. Let Elmer take you home, I will be right behind you."

She hugged me tightly. "No."

"Ria, please. Let Elmer take you, I will feel better knowing that you are safe at least."

"What about you? It's dangerous."

"We have already won, darling. I only need to finish a few things and then I'll be home with you."

Hesitantly, she pulled back and kissed my lips lingeringly. "You better come back to me."

"I will." I promised.

I watched Elmer lead her out of there safely.

I walked over to Asael who was glaring at Horace and James who were held by our men.

A sadistic smile formed on my face. "Let's begin, shall we?"