ВойтиAmanda's POV The first shot was so loud that I felt my heart shattering, The sound ripped through the warehouse and slams into my chest like a physical blow. My ears ring instantly, sharp and painful, and for a split second I couldn't even tell where the sound came from.Then everything broke lose, I heard Selene's shout, their voice was unmistakable and in a swift second, they ran into the room, I could see the panic in their faces and the next moment, they ran out of the room, arm in arm.Another gunfire follows, closer this time, I could see Ryan, he was making attempt to hold himself back, Thomas was still busy shooting without aim.The he moved, he doesn’t hesitate, he turned and ran deeper into the building through a little corridor, his footsteps was loud, echoing in the empty hallway."Thomas!" Ryan shouted.And like he was been controlled, Ryan ran after him without thinking, he didn't even spare me a glance, in a minute, his body was already covered with the darkness."Rya
Ryan's POV "Levi was never taken." I almost didn't realize it was Ryan's voice, he must have been trying to hold the words in for the longest time. My ears rang, the words not settling, it hung in the air between us like smoke. I turned to him slowly, my heart already racing, already preparing for pain. "What?" Ryan doesn’t look at Thomas when he speaks again, he looks at me. Straight at me. Like he needs me to hear this properly. "He was never touched." He said "He’s safe. With people I trust. This was bait." For a second, the world tilted. My knees weaken, not from fear this time, but from the rush of it. Relief crashes into me so hard it almost knocks the breath from my lungs. Levi. Safe. Alive. Untouched. I press my hand to my chest as if I can physically hold onto that truth before it slips away. Then I hear Thomas laugh, it was a sharp and bitter laugh, like he had lost something in his head. "Of course." he said "Of course you’d do something like that." I looked at
Amanda's POV I didn’t plan to speak, not at first. I stood there while the tension stretched, while Ryan and Thomas faced each other like two storms about to collide. I listened to the sound of my own breathing and realized something strange, I wasn’t shaking anymore. Fear had ruled me for so long that I had forgotten what it felt like when it finally loosened its grip. Thomas was unraveling. I could see it now. The way his eyes darted, the way his voice rose and fell too quickly, the way his hand kept moving like he needed something to hold onto. Control had always been his weapon and right now, he was losing it. He knew all his tactics wouldn't work this time, the money and power couldn't save him, even if he tried. Ryan stood there, solid, watching him, watching me. He didn’t rush. He didn’t interrupt. He trusted me to find my footing. That was when I knew. This wasn’t his fight anymore. It was mine. "Thomas." My voice cut through the air between us, clear and steady.
Ryan's POV I knew it the moment I stepped inside that something had already gone wrong. Everything felt strange, like a heavy feeling hung in the air, the place was quiet. I closed the door behind me slowly and stood still, letting my eyes adjust to the view in front of me and also my ears, so I could pick any sound. Amanda was standing near the center of the room, she looked smaller than I remembered. She didn't look weak, she had never been the weak one but she looked guarded, wrapped in herself, her arms folded lightly as if she was cold. Thomas stood a few feet away from her, his back partly turned, phone in his hand. He kept checking it, sliding it into his pocket, pulling it out again. The movement was nervous. Repeated. That was my first confirmation. This wasn’t his plan anymore. My chest tightened, but I forced myself not to rush forward. I didn’t move until he noticed me. The sound of my footsteps echoing in the room, Thomas froze. He didn’t turn immediately, his
Amanda’s POVThe sound of the door locking echoed through the room, loud enough to make my chest tighten. For a second, I don’t move.I stay where I am, my back to the door, my hand hovering near the handle as if I might try it again. I don’t. I already know it won’t open. I don’t need to prove it to myself.I turn slowly.Thomas is standing a few steps away after trying to open the door, his shoulders tense, his jaw tight. The calm he wore earlier, the steady voice, the reassuring smile he kept giving me earlier had disappeared, it felt like he had finally taken the mask off his face.The air feels heavy, thick enough to press against my skin, my heart beat faster, but I force my breathing to stay slow.This is not the moment to panic.Thomas exhales sharply and drags a hand through his hair. He starts walking, back and forth, his footsteps scraping against the concrete floor. The sound repeats again and again, making me clutch the helm of my dress for support."You don’t trust me."
Amanda's POV The car slows down long before it stops, I know it before Thomas even turns off the engine, everything was wrong about the place.The was far from the road, hidden behind broken fences and weeds that have grown wild. The house looked dead like it had never had occupants in centuries, there was no lights, no movements, just the concrete, smell of rust and a heavy silence.My heart starts beating harder, slow at first, then faster."This is it." Thomas says calmly, like he’s announcing we’ve arrived at a hospital or a police station. "They said he’s inside."I look around again.There’s no sound of a child, no crying, no footsteps. No sign that anyone has been here recently at all.I swallowed."Where’s Levi?" I ask softly, keeping my voice steady. "I thought… I thought he’d be waiting."Thomas doesn’t look at me, he’s already stepping out of the car."He’s safe." he said quickly. "Let’s just go inside first."I followed him because I had to, because if Levi is anywhere ne







