Diabolus: The Lethal Hunt

Chapter Twenty Six

BEVERLY WOODS

"Can you explain to me, how the hell did this happen?"

Ben is a man who always seems to keep his emotions in check, no matter what life throws his way. But today, I can see that his facade has been shattered, and his true feelings are fully displayed. He paces back and forth across the room, his movements almost frenzied as he tries to find some outlet for the anger and pain that's consuming him. It's like he's a caged animal, trapped in his body and unable to escape.

As he moves, I can see the tension in his muscles, the way his fists clench and unclench at his sides. It's like he's on the verge of exploding, of lashing out at the world in a fit of rage. But despite his obvious distress, he's still managing to keep it together, to keep himself from falling apart completely. It's a testament to his strength and resilience, to the inner fire that burns within him in the darkest of moments.

"I was in the bathroom when someone came and knocked me out with a baseball bat. Next thing I see - my wife is tied to a bed, and my daughter is missing!"

"How did you fail to protect them?!"

"Ben!"

As the shout escapes my lips, everyone turns their gazes to me. It's the moment when I know I am full, my glass of patience is full and bubbling, ready to run out its surface.

"He had to make sure you're safe. It was his job."

"Let's stop giving each other duties. We have to focus on the problem."

"If somebody else was guarding you, none of this would have happened."

"I have no patience for this shit, no more. No more blaming each other, no more fights, no more leaving. Look at us, at our situation and you will see that all that fighting has led to this. Don't you see? We turned against each other, not against the problem."

I can feel their eyes on me, penetrating me like laser beams. It's as if I've sprouted wings and can take flight at any moment, soaring into the sky like a majestic bird. But the truth is, I'm grounded by an unbearable weight, a bomb ticking away inside of me, threatening to explode at any moment.

The cause of my agony is my beloved daughter, ripped from my arms before I had a chance to even fully grasp her. Her absence is a constant ache, a wound that refuses to heal. I can still feel her tiny body nestled in my hands, her warmth seeping into my soul.

But what haunts me most is the scent of her, the unmistakable fragrance of cherries that lingers in my memories.

"The most important thing here is to save my baby. I don't care about taking him down, about anything at all. Give him whatever he wants, just please, focus on saving her."

"She's right."

Kai glides across the room, his feet barely making a sound as he approaches me. He wraps his strong arms around my trembling form, and I can feel his fingers gliding across my shoulders in a soothing motion. At this moment, I feel safe, cocooned in his embrace.

It's as if the birth of our daughter has transformed him into a different person. The frenetic energy that used to propel him forward has been replaced by a calmness that I've never seen before. Every action is measured, and every decision is made with care. And I feel the same way because we both know that nothing is more important than our precious little angel.

"We have to be smart, this time, nothing can go wrong. We know that James needs the documents more than he needs the baby, and we have to use that to our advantage. Without fighting."