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Damien, Sergei, and I reach the location from the north through a forest clearing. There, we see a well. Two men surround it, chatting idly.
They are here, and active.
“There,” I whisper, pointing to a small wooden door. It’s slightly ajar, leading into what looks like a garage.
We exchange a silent nod, a silent understanding of what's to come. Damien knows his role—to distract and create a diversion if trouble finds us. Sergei will cover our back, ensuring no one sneaks up on us from behind. And me, I'll take the lead, hunting for Robin’s uncle and any sign of Adam.
Damien nods subtly, his hand hovering over the concealed weapon at his side. He then nods, signaling for Sergei and me to follow his lead as he quietly approaches the wooden door.
As we approach the door, Damien gestures for us to fan out, taking positions on either side. With a swift movement, he pushes the door open slightly further, just enough to peek inside. The dimly lit garage reveals a scene of eerie stillness, a few nondescript vehicles parked haphazardly around the space.
I catch Sergei's eye, and he gives me a nod of readiness before we step into the garage, our footsteps barely making a sound on the concrete floor. The two men by the well are engrossed in conversation, oblivious to our presence as we carefully navigate our way under their noses.
At the end of the garage is another door. With a swift and silent exchange of glances, we move closer to the door, every sense heightened. The faint sound of muffled voices filters through the cracks, urging us to tread carefully.
Damien positions himself by the door handle, his hand poised to push it open at a moment's notice. I stand by his side, my pulse quickening with each passing second, adrenaline coursing through my veins like a wildfire.
At a signal from Damien, Sergei pushes open the door with precision, revealing a dimly lit room. We step inside and notice two men sitting at a table, looking over some papers.
Quietly, I motion toward the staircase. I’ll go up to see who I can find. Behind me, I notice Damien and Sergei walk quietly behind the men. In unison, they each grab a man’s neck, and I watch as they press their fingers on the Abatos men’s necks until they pass out.
I inch up the steps, Damien and Seregei on guard downstairs. Once upstairs, I notice a door ajar. I walk up to it quietly and pry it open.
In front of me sits Craig Freeman. He’s on a lounge chair, fast asleep. I enter and shut the door behind me.
As I step forward, the floorboard creaks. He wakes up, looking around him wildly.
“What the hell?” he screeches. I simply raise my gun and point it at him.
“Tell me,” I demand. “Where is Adam?”
“W…who the hell are you?” he demands.
“Robin’s husband. I’m here for our brother… Uncle.”
He stutters and tries to weave a lie. “I… I don’t know where he is,” he says, but one look into my eyes tells him all he needs to know: the truth is his only way out.
"Talk, or it's your last breath," my threat hangs heavy, and the man crumbles.
“I…I’m just a victim,” he says. “These guys, whoever they are, kidnapped me.”
“And left you alone in this room?” I ask, pointing around us at the comforts he has. “I’ve known the Abatoses for a long time, and this is not how they keep their prisoners.”
“Look, I swear, I know nothing,” he tries telling me. “These men caught me last night, told me they’re here for my sister’s money, and I called Robin. I don’t know where they took Adam. Maybe they didn’t, you know? The kid could’ve hidden away somewhere.”
“Hidden away?” I ask coldly, not believing a word he says. Something about this story doesn’t add up. How would the Abatoses even know about Robin’s mother’s gambling debts? This uncle of theirs knows more than he’s letting on.
“Yeah,” he shrugs. “Hidden.”
“Well then,” I pull out my phone and dial Robin. Robin picks up on the first ring.
“You found him?” she asks, breathlessly.
My heart breaks for my wife. She sounds so scared, so alone. A cold, brutal fury breaks through my phone toward the man standing in front of me.
“No, sweetheart,” I say gently. “But I have found your uncle.”
“Uncle Craig?” she exclaims. “Oh my god. Is he okay?”
