Healed By Love

CHAPTER 16

AUDELIA'S POV

The warehouse was once part of a factory which explains the ruins of several other buildings with different structures surrounding it. Despite being old, it still is in a good condition- a building with a basement, a main floor and two other floors- if you ignore the moss growing everywhere around it, the broken windows and broken crates scattered around the perimeter. The positioning of the ruins along with all the debris around plays in our favour as it gives us the perfect hiding spots. A strange smell surrounds the area- a mixture of rust, humidity, moss and the faint smell of gunpowder.

"Everybody get in position." Lorenzo orders and everybody complies as the move around the place. The entire group that was together only seconds ago was now scattered everywhere, hiding behind the walls of old buildings and other behind the crates that had been stacked up.

I take my spot behind a wall that looked like it was about to collapse any time now. The top part had already collapsed, the bricks and concrete dispersed around the ground. I spot Valeria as she gets in position as well as Lucas. As soon as everyone is in position, Lorenzo continues with the orders, following the plan we came up with.

"Those in position 1, round up the perimeter and stay put. Take out anyone you see."

Some of the men get up from the position, including Valeria as they move around furtively, weapons drawn for any sign of danger.

"All clear." Valeria says after a few minutes of silence. "No sign of anyone outside."

"It does not add up." Lucas says. "Igor said that he was someone of high position. Why are there nobody else as protection?" Lorenzo adds, supporting Lucas.

"Do you think they left?" Giovanni asks.

"We have come all the way here. We need to at least check." I say. "Maybe they are all inside?" Valeria suggests.

"Right. We have not come all the way here and not even enter the damn building." Giovanni sighs. "We should get inside."

"Let's proceed with what we decided." I inform and a couple of 'yes' are heard. "Position 1 keep an eye for anything suspicious."

"On it." Valeria responds.

"Those in position 2, move to the front. Position 3 will go through the back. Position 4, split into two and take the sides." I continue.

"Position 2 will go to the basement. Position 3, main floor and position 4 take the two remaining floors, each group will take one side of the building." Lorenzo further explains. "Start moving."

I get out from behind the wall, hiding behind other walls as I make my way to the building. I lead my team to the stairs as we go up. Once on the first floor, I gesture them to separate into groups and check this side of the floor. The inside was a mess with old boxes everywhere, dust, spiderwebs, mice, roaches and old machines all over the place. According to the blueprint, there are two stairs, one on each side of the building. My team is responsible to check the left side while Lorenzo's team, the right side.

Weapon held firmly in my hand, I move around the floor, opening any doors and checking behind the old furniture. Walking further down the hallway I am in, the footsteps of the others fade in the background. I grow more suspicious as Markov is not in any of the rooms I check. In fact, it looks like no one has set foot in here before us, yet, the videos clearly show him staying here. However, I could not figure out how he could stay here. Maybe he built a sort of bedroom for him on the top floor but I had yet to check it.

Turning round the end of the hallway, I block a punch right as it is about to hit me in the face. As my reflexes kick in, I aim a punch at the person only for it to get caught in his hand. A strange sensation courses through me for a split second and I meet his eyes- whiskey pools.