God of Strength (Light of Obsession #1)

Chapter 27

Vaughn

     The air felt heavy with desperation as I sprinted down the dimly lit corridor of the abandoned warehouse, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm in my chest. Each echo of my footsteps reminded me of how close I was to finding My Alicia. I had waited five agonizing days, gripped by the unbearable tension of not knowing where she was or what kind of torment she was enduring. But now, with the location pinpointed, I was fueled by sheer determination to bring her back.

Aiden, Alicia's father, walked beside me, his face a mask of turmoil. I could see the toll it had taken on him, the deep lines etched into his forehead and the weariness in his eyes. He was fiercely protective of her, just as I was, and I knew he shared my resolve, even if it manifested in a different way. There was something primal about our shared urgency—a father hunting for his daughter and a man hell-bent on reclaiming the only light in his grim existence.

"Vaughn!" he shouted, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned to see him gesturing with frantic energy as we approached a set of heavy metal doors. "This is it."

My heart raced faster, a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. I nodded, forcing myself to focus. No distractions. We'd come too far to lose her again.

Around us, the atmosphere was charged. Eli and Creighton had joined the hunt, every inch of them screaming readiness for the impending confrontation. I could see it mirrored in the faces of my own men, the fierce loyalty that drove them to fight beside me.

I took a deep breath and nodded to Aiden, giving him a moment to prepare himself. I could tell he was battling his own demons, the thought of his little girl being held hostage bringing terror to him like nothing else could.

"On three," I said, my voice low and resolute. I positioned myself in front of him, muscles coiled like a spring ready to uncoil.

"One... two... three!"

With that command, I burst through the doors, ready to face whatever darkness lay ahead.

Inside, the warehouse was eerily quiet, the air laden with dust and shadows. I unsheathed the knife from my waistband, its weight a comfort in my grip. The dim light revealed stacks of crates and discarded equipment, a labyrinth of potential ambushes.

"Clear left!" Marcus called.

"Right!" I replied, glancing around. Aiden was right beside me, breathing heavily, his eyes scanning every corner for any sign of Alicia.

"Where are they keeping her?" he whispered, voice tight with anxiety.

"We'll find her," I assured him, clenching my jaw, determined to keep hope alive.

If anyone dared to hurt Alicia, they would face hell as I unleashed the fury within me. The thought of her scared and vulnerable brought out an unsettling rage I couldn't easily contain.

As we moved deeper into the warehouse, we stumbled upon a series of faded photographs and articles plastered to the walls. They told the story of a dark underbelly that thrived in the shadows, a twisted artistry of power and control that I had lived my entire life knowing about.

Suddenly, an eerie creak shattered the tense silence, and all eyes snapped to a door at the far end of the room. I caught a glimpse of a figure darting away.

"There!" I shouted, moving without thought.

We chased the figure down a narrow corridor, every ounce of my focus honing in on what lay ahead. My blood roared in my ears as I maneuvered around crates and debris, my leg muscles protesting the rapid motion but the ache felt insignificant beside the burning need to find Alicia.

We rounded a corner just as the figure disappeared through another door, its heavy clang echoing in the darkness.

It was now or never.

"On me!" I barked, pushing through the door, adrenaline sharpening my senses. The room was dimly lit, and the air held a sharp tang of fear and despair. But then I saw her—Alicia—tied to a chair in the center of the room.

She looked fragile, her spirit seemingly diminished. But the moment I met her eyes, something within me ignited. She was alive, and I would not let this moment slip away.

"Alicia!" I rushed forward, but a shout from behind stopped me cold.

"Stay back!"

A burly figure stepped into view, shadows concealing his features but not the malevolence surging from him. "I wouldn't make a move if I were you," he sneered, gun raised and trained on me.

"Let her go!" My heart thundered, instinct urging me to take the fight to him.

He laughed, a cruel sound that made bile rise in my throat. "Why would I do that? She's worth more to me alive. Besides, I think she prefers my company."

Aiden steps behind me, gun raised. Trailer closely by Eli. His muscles are taught, clenched.

Dominik glances around, he's outnumbered. He knows it. He takes a step back, accepting defeat.

     Then shoots My Alicia in the gut.

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A/N:
Did y'all really think I'd let this chapter be happy? Come on now, you should know me better than that ;)
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