Chapter 8 - THE SAFEHOUSE IN THE MOUNTAINSThree hours later, deep in the heavily fortified underground safehouse carved into the granite cliffs upstate, the tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Lily had finally fallen asleep on a plush leather sofa, wrapped in a warm blanket, her little hand still clutching her crumpled crayon drawing of the faceless man.
Sarah sat by the fireplace, drinking a cup of hot tea provided by one of Vincent’s guards, her face pale but composed.
Adrian stood near the medical table in the corner of the room, shirtless, as a trusted battlefield surgeon stitched his torn shoulder wound back together without anesthesia. He didn't make a sound, his jaw clenched tight, his eyes fixed on Sarah.
The surgeon packed his kit and stepped away. Adrian pulled a dark shirt over his broad shoulders, wincing slightly as he walked over to sit on the sofa beside Sarah.
"Are you okay?" Sarah asked softly, looking at the fresh blood seeping through his black cotton shirt.
"I'm fine," Adrian murmured. "More importantly... you and Lily are safe here. Volkov will never find this place."
"Adrian... this isn't a life," Sarah whispered, tears spilling over her lashes. "Every time you come near us, danger follows. How long are we going to run?"
Adrian reached out, gently cupping her face, forcing her to look into his eyes.
"We aren't going to run anymore, Sarah," Adrian said, his voice dropping into a register so fierce and absolute that it silenced the room. "For three years, I tried to keep you safe by hiding in the dark. Look where that got us. Volkov thinks he can hunt my family? Starting tomorrow, I am going to hunt him."
Before Sarah could argue, the secure satellite phone on the desk buzzed violently.
Vincent picked it up, listened for ten seconds, and turned around with a grim, unexpected expression.
"Boss," Vincent said slowly. "That was our insider inside Volkov’s inner circle. Volkov isn't staying in the city anymore. He’s booked a private flight out of Teterboro Airport tonight. He’s leaving the country."
May you like
Adrian stood up slowly, picking up his suit jacket and sliding his holster back over his chest. His hazel eyes burned with a dark, terrifying fire.
"Not tonight, he isn't," Adrian said coldly. "Vincent, ready the jet."
