17. The Queen's Gambit

The abandoned warehouse loomed ahead like a fortress, its dilapidated structure hiding the web of danger that awaited inside. Faye felt the weight of the moment settling over her as they approached, every step bringing them closer to Meline's lair. Alaric moved with purpose, his body a wall of focused energy beside her, while Nikos scanned the surroundings, his sharp instincts on high alert.

They paused at the edge of the building's perimeter, crouching behind a stack of rusted containers. Faye's heart pounded in her chest as she glanced at the warehouse, trying to quiet the doubts that had begun to creep in. Meline was expecting them. The thought churned in her stomach, but they didn't have a choice. Not anymore.

"This is it," Alaric muttered, his eyes fixed on the entrance, where a couple of guards stood, smoking and chatting casually. "Once we're in, things will move fast."

Nikos pulled out a small earpiece and handed it to Faye. "Stay connected. If anything goes wrong, we need to be able to communicate."

Faye nodded, slipping the earpiece into place and swallowing the lump in her throat. She could feel Alaric's gaze on her, the protective energy radiating from him like a shield. He hadn't said much since they left the car, but the tension in his body spoke volumes.

"We'll take out the guards and go in through the side entrance," Alaric said, his voice low but commanding. "Meline won't be expecting us to come in from that angle."

Faye glanced at him, her nerves frayed. "What if she knows? What if she's waiting for us inside?"

"She probably is," Alaric said grimly. "But we won't give her the satisfaction of underestimating us."

Nikos signaled that the guards were distracted, and the three of them moved quickly, keeping to the shadows. Faye's pulse raced as they approached the side of the building. Nikos expertly disarmed one of the guards in a swift, silent motion, while Alaric incapacitated the other before they even knew what hit them.

They slipped through the side door, the darkness swallowing them whole. The interior of the warehouse was just as decayed as the exterior—cobwebs hung from the rafters, and the faint smell of mildew lingered in the air. But it was quiet, too quiet.

Faye's skin prickled with the sensation of being watched. She stayed close to Alaric, her body tense as they moved through the narrow hallway. The distant hum of machinery was the only sound, punctuated by the soft tap of their footsteps.

Nikos led them down a corridor, his gun at the ready. "This way," he whispered. "Meline's got to be in one of the back offices."

As they crept further into the building, the tension became unbearable. Faye's every nerve was on edge, her instincts screaming that something wasn't right. It felt like a trap, a web spun by Meline, and they were walking right into it.

They reached a door at the end of the corridor. Nikos glanced at Alaric, who gave a short nod. Then Nikos pushed the door open, revealing a small, dimly lit room. A single chair sat in the middle, facing away from them, and behind it stood a figure.

Meline.

The sight of her sent a cold shock through Faye's veins. Meline turned slowly, her eyes gleaming with triumph. She looked calm, too calm, as if she had been waiting for this moment all along.

"Alaric," Meline greeted, her voice smooth and dripping with venom. "I knew you'd come."

Faye's fingers clenched into fists as she stepped forward, every muscle in her body on high alert. Meline's eyes shifted toward her, a cruel smile playing on her lips.

"And you brought your little pet with you," Meline said, her gaze sweeping over Faye with a sickening satisfaction. "How quaint."

"Enough," Alaric growled, his voice low and dangerous. "We're ending this tonight."

Meline laughed, the sound cold and sharp. "Oh, I don't think so. You see, Alaric, you're not the one in control here. I am."

Faye's stomach twisted. She could feel the shift in the air, the trap closing around them. Meline had planned for this, every step orchestrated to bring them to this exact moment.

"You always were arrogant," Meline continued, her tone mocking. "Thinking you could protect her, that you could keep me from getting what I want. But you can't. You'll lose, Alaric. You always lose."

Alaric's jaw clenched, his fists at his sides. Faye could see the fury simmering beneath his calm exterior, but he didn't react. He wouldn't give Meline the satisfaction.

"You've hurt enough people, Meline," Faye said, stepping forward. "This ends now."

Meline's eyes flicked toward her again, her expression darkening. "Oh, sweetheart, you're so naïve. This doesn't end until I say it does."

In a blur of motion, Meline reached behind the chair and pulled out a gun, pointing it directly at Faye. The world seemed to slow, and Faye's breath caught in her throat as her heart pounded in her ears.

Alaric moved instantly, stepping in front of Faye, shielding her with his body. His hand went to his own weapon, but Meline's finger hovered over the trigger, her smile widening.

"One move and she dies," Meline warned, her voice a deadly whisper. "Do you really want to risk that, Alaric?"

The room was suffocating, the tension thick enough to choke on. Faye felt Alaric's body tense in front of her, his protective stance unyielding. But there was no way out. Not without someone getting hurt.

Faye's mind raced. Meline had always been one step ahead, always in control. But there had to be a way to turn the tables, to break free from the web she had spun around them. And then it hit her—the one thing Meline didn't know.

The truth.

Faye's hand moved to her stomach, her breath steadying. She stepped out from behind Alaric, meeting Meline's gaze head-on.

"You want to hurt me, Meline?" Faye said, her voice steady. "Go ahead. But it won't change the fact that I'm carrying Alaric's children."

Meline froze, her smile faltering for the first time. The shock in her eyes was unmistakable. She hadn't expected this. She hadn't anticipated Faye's pregnancy.

For a moment, everything hung in the balance. Alaric tensed beside her, ready to act, while Nikos edged closer, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Meline's grip on the gun tightened, her expression twisting into something dark and unreadable. "You think that matters?" she spat. "You think that changes anything?"

Faye held her ground, her voice unwavering. "Yes, it does. Because now you know. And now, you have something to lose."

The seconds ticked by, the tension crackling in the air. Meline's eyes darted between Faye and Alaric, her mind racing. She was losing control of the situation, and she knew it.

Finally, Meline let out a sharp breath, lowering the gun just slightly. "You think this is over?" she sneered. "It's only just begun."

With one last venomous look, she turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving them standing in the empty room.

Faye exhaled, her body trembling with the adrenaline coursing through her. Alaric's hand found hers, squeezing tightly.

"It's not over," he said quietly, his voice filled with determination. "But it will be."

And as they stood there in the dimly lit room, Faye knew that the fight wasn't over. But for the first time, she felt like they might just have a chance.