Chapter 28 - Adrian

I sat on the couch, glass in hand, my mind swirling in a haze of whisky and frustration. The room was dimly lit, the only sound being the quiet hum of the clock ticking away. My phone had been off for hours now, and to be honest, I didn't care. I didn't want to deal with anyone—especially not Seraphina, not after everything.

I leaned back, staring at the ceiling, trying to quiet the storm inside my head. The kiss, the distance, the awkwardness that hung between us... It felt like a weight on my chest, suffocating me with every breath. I was lost in my own thoughts when I heard the door swing open.

Nick's voice cut through the fog in my brain. "Adrian!"

I didn't even bother to look up. I barely had the energy to move. I was too far gone in my drunken stupor.

"Adrian!" Nick repeated, louder now, his voice laced with annoyance and concern. "Come on, man, get up."

I didn't respond. I was too tired, too consumed with my own thoughts to acknowledge him.

Then, suddenly, I felt him shake me, his hand gripping my shoulder. "Adrian, get your ass up."

I groaned, still not opening my eyes, wishing he'd just leave me in peace. But then, the next thing I knew, cold water splashed across my face. I shot up, sputtering and wiping my face, my heart pounding.

"What the hell?" I shouted, blinking as I wiped my eyes, trying to get my bearings.

Nick stood there, his arms crossed, his expression a mixture of annoyance and something darker—something I couldn't quite place. "Where's your phone?" he asked, his voice tight with urgency.

I looked at him, still disoriented. "What the hell are you talking about? It's off. It's always off," I muttered, barely able to form coherent words.

Nick didn't seem to care about my confusion. His eyes hardened, and he took a deep breath, the weight of something serious settling into his gaze. "Seraphina's been kidnapped."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I froze, my blood turning to ice. "What?" I stammered, trying to process what he was saying.

Nick repeated it, his voice more urgent now. "She's been kidnapped. I don't know by who yet, but she's gone. We need to move fast."

My mind raced, my body slow to catch up. My hands trembled as I reached for my phone, realizing just how reckless I'd been, isolating myself from everything. I was just starting to comprehend the gravity of the situation when panic seized me.

"Fuck," I muttered under my breath, my heart hammering in my chest. Seraphina, the woman I could barely even admit I cared about, was gone. And I had been sitting here—doing nothing.

Nick paced in front of me, clearly impatient. "Come on, Adrian, we don't have time for this. We need to find her now. She could be anywhere by now, and the longer we sit here, the harder it's going to be to track her down."

I shoved my phone back in my pocket, standing up with shaky legs. All the alcohol in my system seemed to evaporate in an instant, replaced by adrenaline and pure fear. "Where is she?" I rasped, voice barely above a whisper.

Nick was already heading toward the door. "I don't know, but we'll find out. We're not wasting any more time."

I didn't wait for him to say more. I was already out the door, my mind a whirlwind of worry and anger, none of which I could focus on. All I knew was that Seraphina was out there, somewhere, and I had no idea what was happening to her.

And it was all my fault.

The tires screeched as Nick and I raced down the winding roads, our headlights slicing through the darkness. My heart was pounding, my hands gripping the wheel tightly enough to make my knuckles ache. Nick sat beside me, his phone pressed to his ear, barking orders to his contacts to track down the van we'd spotted.

"Turn left here!" Nick shouted, pointing to a narrow, deserted street.

I slammed on the brakes, taking the turn hard, the car nearly skidding. Every second felt like an eternity, every delay a knife twisting in my chest. My mind was a chaotic mess—images of Seraphina flashing before me, her smile, her stubbornness, her strength. And now... her fear.

"We've got a lead," Nick muttered, hanging up. "The van was spotted heading toward the industrial area. There's an old acid factory up ahead, abandoned for years. Could be where they've taken her."

An acid factory? My stomach churned at the thought. Who the hell were these people, and what did they want with her? The fear clawed at me, threatening to overwhelm, but I pushed it down, focusing on the road ahead.

