Chapter 91 TERROR.
\~~~LUCIANO.
I held Raina tightly as the bomb technician knelt before us, his tools glinting under the harsh office lights. My arms wrapped around her like a shield, one hand steady on hers where she gripped the doll, the other pressing her close to my chest. The timer blinked down mercilessly, and there was just one minute left now and every second stretched into agony.
I hadn't meant to let the cat out of the bag like that, calling her Raina in front of everyone during the chaos. But there was no way I'd address her as Talia at this moment. That name didn't even cross my mind. She was Raina Marielle Monroe, the woman I'd started to care for despite the lies, and the secrets.
The technician's hands flew faster, and his fingers were precise as he followed the instructions from the captured bomb maker.
Wires snipped, connections twisted and each move was like a gamble that could end us all.
Raina's body trembled against mine, and her breath came in short, ragged bursts. I could feel her heart pounding through her thin blouse, matching the frantic rhythm of my own.
“Stay with me,” I murmured into her hair, my voice low so only she could hear. Alessia knelt nearby with her eyes wide with fear.
Suddenly, Raina buried her face in my shoulder, her nose pressing into the crook of my neck. She inhaled deeply, andI sniffed back the burn in my nose and swallowed the lump in my throat, fighting the wave of emotion threatening to crack me.
Her breath grew heavier, labored, and her eyes fluttered, closing then opening as exhaustion clawed at her. She was fading, the shock and terror wearing her down. I rocked her gently, back and forth, like soothing a child, my hand rubbing slow circles on her back.
“I’ve got you, baby. Just a little longer.”
“Almost done,” the expert muttered, more to himself than anyone, his brow furrowed in concentration.
The timer hit 0:10 and the room felt like it held its breath. One last twist of a wire, a final cut with the clippers, and then it happened. The countdown froze at 0:05, and a red glow flickered then shifted to green.
For a moment, no one breathed.
The silence that followed was louder than any explosion could have been.
The technician pulled back with a shaky exhale, wiping sweat from his forehead. “It is defused,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. He bowed deeply, relief in his eyes. LYou're safe, madam.”
The breath I didn't realize I'd been holding rushed out of me in a whoosh. Raina sighed shakily too, her body sagging against mine in pure relief. The tension snapped, and murmurs rippled through the room. There was Viktor's low grunt, Gabriel's quiet 'Thank God,' and Alessia's soft sob.
“You can let go,” I whispered to her, my gaze locked on the doll she still clutched like a lifeline.
“W… what if we…” Her voice had dropped low, exhaustion fully creeping over her features, turning her pale face even whiter.
“Trust me, okay? Let it go,’' I kept my tone steady, reassuring, even as my pulse still hammered.
She didn't tear her eyes off me, those deep eyes searching mine for truth. I gently placed my hand on her wrist, feeling the rapid flutter of her pulse.
Slowly, so slowly, she released her grip, her fingers uncurling one by one. The doll sat there, harmless now, and then on the floor between us.
Everyone breathed loudly, the sound almost comical in its unison. Voices filled the room instantly and relief poured out like a dam breaking.
“Goodness!” Alessia cried, pressing a hand to her chest as tears streamed down her face.
“W… we didn't explode,” Raina sighed, a small smile ghosting her lips, fragile but real.
Just before I could answer her, and pull her closer to tell her how strong she'd been, she leaned over, her eyes rolling back. Consciousness slipped away, and her body went limp in my arms.
I breathed out sharply, pulling her fully into my embrace. I patted her cheek gently, then her back, checking for any sign of response.
Ignoring the numbness shooting through my legs as I’d been kneeling for the last twenty minutes, I shifted and stood, scooping her up bridal-style.
She was light, too light, her head hanging against my chest. Everyone parted like the sea as I walked through, Alessia trailing close, Viktor and Gabriel falling in behind.
By the time we got outside, the supposed evacuated grounds buzzed with workers who'd refused to leave completely, or maybe snuck back, filling the space.
They screamed in joy the moment they saw us, their cheers erupting like fireworks.
But I didn't say anything as my focus was only on Raina who was unconscious and vulnerable in my arms. I strode straight to the car, the black SUV waiting with the engine running.
Gabriel caught up just as I reached it, yanking the back door open. I slid in carefully, settling Raina so her head rested on my thighs, her dark hair spilling over my lap. Viktor took the wheel, Gabriel hopped in the front passenger seat, still wiping her eyes. Alessia climbed in beside me, closing the door with a solid thunk.
“Where are we going?” Viktor asked, his voice steady but edged with concern, as the car peeled out.
“Home. Gabriel, inform the doctor to be on standby,” I said, my eyes fixed on Raina's face. Her chest rose and fell in shallow rhythms, but she was out cold.
___
We pulled into the driveway of the estate minutes later, the gates swinging open automatically. Viktor killed the engine, and I was out in seconds, Raina still cradled against me. The house staff hovered at the door, their faces pale.
“Doctor?” I barked as I crossed the threshold.
“He is here, sir. In the bedroom,” one of them replied, leading the way.
I hurried up the grand staircase, my legs protesting but I ignored them and went straight to our room.
I lay her down gently, propping pillows under her head. The doctor, an older man with a calm demeanor, one I'd trusted for years was already unpacking his bag on the nightstand. He nodded to me, then got to work.
“It is just shock and exhaustion,” he murmured after a few minutes, prepping an IV line. “Her vitals are stable, but she is dehydrated and stressed to the limit. This will help. It is a mild sedative to let her rest,” He inserted the needle efficiently into her arm, taping it down and hanging the bag on a stand.
I watched every move, my arms crossed, and my jaw tight. “Will she wake soon?”
“Yes, in an hour or two. Just let her sleep it off. Keep her comfortable, and let there be no sudden noises,” He packed up, giving me a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
After he left, the room fell quiet, save for the soft drip of the IV. I pulled a chair close to the bedside and sat, elbows on my knees, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest. She looked peaceful now, the lines of fear smoothed from her face. I reached out, pulling her hair away from where it stuck to her cheek, tucking it behind her ear. My fingers trailed down, massaging her legs gently through the fabric of her pants and kneading the muscles to ease any cramps from the tension. She stirred slightly, a soft sigh escaping her lips, but didn't wake.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, pulling me from the trance. Viktor's name flashed on the screen. I stood, casting one last look at Raina, then stepped out into the hallway, closing the door softly behind me.
“Anything?” I asked, my voice low
“Boss, you're not going to like this,” Viktor breathed out, his tone heavy on the line.
I curled my fist into a tight ball, my nails digging into my palm, and sniffed back the rising anger. “Talk.”
“I found the delivery man. Got the CCTV footage from where he received the package.”
“I don't need these details, Viktor. Go straight to the point. Who did this?”
There was a pause, and then, “Miss Irina Volkov.”
Irina.
Of course.
“Of course, it is Iriana.”
“I'm awaiting your order, boss.”
“Track her down. Now. I want her brought to me alive and unscathed.”
“On it, boss,” The line clicked dead.
I leaned against the wall, my fists clenched, and my mind racing.
Oh, Irina would pay for this.
For every bit of terror she'd inflicted on Raina, she would receive twice as much.
But first, I had to be here when Raina woke.