Twilight of Shadows | LingOrm (GxG)

TWENTY TWO

Lada's entire body jolted into action, her fear and numbness replaced by fierce determination. Her hands trembled as she wiped away her tears and straightened herself. "Where is she? Where's Narin?" she demanded, her voice sharp and commanding.

Apinya, his phone still clutched tightly, nodded urgently. "Khlong Toei Port. We need to go, now!"

Without a moment's pause, Lada stormed out of the room, her mind racing. She barked orders at her men, "Prepare the cars! We're leaving immediately! Get the weapons ready, and make sure we have backup. I want everything-now!" Her voice cut through the panic, demanding immediate action. Her men moved swiftly, understanding the gravity of the situation.

As the SUV sped through the city, Lada's thoughts were a whirlpool of fear and resolve. Apinya sat beside her, gripping his phone nervously, ready for any updates. Lada's knuckles whitened on the seat as she fixed her eyes on the road ahead, praying that Narin is still alive.

The convoy wove through traffic, breaking every rule as they approached the warehouse. The city's bright lights began to fade, replaced by the shadowy, desolate landscape of abandoned buildings. The silence was oppressive, amplifying Lada's pounding heart. This is it-the place where Narin is being held.

The SUV screeched to a halt outside the warehouse. Lada's men, faces set in grim determination, disembarked and prepared for action. The warehouse loomed ahead, its rusted doors and cracked windows hinting at the danger inside.

"Positions," Lada ordered, her voice a low, controlled whisper. Her men, seasoned professionals, moved with lethal precision. They were armed with SIG Sauer P226 pistols, their weapons gleaming in the dim light. Extra magazines and Remington 870 shotguns were ready for close combat. The team spread out, taking strategic positions around the building.

Turning to Apinya, who was visibly shaken, Lada said, "We need to do this quietly. If Bella hears us coming, she'll use Narin against us. We can't let that happen."

Apinya swallowed hard and nodded. "Understood."

Lada's mind raced with strategies. She knew Bella's men would be guarding the perimeter-probably six or seven of them. Every second mattered.

Thanom, one of Lada's top men, tapped her shoulder. "Khun Lada, we have visual on two guards at the east entrance. Armed and standing watch."

Lada nodded. "Take them out. Quietly."

Thanom and another guard slipped into the darkness, their movements barely noticeable. They were armed with suppressors, designed to silence gunfire. Moments later, Thanom struck swiftly, his pistol silencing the first guard with a soft pfft. The second guard fell with a similar, silent efficiency. Both bodies were hidden in the shadows.

Lada's pulse raced, but fear had no place here. "Move in," she whispered harshly to the rest of her men. "We need to breach the building without alerting Bella."

The team advanced with precision, neutralizing guards at each entrance with careful, suppressed gunfire. Lada stayed close to Apinya as they approached the west entrance. A lone guard was posted, his attention elsewhere.

Lada signaled to Thanom. He moved stealthily, taking the guard out with a swift strike. The man was down before he could make a sound.

They are in.

Lada's breath came in short, anxious bursts as she pushed the door open and entered the warehouse. The interior was dim, the air thick with the stench of oil and rust. Every step felt like a countdown. She could hear Bella's mocking voice and Narin's frightened cries echoing through the building.

"Stay low," Lada instructed Apinya, her voice tight with tension. "Get ready."

Suddenly, a guard stepped out from behind a stack of crates, his rifle raised. Lada's instincts kicked in. She threw herself to the side, narrowly avoiding a burst of gunfire. Her pulse pounded as she raised her pistol, firing a suppressed shot that hit the guard in the chest. He fell, rifle clattering beside him.

"Go!" Lada urged, urgency in her voice. They had to move quickly.

Sprinting forward, she reached the large, rusted doors leading to the central room. Bella's voice was now clearer, taunting and cruel.

"Well, well, if it isn't Lada. I was wondering when you'd show up."

Lada's hands shook, but she pushed through the fear. She glanced at Apinya, who nodded, her face pale but resolute. There is no more time for strategy.

Lada burst into the dimly lit warehouse, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. Her eyes locked onto Bella, who stood with a twisted smile. Behind her, Narin was tied to a chair, her small frame trembling with fear. Lada raised her gun, her voice sharp and commanding.

"Mommy!" Narin cried out, her voice barely more than a whisper, hoarse from crying. Her small body trembled as she looked at Lada with a mixture of relief and fear.

"Let her go, Bella. This is between us."

Bella's eyes gleamed with a mixture of pain and malice. "Between us? Oh, Lada, you really don't understand, do you?"

Lada's face was a mask of worry and anger. "I don't want to hurt you. Just let her go, and we can talk."

Bella's laughter was bitter, filled with deep-seated sadness. "Talk? What's left to talk about? You never knew, did you? You never saw the way I admired you, the way I loved you."

Lada's confusion was palpable. "What are you talking about?"

Bella's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "I admired everything about you, Lada. Your strength, your grace... I wanted to be near you, to be a part of your world. But you chose Jarin. You chose him over me."

Lada's heart ached as she absorbed the pain in Bella's voice. "Jarin left me and Narin."

Bella's face twisted with a mix of anger and heartache. "I was left watching you from afar, longing for something that was never mine. You were everything I wanted, and I was left alone while you lived out your dreams with someone who didn't deserve you."

Then the realisation kicked in. Bella have feelings for me?

Lada's gaze softened, her voice filled with questions. "Bella, what... what are you.. I... I never knew you had feelings for me. I didn't realize how deeply you felt."

Bella shook her head, her voice trembling. "You didn't know? How could you not see? Every time I saw you, it was like a knife to my chest. You married him, and it broke me."

Lada's eyes were filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry for everything."

Bella's voice broke, her resolve faltering. "And now, look where we are. My father's gone. I've lost everything I cared about. I'm left with nothing but anger and the memory of the one person I truly loved."

Lada's heart ached as she saw Bella's raw pain. "I can't change the past, Bella. But I'm here now. Lets talk. Put the gun down."

Bella's eyes were filled with a profound sadness. "You'll never understand the depth of this pain. You'll never know what it's like to lose the person you loved most, to watch them move on while you're left with nothing but memories."

Lada's gaze was resolute, her voice firm. "I don't want to fight you. I want to protect my daughter. I don't want this for us."

Bella's voice was barely a whisper, her resolve breaking. "In the end, all I have left are these feelings and a broken heart. I thought I could make you understand, but I see now that it's too late."

As Lada's gun remained aimed at Bella, she could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on her. She knew she had to act, to protect Narin and bring an end to this confrontation.

Bella's eyes flickered with a hint of resignation. "You're too late. You'll never truly understand until it's too late for you."

Before Lada could respond, Bella's hand moved swiftly, reaching for a hidden weapon. Lada's reflexes were sharp. She raised her gun in time, the tension in the room palpable as the scene reached its dramatic climax.

Bang!

The sound of gunfire echoed through the warehouse, sealing the fate of this tragic confrontation.