Beneath The Surface

Chapter 39: Rescue in Red Square

--- Ace's POV ---

It’s the morning of the wedding, and we’re all gathered at the venue, waiting. For the first time in what feels like forever, I’m actually scared. Scared that this plan won’t go as we’ve planned. Scared that we might not get Raven out alive.

We’ve decided to enter separately to avoid raising any suspicion. Luckily, we found out this is a "masked formal black tie" wedding. The masks will help keep our identities hidden.

I step inside the grand hall, taking in the opulent decorations and the sea of masked faces. I find a seat in the middle, close to an exit, just as we had planned. My heart pounds as I scan the room, looking for any sign of Raven or trouble.

Shortly after, I see Marco enter. He takes a seat in the middle section to the right, also near an exit. He looks calm, but I know him well enough to see the tension in his jaw, the tight grip he has on the armrest.

One by one, I see our men enter, each taking their seats as planned. Everyone is in place. Now all we can do is wait for the ceremony to start and hope that our plan goes off without a hitch.

My eyes keep darting around the room, scanning for any sign of Raven. Every second feels like an eternity. I can’t shake the fear that something will go wrong, that we’ll be too late. But I push those thoughts aside. We have a job to do, and there’s no room for doubt. Not now. Not when her life is on the line.

I take a deep breath and focus. We’re here to save her. And we will, no matter what it takes.

Scanning the room, my eyes catch sight of Raven's father. I immediately glance over to Marco, who is already staring daggers at Alexander. Marco had spotted him long before I did. I just hope Marco can keep his temper in check.

Before I can intervene, Ivan Volkov strides up the aisle. Everyone rises as he passes by, making his way to the front where the altar is set up. The tension in the room is palpable, and I feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me.

The wedding march begins to play, signaling Raven's entrance. My heart races. This is it.

I glance at Marco, who has shifted from murderous rage to a look of focused determination. We both know we need to get her out of here, and we need to do it fast.

The doors at the back of the hall open, and there she is. Raven stands in her wedding dress, and it's clear as day she's here against her will. Looking closer, I can almost see the fear etched onto her face. But what hits me the hardest is the emptiness in her eyes, like she's given up completely.

The sight of her like this, so broken, is almost unbearable. She looks stunning in the dress, but there's no joy in her expression, only resignation. She's not here by choice, and it's our job to make sure she doesn't stay trapped.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Everything is in place. We just need to execute our plan perfectly. No mistakes. No hesitations.

As Raven walks down the aisle, I feel the tension mounting. I glance around, making sure everyone is ready. This has to be flawless. We need to act the moment she reaches the altar.

Each step she takes feels like an eternity. I silently pray that we can pull this off. For her sake. For our sake. Failure is not an option.

Raven reaches the altar, and Ivan grabs her wrist, yanking her closer. Even from where I’m standing, I can see the bruising grip he has on her. The sight of it sends a surge of anger through me, but I force myself to stay calm. We need precision right now.

I glance over at Marco. He meets my gaze and nods slightly, a silent agreement passing between us. It’s time.

Slowly, I move my hand to my side where my weapon is holstered. The room is a sea of masked faces, none of them aware of what’s about to happen. I take a deep breath, steadying myself. Marco gives the signal, a small but decisive movement.

All hell breaks loose.

In an instant, the room erupts into chaos. Gunfire echoes through the hall as our men spring into action, each moving with the precision we’ve drilled into them. I see Marco diving towards the front, his weapon drawn and ready.

I make a beeline for Raven, weaving through the panicked guests. Ivan tries to drag her away, but I’m faster. I pull out my gun, aiming for Ivan. One shot, and he drops to the ground, releasing his grip on Raven.

I lock eyes with her for a brief moment. There’s pain in her eyes, a depth of suffering that I can’t even begin to comprehend. Whatever she went through these past weeks, it’s left scars. But right now, we need to get her out of here.

“Get down!” I shout to her, but she stands there, frozen in shock and confusion.

I grab her arm, pulling her down with me. “Stay low and follow me. Do you understand?” I bark, my tone leaving no room for argument.

She nods numbly, her eyes wide and uncomprehending. I keep a tight grip on her, leading her towards the exit. Ivan’s men try to intercept us, but I take them down one by one, my shots precise and lethal.

Marco is at the altar, fending off a couple of Ivan’s guards. He’s a force to be reckoned with, every move precise and deadly. I keep Raven close, shielding her with my body as we push towards the exit.

We burst through the doors into the cool air, the sounds of the battle fading into the distance. Marco shouts orders to our men, ensuring our escape route is clear. We hustle Raven into one of the waiting cars, and I jump in beside her, keeping my weapon ready.

Marco slides into the driver’s seat, and we peel away from the chaos, the sounds of the battle fading into the distance. Raven looks at me, bewildered and trembling.

We speed through the streets, the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I glance at Raven, who’s shaking but alive. We did it. We got her out.

Now, we just have to make sure we stay ahead of the fallout.