Carnage.

Carnage.

Spades – Point of View

Pain was all I knew.

There was so much blood. I’d lost so much.

My head was spinning. My face was bruised. My heart ached. I knew Ace was going to burn the world for me, and for the first time in a long time, I was afraid. I couldn’t die. I couldn’t. I had to live. I had to fight. I had to hold on, because losing me would send Ace into a never ending spiral. He would never recover and he would follow me. I couldn’t let that happen.

I couldn’t remember what happened or how I got here. I remembered falling unconscious because of the gas, then I woke up here, tied to the roof.

This place was familiar. It was in the estate. A warehouse where the guns and explosives were kept. I was strung to the roof. I had been tortured for the past three hours. It was odd because they were not asking me any questions. They didn’t want anything from me. They were just torturing me for the love of it. They were glad to do so. It was a win for them. They got Spades Ivanov tied to the roof.

They left me alone about ten minutes ago, but I knew they would return soon. My mind wandered to Ace and my eyes burned with tears. I was so fucking angry. I was too weak, but I couldn’t stay here. Not anymore.

My hands were bloody and bruised. The blood made it easy to slip out of the chains.

I groaned as I fell to the ground, but I didn’t have time to be in pain, so I got up, pushing through the pain. The only perks of being chained and tortured in a weapon warehouse is the never ending selection of armor and machinery. My pulse hammered so violently in my chest as I pushed forward. My time was running out. The men would soon return. Ace would be leading his suicide mission right now. I couldn’t let that happen.

With trembling hands, I wore the bulletproof vest over my bloodied shirt. A wave of exhaustion crashed into me, and I sighed deeply, my heart heavy. I would like very much to rest but I couldn’t. Not now. Not yet. I had to make it out alive. I had to keep the love I’d found.

Determined, I wore the vest, then stock up on weapons. I strapped guns to my hip and knives to my body. I threw a rifle across my chest, grunting as it hit my back. I clenched my jaw in fury as I remembered how that fucking Captain shoved his knife into my back. A long recovery was waiting ahead of me, but for now, I needed to focus on winning this fight.

I grunted as I reached for the helmet. It was bulletproof. In a matter of seconds, I was geared up and ready. There was a phone. A burner phone. I dialed Ace’s number and brought it to my ear, but almost immediately, I heard the voices of my tormentors. They were returning. I had to leave. It would be stupid of me to try to take them on, but that didn’t mean I had to let them go like that.

Carefully, swiftly, I set the explosives, then climbed out the window.

I moved immediately. Once the explosives go off, all bets are off. I put the phone to my ear as I ran. I was desperate. I called every number I could think of, but none went through, which meant they were already here.

As if on cue, rapid gunshots went off as the warehouse exploded, shaking the core of the ground and I couldn’t help but smile. Ace came here for me. Now, all I had to do was get to him before he unleashed any more carnage. In a way, I knew that was a long shot. Ace was carnage.

The gunshots didn’t stop. They wouldn’t stop for a long time.

Lee’s car drove through, heading for the warehouse. He rushed out, desperation on his face. I watched from the shadows. It was easy to blend in with the shadows when there was this much emptiness and void.

“Where – where is he? Where the fuck is he?” Lee was yelling at the Captain.

My vision tunneled, narrowed at the Captain. Flashes and flashes flood in. I remembered how it felt. How every punch, every hit, every cut felt. How he leered and mocked as I bled.

I raised my gun and aimed.

“Who? You told us to have our fun and we had our fun. The warehouse must have exploded because of all the fucking explosives in it. This isn’t our fault. He was going to die either way.” The Captain retorted and waves of anger flushed through me in waves.

I was ready to pull the trigger when I heard it.

“Spades?”

I turned around, my gun aimed and my heart pounding.

My eyes widened when I saw Constantin, Natalia and Alexie.

“What – what are you doing here?” I stammered, my head aching painfully. I was really dizzy from all the bloodloss. I could feel my control slipping away.

“We came for you. Do you really think Ace will leave you to die? Or you thought he would do it alone? No offense but your boyfriend is filled with bloodlust. He can’t think straight.” Natalia smiled at me, but her eyes were filled with rage.

I exhaled deeply, my knees buckling. I needed to sit somewhere. I needed to get to a Doctor. I needed to see Ace.

“Where is he?” I asked, my voice cracking.

“Waiting for you.” Constantin frowned and I nodded slowly, because it was unlike Ace to wait.

I glanced back at Lee and the Captain who were getting ready to fight back. I could end this now. I really could, but I needed Ace more. He was the air I breathe and right now, there was no air.

“Take me to him. Take me home.” I whispered and Constantin helped me up.