“I….I think we’re close.” I dare not speak too loud, in case The Shadow could hear us.
“You recognise this path?”
“No...I don’t know. I just have this feeling. I’m sure we’re really close.”
“Ok Honey.” Rob nodded, then looked back to the guys around and behind me. “Stay close and keep your eyes peeled.”
“You two do not let go of her now.” Kyle barked to Cole and Matt. They both tightened their grip on my hands in reply and we all started forward again.
The further we went, the more my stomach tied itself in knots, the sense of foreboding almost being more than I could handle. I looked up to the sky, wanting some more air in my lungs, and then I saw it, peeking between two trees, just a tiny sliver of the wood shingle roof, visible through the packed trees ahead of us.
I squeaked in fear and Cole and Matt instantly had me pressed tightly between them, looking ahead for what I had seen.
“Th-there.” I whispered as I pointed to what I had seen. I couldn’t believe I was back there, back to the place I had spent so many nights wishing I could escape.
“It’s ok Babygirl. You don’t have to go any closer.” Cole whispered as I once again began trembling. I tucked my front into him, not wanting to see the building again and he just engulfed me, surrounding me.
“Kyle, on me. Kade, stay here with them until we clear the cabin, yeah?” Rob ordered, his soft tone turned to all business. I could totally see him as the bad ass marine Kyle had told me he was when they first met in Iraq years earlier.
I turned my face from Cole’s chest, just enough to see Kyle looking me over with worry and fear, fear I’d be hurt if he weren’t there.
“Go, man. Scope it out. I’ve got Olivia, we all have.” Kade said calmly.
The others all moved off and Kade moved Cole, Matt and I over to a small space, away from the path, obviously worried about the guys coming back this way shooting if The Shadow was there and ran.
“You did so good finding this place, Brains.” Cole whispered as we stood, me still hiding against him, too scared to let him go. I feared if I were alone for even a second, The Shadow would appear and grab me.
“He’s right Cariña, we’re so proud of you.” Matt agreed as his warm hand ran up and down my back. I just really hoped it had all been worth it, and that the little girl was found before she was completely destroyed, because going back there, being that close to the place of so much soul shattering torture, may have been more than I could handle. I really needed it to have all been for the greater good.
CHAPTER 12
KYLE
“No one’s getting past us Ky.” Cam said, pulling me from my fucking mind melt at leaving Olivia and my brothers stood out in the open, alone, with a possible kidnapper rapist bastard in the vicinity. I looked over to him and nodded. If the fucker who hurt Liv was in this cabin, he was not getting out alive.
We all converged on the small hunting cabin; Cam, Rob and I from the front, Evan and Jack covering the back.
The cabin was small, only big enough for one room inside, as Liv had described. It sat in a small clearing amongst the thick forest, and a heavily driven track led up to it through the trees, though I had no idea where it came onto the highway from, because the area had been searched by us, and by local cops for such a dirt track after Liv mentioned it. Nothing had been found.
Rob gave the signal and we moved on the building. Rob kicked the door open and went in first, we followed right behind.
“Shit!” Cam cursed as soon as we were through the door, and I was with him. The smell of the place was horrific, heavy with the odour of something I knew only too well from my time overseas.
We quickly cleared the small room, then Rob nodded to a hatch that was right in the centre of the floor. Cam and I covered him, as he pulled it open.
“Shit!” He gasped as he reeled back from the smell.
“Whoever’s down there, ain’t alive,” Cam commented and my stomach rolled, hoping like hell it wasn’t the little girl. I knew it was unlikely, because whoever was down there was clearly in heavy decomp, and the girl had only been gone forty eight hours.
Rob pulled a flashlight from the pocket of his cargo pants, and shone it down into the space where I knew Liv had spent fucking years of her life.
“Cam, stay up here and cover us. Kyle, let’s go.” Rob ordered. I nodded and followed him down the wooden steps, my own flashlight out and held in my hand with my gun.
We stepped down into the space and I made sure to not breathe through my nose, knowing if I took in the smell this close, I’d likely throw up.
My training took over and I cleared the corners, checking around the dark space diligently, but quickly.
Once we were both confident no one was down there, we started looking around. Olivia had been right, it was some kind of bunker, a small room underground. There was no electricity and the place was damp and freezing cold. It was empty except for a wooden workbench in the back corner. The idea that it was likely the place of the torture sessions Liv had described had me raging with fury, and the need to kill someone.
“How the fuck did she survive eight years down here?” Rob asked as he moved around the space. I had no idea. It was freezing cold and would have been pitch black. It was a miracle she survived at all, but to have come away as strong
