In your shadows || Sierra six

CHAPTER 4

(Past)

The loud, grating sound of Bianca's alarm yanked me out of sleep. I groaned, squinting at the clock—it was 7:00 a.m. My body ached with exhaustion, and I wanted nothing more than to roll over and drift back to sleep, but I knew that wasn't an option. Today was the day, and there was no escaping it.

I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face in a futile attempt to wake up. I brushed my teeth, the monotonous routine doing little to calm the growing anxiety in my chest. When I finished, I changed into my suit and tied my hair up in a high ponytail, trying to ignore the nervous tremor in my hands. When I emerged from the bathroom, Bianca was already waiting for me, her expression unreadable.

"Are you ready?" she asked, her voice steady.

I took a shaky breath, trying to muster the strength I needed. "Yes," I replied, though my voice wavered just enough to betray my nerves.

Bianca gave me a look I couldn't quite decipher, but she didn't press the issue. We both grabbed our gear and walked out the door, the weight of what we were about to do hanging heavily in the air.

As we drove toward the target's house, my anxiety only intensified. My chest felt tight, and I had to focus on my breathing to keep from hyperventilating. I wanted to go home—wherever that was. Even though I didn't have a place to call home, I wanted to be free, to be anywhere but here. I could feel Bianca's eyes on me, her concern palpable, but she said nothing, for which I was grateful.

We got out of the taxi a few blocks away from the house, the quiet suburban street a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me. We walked the rest of the way, the tension between us thick as we approached the large, three-story house. It was well-hidden, tucked away behind tall trees and a wrought-iron fence, the perfect place for someone trying to disappear.

"Wow, very hidden," I thought to myself, though there was no time to admire the architecture.

Bianca's voice snapped me back to reality. "I'll go inside, and you stay outside just in case Sonia and the other child come back earlier than expected," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

I nodded, my throat too tight to speak. She handed me a gun, and we both turned on our earpieces before she disappeared inside the house.

Left alone, I was left to my thoughts, the silence around me amplifying the dread that gnawed at my insides. I couldn't help but think about escape—what if I just ran right now? But I knew it was impossible. The tracker embedded in my thigh would ensure that Dreykov found me wherever I went, and the device implanted in my arm would compel me to obey his commands no matter how much I wanted to resist. The thought of fleeing was a tantalizing dream, but one I could never realize. And even if I could escape, I couldn't leave Yelena behind. I had made a promise to her, and that promise was the only thing keeping me anchored.

A sudden grunt pulled me from my spiraling thoughts, jolting me back to the present.

"Bianca? Bianca, are you okay?" I practically yelled into the comms, panic rising in my throat.

There was no response.

My heart pounded in my chest, every second of silence stretching into an eternity.

Shit.

I walked inside the house, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. The silence was thick, almost suffocating, as I cautiously moved through the dimly lit rooms. Every creak of the floorboards, every rustle of fabric, made me jump, but I forced myself to stay focused. I couldn't afford to lose control now.

I carefully checked the first floor, opening each door with slow, deliberate movements, but there was nothing—no sign of anyone. The tension coiled tighter in my stomach as I ascended the stairs, each step feeling like a countdown to something I couldn't anticipate.