Silent love

Chapter 47

On the previous chapter...

"Second team is the aerial squad". Immanuel continued. "Cecilia, you'll be with Seth. You're both scouting from above. Drones, rooftops, wherever you can get a good view without getting spotted. You've got the best chance of seeing any movement from the air".

Cecilia nodded. "We can make sure nothing's sneaking up on you. I'll take the lead on this one".

Immanuel turned to Jacques. "You stay with me. We'll cover ground for the extraction point. If shit hits the fan, you and I are the distraction, make sure we don't get boxed in. I'll need you sharp".

Jacques gave a short, terse nod, his expression still tense but focused.

"And me?" Fiorenzo asked, eyes flicking between the group.

"You're with me too". Seraphina said, looking him over. "We'll be in reserve. If we need to negotiate, it'll be with you. You keep Valerio thinking we're weak. Let him think he can handle us easily".

Fioreno's lips quirked up into a faint smile. "That, I can do".

I stood there, letting the plan settle in. Every part of me wanted to rush in, charge in guns blazing, but I knew that was the kind of mistake that would cost her life.

My mind, sharp with urgency, ran through the possibilities, the angles, and the risks.

I'm not losing her.

Not to him, not to anyone.

It's time to get her back.

ʚ YAQUELINE'S POV ɞ

Darkness.

Thick and suffocating, like it was pressing against my skin. I couldn't tell how long I'd been here, minutes? Hours? Days?

The air was stale, heavy with mildew and old blood. The walls around me were damp stone, and the only light came from a single flickering bulb overhead that buzzed like it was taunting me.

There were no windows. No clocks.

Time didn't exist here.

Only the sound of my own breathing and the distant hum of machinery through the walls.

The door hadn't opened in hours. I was alone. My wrists ached from the tight zip ties they'd used earlier, the skin rubbed raw where I'd tried to fight back.

I'd screamed. Bit one of them. They hadn't liked that.

My lip still throbbed from the blow I got for trying.

But I would've done it again.

If I could I would bite their balls off.

They'd shoved me into this room and locked the door behind me. It wasn't a cell exactly, there was no bed, no toilet, no camera I could see. Just cold concrete, a rusted chair bolted to the floor, and nothing else.

It was deliberate.

Designed to break people down piece by piece.

My back pressed against the wall, knees pulled to my chest, I tried to steady my breathing. I couldn't afford to lose control. Not now.

But it was hard. So hard.

Because he had me

Valerio

I should've known better. I did know better. I saw the signs.

I felt the shift in the air before I walked onto that balcony but I ignored it.