Chapter 80 For you…again

Chapter 80 For you…again
Slowly, she opened her eyes, allowing herself to take in her surroundings before fully focusing.

“Leia! Are you okay? Can you hear me?” The voice called again, and she dropped her gaze toward it, sighing in relief when she realized it was Rhea.

“Rhea!” She called, lifting her hand and touching her face to be sure she wasn’t hallucinating and that it was truly her.

Rhea breathed out sharply and snapped, “Why the hell did you leave? Oh, for fuck’s sake, I am going to kill those bastards.” Her eyes were red, filled with anger.

Leia smiled faintly, then suddenly remembered something. “Aria. Aria needs help,” she mouthed, shifting her gaze to where Aria lay. Lucien was kneeling beside her, his fingers pressed to her wrist as he checked her pulse.

“She’s still alive, but barely. We need to get her out of this place,” Lucien reported, and Leia broke down, fresh tears spilling down her face.

“Save her first. Leave me here. I can wait, but you have to save her first,” Leia begged, clutching Aria tightly, but Rhea wasn’t having it.

“Listen to me. Your pulse is just as weak as hers, and for someone who was just drowned, you are far too weak. And even if we wanted to escape, we are completely cornered. Most of our men are dead, and we have been separated from the rest who might still be alive,” Rhea explained. Only then did Leia truly see how injured Rhea was. Dropping her gaze, she frowned at the many cuts on her body, blood still flowing from some of them.

When she looked at Lucien, he was in even worse shape, a bandage wrapped tightly around his chest, clearly covering a gunshot wound.

“We just have to get them to safety. Alpha will come. I know he will,” Lucien said, earning a scoff from Rhea.

“Even if he manages to escape, how do you know he will make it out whole? He’s not with our best men, and he’s surrounded by weapons. I am not going to rely on him. I will get them out of this packhouse even if it costs me my life,” Rhea insisted, turning her gaze back to Leia.

“Can you still walk?” She asked.

“Yes. They didn’t inflict pain on my body,” Leia answered, nodding.

“Good. Then you will walk,” Rhea said, helping her to her feet.

“What do you suggest?” Lucien asked, standing up.

“A sacrifice for a sacrifice. I will lead the way and distract them. There’s an escape route in the left quarters. I made a deal with Rio to let us escape in exchange for handing over the document,” Rhea revealed with a sigh. She hated herself for compromising, but did they have any other choice?

Flashback

As Rhea was about to leave the room, she paused and said, “I will hand over the document you want so badly.”

“And what do you want in return?” Rio asked, sitting up on the bed.

“We might not win this fight. Let Lucien and the others use the escape route we both know to get out of here,” she replied.

“What about you?” He asked, and she scoffed, dropping her gaze to him.

“I have you, don’t I?” She said, and he smirked, looking at her with admiration. Yes, that was the woman he had fallen in love with.

“How do I know it’s the real document?” Rio asked.

“I am betraying my oath for you… again,” she replied.

Back to the present.

“Why, Rhea? What have you done?” Lucien questioned, staring at her with disappointment.

“Which is why I have to be the one to make the sacrifice. This is my way of paying for my sins, and I owe Casimir my life. I have to save her,” Rhea said, causing Leia to turn and look at her. She wondered what Casimir had done for Rhea to owe her life.

“Don’t you dare die. He might not forgive you, but he would understand,” Lucien said as he bent to lift Aria.

“If Rio’s information is correct, there are currently twenty men stationed in the second corridor from the escape route. The third corridor is our destination. I will fight them off while you escape. Don’t look back until you are far away from here. I will try to catch up,” Rhea said, then turned to Leia. “Don’t you dare run off on your own again.”

“Promise you will come back,” Leia said as Rhea turned to leave, grabbing her wrist, earning a smile from Rhea.

“I wouldn’t dare die without my boss’s permission. I am still your bodyguard, remember?” She replied, freeing her hand before walking out of the room.

“It’s time to go, Luna,” Lucien said. Leia nodded, and they all left the room.

As they reached the first corridor, several men appeared ahead of them, forcing them to halt.

“I didn’t expect you to run away this soon,” the bloody red–eyed man spoke.

“Who is this buffoon?” Rhea remarked, glaring at him.

“Hi, Luna. I was worried I fed you too much, but it seems you are fine,” the bloody red–eyed man joked, waving at Leia and ignoring Rhea.

Turning her head slightly, Rhea ordered, “Leave. I will take care of him,” and Lucien nodded.

The bloody red-eyed man chuckled and ordered his men, “Go get our ride ready, I will be with you shortly.” Prompting them to leave him alone. 

“What’s the rush?” The man asked, his attention returning to Rhea and just as Rhea was about to respond, a beeping sound echoed, making them all look around for its source.

“Ah, there it is,” the man said, glancing at his wristwatch. “In exactly five minutes, the bomb will go off and wipe out everything in this quarter. It should have exploded long ago, but you managed to bypass me, which is impressive. Even if you try to escape, it will take you seven…no, eight minutes at most to reach your destination. It’s too late for that,” he revealed, causing Rhea’s eyes to widen.

“Liar,” she snapped.

“He’s not lying. Aria saw them bring it in,” Leia said, her expression grave.

“Even if he’s telling the truth, why would he die with us?” Rhea scoffed.

“I am an assassin, trained to kill and be killed. I will gladly die for my pack,” he sneered before bursting into manic laughter.

“Leave now!” Rhea barked.

“Not so fast,” the man said, pulling out a gun and opening fire.