𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 || a dark romance ✔️

chapter twenty-one

COLE

The second we breach the warehouse perimeter, everything inside me stills. That brutal, quiet calm before a storm.

I don't feel the wind slicing at my skin. I don't hear the crunch of gravel under boots. My pulse is a war drum in my ears, and I let it guide me. Let it remind me what's at stake.

Camilla. Richard.

I don't know what condition they're in, but I can feel her pain like it's a string pulled tight in my chest. One wrong move and it'll snap—and I'll lose my fucking mind.

Mike signals us with two fingers. The back entrance. Xavier's already kneeling at the control box, fingers flying across wires and circuits like a magician. Sparks. A low beep.

Click.

We're in. I could always trust Xavier's skills with tech.

The door swings open with a creak. Darkness swallows us whole, but we've lived in it for years. We thrive in it.

The Soul-Eaters move like shadows. Ghosts with loaded guns and bad intentions for the ones we love.

We clear the first room in seconds. Two guards—shot in the head before they can even scream.

I'm the first down the corridor, every step louder than thunder in my mind.

My breath is cold, coming out of my mouth in quick bursts. My thoughts are knives.

Where are you, baby?

Then I hear it.

A sound. Faint. Muffled. Like laughter. Or maybe sobbing.

If Camilla got hurt, hurt.

I will never forgive myself.

I motion for Mike to take the left flank, the rest of the team covering hallways and exits, holding guns and other weaponry.

Xavier's behind me, breathing heavy but steady. I know he want Richard back just as badly as I Camilla.

We reach a steel door. There's blood on the handle. And when I touch it—it's still warm.

Shit.

I don't wait. I slam my boot into the lock. The door crashes open.

And then I see her.

Camilla.

Chained to the wall. Her face bloodied. Her lip split. Her hair matted with crimson. But her eyes—God, her fucking eyes—they flicker open when she sees me.

"Cole," she breathes like it's the last word she'll ever say.

Her face scrunched up with tears and she sobs. Opening her arms, she waits for me.

Something inside me cracks.

I drop to my knees in front of her, hands trembling as I yank at the chains. "I got you, baby. I got you."

"Cole," She wails, hugging me so tightly I almost suffocate.

"R-Richard," she croaks, nodding weakly to her side.

I glance over. He's slumped beside her, leg bent at a horrifying angle, face bruised and pale—but alive.

"Xavier!" I bark. He's already there, dropping to Richard's side, whispering loving words to him.

"You came," Camilla whispers.

"Of course I did." I rest my forehead against hers, ignoring the blood. "No one hurts you and lives."