Chapter 171
Roman stared at the warehouse through the early morning light, they were waiting for Agent Rogers to get the thermal imaging readout. Three hours of surveillance had confirmed this was it. Luca’s drones had identified movement around the warehouse, and the positioning matched everything they d deduced from Sutton’s photo analysis.
Four armed men had been patrolling. There was a window in the right location that they were sure had to hold Keira and Prince Alexei. But they had moved inside about thirty minutes ago which worried Roman. What was happening?
“This has to be it,” Mitchell said quietly, lowering his binoculars. “Has to be.”
Roman’s jaw clenched. Every muscle in his body screamed to storm the building, to tear apart anyone who’d dared touch Keira. She may be prickly, but he loved her like family. He had to force himself to wait, to think tactically. Blair was counting on him to bring her sister home alive. It would kill her to lose her sister. Life wouldn’t be that cruel to the sisters after being through so much.
Agent Rogers returned from his vehicle, holding a tablet displaying the thermal readout. “Four armed hostiles positioned at the north entrance. Two heat signatures in the southeast corner, lying down on what looks like a low bed…most likely a cot.”
“That’s Keira and the prince,” Luca said grimly, crouched beside Roman behind a shipping container.
Rogers studied the data. “The layout’s perfect for extraction, but we need overwhelming force. These guys won’t go down easy, and we can’t risk them turning on the hostages.”
Roman looked at the assembled team, Mitchell and his Wystovian operatives, his own security personnel, and Rogers. Not exactly a SWAT team. Plus, he didn’t know if any of them firing a gun would get them thrown in jail.
“I’m calling this in,” Rogers announced, pulling out his phone. “We need proper backup.”
“How long?” Mitchell demanded, clearly not happy.
“SWAT’s been waiting since yesterday evening. Twenty minutes tops. Had them prepped to move the second we got thermal confirmation.”
Roman’s hands fisted. Twenty minutes felt like twenty hours when Keira was locked in that building.
“We wait,” Rogers continued, reading his expression. “I know it’s killing you, but going in half–cocked gets people killed. Your sister–in–law included.”
“I don’t need-” Mitchell started
But Rogers cut him off. “Not happening Mitchell, I will lock you all up the minute you move. This is now official.”
Roman gave a grim smile when Mitchell said fuck.
The next twenty minutes crawled by with agonizing slowness. Roman checked his watch every few seconds, his mind conjuring worst–case scenarios. What if the kidnappers decided to move their hostages? What if something went wrong? Maybe he should have paid the ransom. But Rogers had told him honestly it could get Keira killed faster.
Finally, the rumble of vehicles approached. Three black SUVS rolled up without sirens or lights, disgorging a twelve–man SWAT team in full tactical gear. Fortunately, too far away for the men inside the warehouse to detect.
Rogers met with the team leader, a hard–faced man named Captain Thompson. After a brief consultation over the thermal imaging, Thompson turned to address the group.
“We go in fast and clean. Alpha team takes the armed hostiles at the north entrance. Bravo team circles around to secure the perimeter and cut off escape routes.” His eyes found Rogers. “Agent /Rogers leads a small team to extract the hostages.”
Roman stepped forward. “I’m going in.”
Thompson shook his head. “Negative. You’re a civilian.”
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That’s my sister–in–law in there,” Roman’s voice was deadly quiet, “I’m going in.”
“So am I,” Luca added, moving to stand beside him.
Mitchell joined them. “Prince Alexei Is my responsibility.”
Thompson looked at Rogers, who sighed. “I’ll take responsibility, I have worked with them before.” he said reluctantly. “And they know the hostages
during extraction.”
personally. Could be useful for keeping them?
calm
“Fine, but I want it noted I don’t like it. Thomp you’re out.”
conceded. “But you follow Rogers‘ lead and stay behind the tactical team. One wrong move and
The SWAT team moved with practiced efficiency, splittin
into their assigned groups. Roman, Luca, and Mitchell followed Rogers as they circled to the southeastern entrance, it was an old loading dock that would put them closest to the hostages.
Roman’s heart hammered as they approached the building. Every step brought him closer to Keira, closer to bringing her home to Blair. He thought of his pregnant wife, probably pacing their living room right terrified and helpless. Waiting for news.
The SWAT team reached the main entrance. Through
“All teams, go.”
radio, Roman heard Captain Thompson give the order.
The night exploded into controlled mayhem. Flash–bang grenades lit up the darkness, followed by shouts of “Police!” and the thunder of boots on
concrete.
