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"It's over," I whisper to her. "You're safe now."
I can feel her body shaking, and I know that she's been through hell. I want to wrap her up and keep her safe forever. To never let anyone hurt her again. But I know that we have to get out of here before more of Petrov's goons show up, or the agents make their way upstairs.
"Come on," I say, gently disentangling myself from Mia's grip. "Let's get out of here. Do you think you can walk?"
She nods weakly and stumbles to her feet, swaying slightly. Xavier swoops in and picks her up. "I've got you, darling."
"Xavier?" she chokes out, squinting as the ceiling lights attack her eyes.
"Shh," he coos.
Antonio and I lead the way, clearing each inch of space as we descend the staircase. I can hear the updates as they pour through the headset as the other teams do their job.
As we reach the ground floor, I realize that the mission was a success. We had rescued Mia and taken down Petrov's men without any casualties. And yet, as we step outside into the cool night air, I can't help but feel the weight of what we've done. The trail of destruction in our wake that is necessary for this kind of work.
I start to relax a little. We've made it out alive, Mia is safe and we have accomplished our mission. But as we turn a corner on the second to last floor, my heart skips a beat. A group of men are coming towards us, guns drawn. How did they get past our team downstairs?
"Go!" I yell at Xavier, pushing him forward.
Antonio and I spin around, ready to take down the oncoming threat. Shots are fired and I can feel the heat as they whizz by my head. This is not good.
I dive behind a wall, taking out one of them with a well-aimed shot between the eyes. Antonio is doing the same beside me, his hand steady. But we're outnumbered, and more keep coming.
"Lucas!" Xavier yells at me from across the hall.
I glance over to see him at the end of the hallway, holding Mia close to his chest. He's making his way towards us but there's no way he's going to make it in time. I know what I have to do.
"Cover me," I yell to Antonio.
With that, I lurch around the corner and throw three smoke grenades. Xavier takes the opportunity, dashing across the space and straight for the exit without stopping.
The silence outside is a jarring contrast to the chaos of the interior, but we don't stop, feet pounding against pavement, until we're securely hidden from sight.
We did it.
57
MIA
"Enemies engaged at the side entrance. Smoke grenades deployed," Lucas says methodically, his voice coming out muffled through his helmet. "No entry, man injured, en-route to hospital."
Xavier quickly reacts, setting me down gently but hastily against the nearby wall. My legs buckle under the weight of fatigue and overwhelming emotions, causing me to slide down and find myself seated on the floor. My hands grip the edges of my knees tightly as I struggle to regain control of my racing thoughts.
Antonio glances at me, concern etched across his face. He crouches down beside me, his presence a reassuring anchor amidst the chaos. "Take a moment, sweetheart," he whispers, his voice filled with empathy.
I take in a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. Antonio, Xavier, Lucas. They're all three here. They all came for me.
Xavier, regaining his composure, steps forward, his voice filled with gratitude and admiration. "Lucas," he says, his words carrying a profound weight, "thank you. Thank you for everything you've done. Without you, none of this would have been possible."
Antonio, echoing Xavier's sentiment, adds, "You've proven yourself, tonight, and we're indebted to you."
He shakes his head. "No. I just wanted to save Mia." He comes closer to me, checking me for injuries. "Are you hurt?"
I shake my head, still unable to find my voice. All I can focus on is the warmth of his hands as he checks me over, making sure I'm okay. His touch is gentle, yet possessive, and I feel a shiver run down my spine as his fingers skim over the sensitive skin on the inside of my wrist.
Finally, I find my voice. "No, I'm alright," I say, my voice fragile with emotion. "Thank you, Lucas. You came for me."
Lucas leans in, his scent enveloping me in a cocoon of safety. "Hey," he whispers, his fingers brushing against my cheek. "We'd never leave you. Never."
