♥️

We stand in front of the concrete warehouse where the GPS brought us too. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest as we slowly walk closer. I'm wearing all black attire, same as Leo. We stride around the side of the building, Leo holding me behind him. Blending in with the dark streets like shadows.

He wanted me to stay at the house he rented. We arrived here in the afternoon, the flight was long, and I was itching to come straight to the lockets location when we first stepped off of Aiden's private jet. The memories sent chills down my spine and I can't wait to be up in the air with him on our way home after we rescue him, but Leo explained we needed to wait for nightfall.

The uneven walkway makes It hard to navigate in the dark, but Leo is guiding us. His movements fluid and swift as he eases his way through the quiet streets of Italy making no sounds at all.

We're about to round a corner when we hear some shuffling happening. Quickly, Leo holds me back, pulling us further out of site. I lean as slim as I can against the stone wall at the sound of something shutting, car doors. "Don't move." Leo tells me in a quiet but serious tone, holding his gun ready to fire just in case.

A car drives away, and we stay put. Leo turns to me, his shoulder relaxing slightly. "Em, listen to me. If shit goes down, I need you to use this and run." He hands me a gun; I stifle a laugh. "I don't know how to use this." I tell him, lying. My father was an officer, he showed me how, but I don't want to have to use it.

He pulls the waistband of my leggings forward slightly and tucks the gun inside. "Point. Shoot." He says, then his face falls, "I know you're happy right now, but this is no joke sweethe... Em." He gives me a weak smile, "Anything could be in that room, he may already be gone. You know that right?"

I nod in agreement for his sake. Aiden's going to be in that room, I just know it and no one can tell me otherwise. I wait while slightly dancing on the balls of my feet. No sound of movement in ten minutes. Leo grabs my arm and squeezes it once, pulling me into a tight hug. Then we proceed.

My feet march forward as we enter the large warehouse. Empty. A heavy metal door guides us to a stairwell.

The smell of brine invades my senses as we descend the stairs into a basement. The further we go down, the more I gag on the stench of mold and damp earth. It's nauseating. Is this where my heart has been?

Leo holds a small flashlight and his gun pointed forward in the same hand, he keeps his other hand latched around my wrist pulling me forward. It feels like a military mission as we sink through the deserted warehouse. The old stone floors not smooth, my shoes keep digging into the holes in the rock.

"This way," Leo says as he looks at his watch that he put the coordinates in. We spent the entirety of the insanely long plane ride going over the map and plans for this and all along he had coordinates. At least he's thorough.

I walk slower as we reach a closed metal door, a small box of iron bars sit flush in the thick door. "I don't think anyone is here." I whisper in the dark, I haven't heard a pin drop. "Maybe everyone's asleep?"

Leo nudges his chin forward, indicating that we're at the room where the locket last pinged.

I rip myself from his grip and barrel towards the door, swinging it open and tripping inside. Leo is behind me in seconds, his flashlight revealing an empty room. I shake my head, my voice small. "Where is he Leo?"

The flashlight pans around the room and my eyes follow, landing on a heap of something that's laying in the corner of the room. I run to it, my hands diving through the items while my heart steadily sinks at the realization that these are Aiden's things.

His clothes. Oh my God. His clothes. I bring them to my face; his blood is coated on them.

My locket necklace still sits in his pocket, I clench it in my shaking hand.

I look up at Leo with wide eyes. "Why did they remove his clothes?" I ask in a voice I don't recognize, I watch his face contort as he opens his mouth to speak and then he looks away, stopping himself.

On my hands and knees, I crawl over to a pile chains. The ground is caked in dried blood. Leo lifts me against my wishes, "Leave me here." I beg, he shakes his head pulling me closer. "No. We have to go."

I bury my head into Leo's chest, sobbing. "I'm so sorry." He pats my hair, his voice soft. "Let's go." He says again, his eyes searching my face.

I shake my head.

"Let's go Em." He begs.

I don't respond, I just stare off. Leo picks me up, wrapping his arms around me. "We were too late." I cry into the damp room, the darkness taking over my vision as Leo's flashlight bobs up and down as we walk further and further away from where Aiden died. For good this time.

♥️

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