AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Of course, I can maintain the same professionalism I do in any mission,” I retort, determination fueling my every step as I move toward the building across from the apartment where their lives hang in the balance.
Upon reaching the rooftop, I take a steadying breath, preparing myself for the task at hand.As I assemble my rifle, an undeniable calm envelops me amidst the brewing storm.There’s a certain calm that settles upon the world when viewed through the lens of a sniper’s scope.It’s an eerie stillness, detached from the chaos unfolding beneath me.From up here, I have control.I can stop anyone within seconds without being seen.
My heart sinks as I take in the scene before me.The apartment stands with its steel and glass walls, revealing the entire landscape within.While I know my bullets could pierce through if necessary, the devastation I witness hits me harder than a grenade.
There they lie, Grey and my girl, collapsed on the pristine, cold floor, their bodies marked by the violence they endured.The sight of blood splattered against the elegant marble surface is both shocking and heart-wrenching.
One of the three men in the room delivers a brutal kick to Grey’s ribs.My finger hovers against the trigger, poised to retaliate, but I exercise restraint.I await the signal, hoping for the opportunity to shoot each and every one of them, including Enya.
A crackle breaks the silence in my earpiece, a voice slicing through the frigid stillness.“We’re in position.Can you see them, Sanford?”
“I can see everything unfolding,” I murmur, my heart pounding within the confines of my chest, each beat echoing the fleeting seconds of this ill-fated countdown.
A knot tightens in my stomach, the threat of bile rising.I forcefully swallow it down.I remind myself I have a purpose and recall who I am and who they rely on me to be.
Breathe.One.Two.Three.Hold.Release.
“We’re activating the hidden microphones we planted outside the property during our reconnaissance,” a voice resonates through my earpiece.“Await further instructions.”
“Shoot them.Kill them now.We can try to escape through the back stairs,” a female voice commands, urgency lacing every word.
“Is that Enya?”I mumble.“The fucking bitch is going to kill them.”
“I don’t care what the damn FBI wants.This is a rescue mission.Eliminate the threat, Bancroft,” Harrison orders, his voice resolute and unwavering.
And so I follow their call.Pulling the trigger has to be like a lover’s touch—gentle, yet firm—but also deadly.The shot cuts through the night with a startling grace.The first target falls, succumbing to the power of my aim.The ensuing pandemonium is drowned out by the static-filled voices in my earpiece.I’m not finished.I can’t afford to lose focus, not yet.
The next two shots ring out.Once I see the men fall, I allow myself a fleeting moment of satisfaction.Three down in total.The world snaps back into motion, a ruthless dance of adrenaline and gunpowder.
“We’re in.Stop the fire,” Beacon orders, just before I can kill Enya.And maybe that’s okay, she’ll pay in some other way.This won’t go unpunished.
My finger retreats from the trigger, and a sigh of relief whispers through the night.As the echo of that horrifying chapter fades into the silence and the sirens replace it, I swiftly pack up my gear, driven by the hope of reuniting with them soon.They’re going to need me during their recovery.
When I approach the ambulance, I inquire, “Which hospital are they taking them to?”
Grey lies on the stretcher.His face is purple and swollen, almost unrecognizable, unconscious, and vulnerable.Leaning closer, I whisper softly, “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you.I love you.”
Moments later, I see her.Enya, escorted by the FBI.She stands next to a stretcher where I believe they carry my ballerina.
As I attempt to approach, an officer shakes his head, blocking my path.“Stay back.”
Beacon intervenes, gently pushing me away, not allowing me the chance to inform the officers that Enya is the one who kidnapped her own sister.I need to ensure they keep her away from my ballerina.
When I catch a glimpse ofher, my heart lurches, and I can’t hold back the surge of nausea.She bears the marks of her torment, her battered form appearing almost lifeless.I know all too well the horrors she has endured, having rescued victims like her just days ago.
How did I let this happen to them?The weight of guilt and anguish settles upon my shoulders, a burden that I will carry as I fight to bring them back to life.
ChapterForty-One
“The human capacity for burden is like bamboo—far more flexible than you’d ever believe at first glance.”—Jodi Picoult
No one tellsyou what WITSEC is until you’re there.I had naïvely assumed they would simply take my testimony, assign me a bodyguard, and I could resume my life without having to worry about the men who wanted to kill me for betraying them.
Instead, my father and I were whisked away to a safe house, a shelter from the storm.My sister was in the hospital.As I wanted nothing to do with him, I made a conscious choice to visit Evie whenever possible with the excuse that I wanted to look after her.
Months stretched into seasons as we waited patiently for the authorities to capture everyone involved.We were destined to become the star witnesses in this intricate charade.
Throughout those long months, Evie tried her best to be there for me, to console me, and encourage me to seek help.She spoke sparingly to our father, but when she did, she made it clear that his sole responsibility was to protect his children—he should’ve protected me.
