Chapter 8 - The Price of Loyalty
The standoff in the underground garage was suffocating. Above us, the sounds of battle echoed through the concrete—the muffled thuds of grenades and heavy gunfire as Nolan and Carter fought off Julian's strike team on the upper floor.
"Eli, listen to me," I stepped out from behind Adrian, my voice calm, ringing clearly through the cold room.
"Claire, stay back!" Adrian growled softly.
"No," I said, fixing my eyes on the terrified young driver. "Eli, look at me. You drove me to my doctor's appointments. You brought me coffee when I was crying in the back of the car. You know who Adrian is. You know what he does to people who hurt innocent women."
Eli swallowed hard, tears slipping down his cheeks, the gun barrel trembling violently.
"If you let Julian use you tonight," I continued, taking a slow, deliberate step toward him, "your sister dies anyway, because Julian never leaves witnesses. You know that. But if you stand with Adrian right now... Adrian will move heaven and earth to bring your sister home alive. You know he can do it."
Eli stared at me, his breathing shallow and ragged. The young man was caught between two monsters—the ruthless brother who threatened his family, and the terrifying Don who ruled the city.
"He... he has her at the docks," Eli choked out, his arms lowering by an inch. "Pier 42. In the shipping container depot."
"Eli," Adrian's voice was low, devoid of anger, carrying the weight of an absolute oath. "Lower the weapon. Drive my wife out of here through the rear tunnel. I will personally clear Pier 42 before sunrise, and your sister will sleep in her own bed tomorrow night."
Eli looked from Adrian to me, then down at the weapon in his hands.
With a heavy, shuddering sob, he dropped the submachine gun to the concrete floor.
"The rear tunnel exit leads to the old logging trail," Eli wiped his face hastily, rushing to open the SUV's rear door for me. "Julian doesn't know about it. I only gave him the coordinates to the front gate."
"Get her out of here, Eli," Adrian ordered, reaching into his coat and pulling out two extra magazines, slapping them into his tactical belt.
"Adrian, no!" I grabbed his coat sleeve, terror gripping my heart as I realized he wasn't getting into the car with me. "You're coming with us!"
"Nolan and Carter are upstairs fighting twenty men, Claire," Adrian said, leaning down, pressing his hands against both sides of my face, his dark eyes burning into mine with an intensity that made time stand still. "I don't leave my men behind. And I don't let my brother walk away after what he did to my wife."
"Adrian..."
"Five years ago, I swore to protect you," Adrian whispered, pressing his lips to mine in a hard, fierce, desperate kiss that tasted of rain and copper. "I failed at making you feel loved, Claire. But I will never fail at keeping you alive."
He pulled away, slamming the heavy armored door of the SUV shut, locking it from the outside.
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He slapped the roof twice. "Drive, Eli! Now!"
The SUV roared to life, its heavy tires spinning on the concrete as Eli smashed the vehicle into reverse, speeding down the dark, narrow escape tunnel, leaving my husband alone in the dark with a gun in his hand.