Rogers led their smaller team through the loading dock entrance, sweeping each corridor methodically. The building was a maze of storage rooms and narrow hallways, but the thermal imaging had given them a clear path to their target.
They moved deeper into the warehouse, the sounds of the main assault echoing behind them. No resistance yet, the four–armed men were all focused on the SWAT team’s frontal attack.
Finally, they reached a heavy metal door at the end of a corridor.
Roman’s chest tightened with relief. This was the room.
Rogers positioned himself at the door lock while one of the SWAT officers prepared a small breaching charge. “Remember,” he said quietly, “hostages first. Get them out, get them safe.”
The charge detonated with a sharp crack, and the door swung open.
Roman’s eyes immediately found Keira sitting on a small cot, her head turning toward them in shock. Her dress was torn and dirty, her hair disheveled, but she was upright and alert.
“Keira!” he called out.
What happened next caught everyone off guard. Instead of relief or tears, Keira launched herself off the cot and flew directly into Roman’s arms with a force that nearly knocked him backward.
The movement was so unlike her… Keira had always been the independent one, the sister who prided herself on not needing rescue. Keira was a force of nature. But she clung to him now with desperate strength, her whole body shaking.
“Roman,” she gasped against his shoulder. “You came. I knew you’d come.”
Behind her, Prince Alexei had risen from the cot, swaying slightly. Roman noticed the blood on his temple. He was just as disheveled as Keira, the prince’s eyes weren’t on the rescue team. They were fixed on Keira with an expression Roman recognized, possessive concern mixed with something deeper. Something that looked suspiciously like jealousy, even though it was clearly her brother–in–law holding her. He often felt the same about his own wife, so the look was easier to recognize.
“Sir,” one of the SWAT officers called to Rogers. “Building’s secure. All four hostiles in custody.”
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Rogers nodded, then turned to the rescued hostages. “Medical team’s should be waiting outside now. Let’s get you both checked out.”
Keira finally pulled back from Roman’s embrace, wiping her eyes. “Is Blair okay? The baby?”
“She’s fine,” Roman assured her, though he knew his wife wouldn’t truly be fine until she saw her sister safe. “Worried sick, but fine. She’s waiting at home. She wanted to be
ere.” It had taken every ounce of reasoning to keep her at home. He knew Luca had had the same fight with Sutton.
Keira nodded, then glanced back at Alexei. Something passed between them, a look loaded with meaning that Roman couldn’t quite interpret.
“Can you walk?” Rogers asked the prince.
“I’m fine,” Alexei replied, though his voice was rough. His eyes still tracked Keira’s every movement.
As they began moving toward the exit, Roman couldn’t shake the feeling that he was missing something important. The way Keira and the prince looked at each other, the careful distance they maintained despite whatever they’d been through together.
But those questions would have to wait. Right now, all that mattered was getting them both home safe.
Rogers coordinated with the medical team outside as they emerged from the warehouse into the morning light. Two ambulances waited, engines running, paramedics ready with gurneys and equipment.
“I don’t need a stretcher,” Keira protested as one of the EMTS approached with two gurneys. “I can walk just fine.”
“Protocol,” Rogers said firmly. “Both of you get checked out at the hospital. No arguments.”
Roman watched as Alexei was helped onto the first gurney, the prince’s face pale but alert. The head injury looked worse in the bright light, it was swollen and puffy.
“Roman,” Keira grabbed his arm as the second paramedic approached. “Call Blair. Tell her I’m okay before she sees this on the news.”
He nodded, already pulling out his phone. “Of course.”
As the paramedics began their initial assessment of Keira, Roman stepped aside and dialed. Luca took his place beside Keira making sure she wasn’t alone.
Blair answered before the first ring finished. “Roman? Did you–is she—”
“She’s safe,” he said quickly. “We have them both. They’re being taken to the hospital for evaluation, but she’s walking and talking and very much alive.”
The sob of relief that came through the phone made his chest tight. “Thank God. Oh, thank God. When can I see her?”
“Soon. We’re heading to Metropolitan General now.”
“I’m on my way,” Blair said, and the line went dead.
Roman pocketed his phone and turned back to find Luca approaching, his expression grim.
“The kidnappers?” Roman asked.
“Four men, all in custody. Rogers is coordinating with FBI and Wystovian security on the interrogation.” Luca’s eyes followed the ambulances as they pulled away. “We better head to the hospital, before Blair and Sutton.get there.”
