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He fumbles with the lock, and when the door swings open, the sight inside hits me harder than any punch I've ever taken. There, in a bare room with nothing but a dirty mattress, sits a young, small Adam, his eyes wide and scared. But he’s alive.
"Adam," I call out, my voice steady despite the pain I feel for this little boy. "It's Boris, your sister’s husband. I’m here to take you home."
The moment Adam's small form steps out of that grim room, the air shatters with gunfire. I turn to see what happened and notice Craig’s fingers on a small red button right next to where he stands.
Instinct kicks in; I shove Adam behind me, using my body as a shield. "Stay down!" My command is a growl, more beast than man.
Damien and Sergei return fire while I keep Adam safe, our movements synchronized from years of fighting side by side. Bullets whiz past, singing deadly threats. The Abatos goons fall one by one, a brutal warning scribbled in blood and gunpowder.
In the chaos, I catch sight of the uncle, slinking like a rat toward an exit. His eyes dart around, not once seeking out Adam, only looking for his own way out. Rage boils in my veins, the betrayal too raw, too personal. He owes apologies to Robin and Adam.
"Damien, the uncle!" I bark, and Damien is on him, but before we reach him, he slumps to the ground, hit by a stray bullet. Blood gushes out of his head and trails down the floor.
Adam's whimper pulls me back, and I lift him up, wrapping my arms around his trembling body. "It's over," I promise him. I close his eyes and run toward Damien and Sergei.
Gunfire pops around us like a hellish symphony as I shield Adam with my body. We're moments from the door, freedom so close it's a bitter taste on my tongue.
"Stay down, kid," I growl to Adam, pressing him closer to the concrete wall. I feel his small frame shake against mine. My heart hammers in my chest, not for me but for him.
A bullet grazes my side, heat searing through my flesh, and I stagger, biting back a curse. I press a hand to the wound, feeling warm blood ooze between my fingers. Pain flares, but I shove it aside. There's no time for weakness; Adam needs me.
"Damien!" I call out, voice rough as gravel.
"Here!" He appears like a wraith from behind, gun aimed with deadly precision. His eyes lock onto mine, then to the blood staining my hand. "You hit?"
"A scratch," I lie through clenched teeth. I'm not about to let him or anyone else get distracted. Adam’s safety is all that matters.
"Let’s move!" Damien covers us, firing off rounds with the cold focus he's known for. We dart forward, out of the room, into an open garden.
Then everything changes. Ivan has won the battle from the outside.
"Drop your weapons!" Ivan's voice cuts above the roar, commanding, full of a danger that promises retribution. Nico Abatos stands before him, Ivan's gun unwavering at his temple as Ivan leads him to the center. The air crackles with tension, thick enough to choke on.
"Ceasefire!" Nico yells, and the madness pauses, guns lowering as if on a string. The power shift is palpable; we hold the cards now.
"Let the boy go," Ivan demands, the steely edge in his tone leaving no room for argument.
Nico nods, sweat beading his brow. "Take him. Just... leave."
I don't need to be told twice. I put Adam down, his small body light in my arms. He clings to me, but Sergei picks him up.
"Almost there, little man," I whisper to him, letting go of his hand, as Damien puts his arm around my waist and barks orders at the others to call ahead at the hospital and let them know I’m coming.
Chapter 24 - Robin
The bell rings at last. I haven’t been away from the phone all day, and my heart literally hurts when the jarring noise goes through the house. I drop the cup of tea I’ve been sipping, ignoring it as it falls to the ground and shatters.
I run to the door, praying that it’s Boris with Adam, but when I swing open the heavy oak door, I see Damien in the doorway with my brother, Adam, standing beside him. Relief floods through me as I rush toward them, wrapping my arms around Adam tightly.
"Oh, Adam, I've missed you so much," I whisper into his ear, my hands touching his little nose, hands, and face, trying to see if this is real.
"Robin, I'm okay," he reassures me gently, hugging me back just as fiercely. I pull away slightly, examining him closely. His light brown hair is a bit disheveled, and there's an exhaustion in his brown eyes that breaks my heart. But he's here, safe and alive, and that's all that matters right now.
"Thank you, Damien," I manage to choke out, my voice trembling with gratitude.
"Of course, Robin," he replies softly, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"Where's Boris?" I ask, suddenly realizing that he's not present.
