𝐾 𝐴 𝐿 𝐸 𝑁

Chapter |15| The Darkest Night

K A L E N ' S   P. O. V

Bound. Gagged. Tied.

And thrown into the back of a fucking white van.

I feel like a worm, or worse, dehumanised as I desperately attempt to reach my subdued wife. Her head sports a nasty cut, but thankfully it's not bleeding that much, and her eyes have been wound tight ever since those bastards slammed a gun into her head.

In some ways I'm glad she's unconscious. Because I'm so fucking scared of what happens next.

I don't have my gun. Not even a phone. Or my pocket knife. Or any hope of escaping.

They took everything from us, and all I have left is to pray for a god damn miracle. Just for Tessa and our baby to make it out of here alive. That's all I need.

My head slams into the door again as the van swerves right. I kick my legs furiously at the drivers side, hoping they'll stop in irritation and I'll be able to fight them off.

I wasn't prepared for five guys to jump us on the way back from a doctor's appointment. I acted on instinct, fighting them off instead of fleeing. I should have just grabbed Tessa and fucking ran.

I'm an idiot for thinking I could have won.

The moment they placed a gun to Tessa's round belly, I surrendered everything. The defeat in Tessa's eyes will always haunt me. We both knew this was only going one way.

I plan to fight again. I plan to fight only to run.

But Tessa is still unconscious and I have no idea what we're about to walk into.

The van stops abruptly, causing Tessa to stir. I reach over and frantically try and grab her wrist to check her pulse. It's steady for the moment and the relief that floods through me is only temporary as the doors are wrenched open.

Sunlight floods in, blinding me almost. There are ten men now that watch us stoically as we're dragged out onto our knees.

I don't fight. There's no point.

Tessa is leant against my body, and I support her the best way I can but she continues to slide down. "Let me hold her!" I snap. I guess I look savage in my attire because some of the men appear startled and move back.

My clothes are caked in blood. Not mine. I managed to kill one of them with the knife, before I was slung down into the mud and practically dragged through it.

The men part like the Red Sea, as their commander walks through. The Russian mafia boss. Mikhail. The man Aaron managed to severely piss off, and I know that Kiara killed his children.

Not her fault, it was clear defence, but as all children of the mafia I was brought up learning one phrase: an eye for an eye.

I guess in this context, me and Tessa were the eyes.

"Cut his ropes." My skin cries at the feeling of fresh air on the red raw skin. I quickly move to hold Tessa, and cradle her gently in my arms. "I'm sorry you've been caught up in this. All of you." He gestured to Tessa's stomach. "But I need leverage and unfortunately you're well loved by enemies."