Book One of the Shadows Series: Shadow of Redemption

The Worst Truth is the Most Painful Lie

Bucky, Sam, and Yelena mingled with the crowd, keeping a watchful eye on the room. The party was in full swing, the lights casting a warm glow over the elegant ballroom. The team had spread out, each of them blending in seamlessly with the guests as they gathered information.

Bucky leaned against a pillar, scanning the room. He had a feeling something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Sam was chatting with a group of diplomats, his easy smile masking his vigilance. Yelena, meanwhile, was near the entrance, keeping an eye on anyone coming or going.

As Bucky looked around, his gaze fell on Sera, who was near the large windows overlooking the city. She was scanning the room, her expression focused. Bucky's eyes narrowed as he saw a familiar figure approaching her – Joshua. His heart skipped a beat, and he pushed away from the pillar, making his way through the crowd.

Sam noticed Bucky's movement and excused himself from the conversation. He caught up with Bucky, a questioning look in his eyes. "What's up?" he asked, his voice low.

"Joshua," Bucky said tersely. "He's here."

Sam's eyes widened in realization. "Sera's target."

They exchanged a look of understanding and urgency. "Where's Yelena?" Sam asked, glancing around.

Before Bucky could respond, Yelena appeared at his side, her expression concerned. "I saw him too," she said, her voice tight. "We need to find Sera."

The three of them moved quickly through the crowd, their eyes scanning the room for any sign of Sera and Joshua. Bucky's heart pounded in his chest as he thought about Sera's earlier fear and hesitation. He should have been more vigilant, should have kept a closer eye on her. Suddenly, Sam stopped short, his gaze fixed on the far side of the room. "There," he said, pointing. Bucky followed his gaze and saw Joshua slipping out of the ballroom through a side door, cradling an unconscious Sera. His stomach dropped. "We need to hurry," he said, urgency lacing his voice.

They pushed their way through the crowd, moving as quickly as they could without drawing too much attention. As they reached the side door, Bucky's mind raced with possibilities. What was Joshua planning? What had he already done?

Bursting through the door, they found themselves in a dimly lit hallway. Bucky's eyes scanned the area, searching for any sign of the two. His heart sank as he realized they were too late. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "We need to find them."

Yelena placed a hand on his arm, her eyes meeting his. "We'll find her," she said firmly. "But we need to think. Where would he take her?" Bucky's mind raced as he tried to think like Joshua. "He'd take her somewhere he could control the situation. Somewhere HYDRA has a foothold." Sam nodded, his expression grim. "Let's start with the nearby HYDRA bases. We don't have much time."

As they turned to leave, Bucky's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, seeing a notification from the team's secure communication channel. It was a message from the surveillance team, confirming that Joshua had been seen leading Sera to a black SUV parked outside. Bucky's jaw clenched as he read the message. "He's got her in a vehicle. We need to move, now." They sprinted through the hallways, urgency propelling them forward. Bucky's mind was a whirlwind of emotions – anger, fear, determination. He couldn't let anything happen to Sera. He wouldn't.

As they burst out of the building and into the night, they spotted the black SUV pulling away from the curb. Bucky didn't hesitate. He jumped onto his motorcycle, Sam and Yelena following suit. They tore down the street, the roar of the engines cutting through the night. Bucky's eyes were fixed on the SUV ahead, his mind focused on one thing: getting Sera back.