As we neared the factory, the car slowed. The place was a ghost town, the crumbling buildings casting eerie shadows under the moonlight. The faint smell of rust and decay hung in the air, making my skin crawl.

Nick and I jumped out of the car, scanning the area. The van was parked a few meters away, its back doors wide open.

"She was here," Nick said, his voice low and grim.

I didn't need to hear it to know. My instincts screamed that she was close. We moved cautiously, our footsteps echoing against the cracked pavement as we approached the building.

Inside, the air was damp and suffocating. Broken machinery and rusted barrels were scattered around, remnants of a place long forgotten. My heart raced as we searched the darkened hallways, every corner bringing a mix of dread and hope.

The factory loomed ahead, a decrepit shadow against the pale moonlight. The air around us felt heavy, like the calm before a storm. Nick and I crept closer, our movements silent, our breaths controlled. The van was parked at the side, its engine still warm—a clear sign we were close.

But the moment we stepped inside, I knew it wouldn't be easy.

A low shuffle came from the shadows, followed by hushed whispers. My instincts flared. There were more of them. A trap, maybe. It didn't matter. My mind was set on one thing: finding Seraphina.

"Stay alert," Nick muttered, pulling a knife from his jacket.

The faint glow of a single overhead bulb illuminated a group of men standing near a cluster of rusted machinery. There were four of them, each armed, their postures tense.

"You take the left, I'll cover the right," I whispered to Nick, already moving.

The first man didn't even hear me coming. I grabbed him from behind, locking my arm around his neck before slamming him into the wall. He crumpled to the ground with a groan, but the noise alerted the others.

"Over here!" one of them shouted, raising a gun.

Before he could aim, Nick lunged, slicing through his arm with precision. The gun clattered to the ground, and I kicked it away, landing a punch that sent the man sprawling.

The other two rushed toward us. I barely dodged a swing of a crowbar, countering with an elbow to the attacker's face. He staggered, blood streaming from his nose, but I didn't stop. My fists moved on instinct, fueled by rage and desperation.

"Where is she?" I barked, gripping the collar of the man I'd just taken down.

He spit blood at my feet, laughing through broken teeth. "You're too late," he sneered.

The words ignited something primal in me. I slammed him against the floor, my vision narrowing, every muscle in my body taut. "Wrong answer."

Nick stepped in, his blade pressed against another man's throat. "You've got five seconds to tell us where she is," he growled.

The man whimpered, his resolve crumbling under Nick's cold glare. "Down the hall... basement... locked room," he stammered, pointing toward the back of the factory.

I didn't wait for more. Tossing the man aside, I sprinted toward the hallway, my chest tight with dread. Nick followed, his steps quick and purposeful.

As we neared the basement entrance, two more men emerged, blocking our path. One swung a bat at me, the whoosh of air brushing past my ear as I ducked. I countered with a kick to his ribs, the impact sending him crashing into the wall.

The other lunged at Nick, but he was ready, disarming him with a swift motion before knocking him out cold.

"We need to move," Nick said, his voice sharp.

I nodded, yanking open the basement door. The stairs were steep and narrow, the air growing colder with each step. My hands clenched into fists as we reached the bottom.

A single locked door stood before us, faint sounds of movement coming from inside. My heart pounded as I approached, every second stretching into eternity.

"Seraphina!" I shouted, banging on the door.

No response. My chest tightened.

"Stand back," Nick said, pulling out a small explosive charge from his pocket. He placed it on the lock, lighting the fuse.

The door burst open with a deafening crack, smoke and splinters filling the air. I rushed inside, my eyes scanning the room.

It was empty.

"She's not here," I growled, frustration boiling over.

But as I turned to leave, my eyes caught a faint trail of blood leading toward another passageway. My jaw tightened.

"She's close," I said, my voice low and dangerous.

This wasn't over. Not until she was safe in my arms.