Faith
The damp basement room smelled of rust, standing water, and imminent death.
Through the narrow high-set window near the ceiling, torrential rain lashed against the rusted bars, but my attention was fixed entirely on the man guarding the foot of the stairs. He sat on an upturned wooden crate, a heavy automatic pistol resting on his knee, scrolling idly on his phone while Victor was upstairs finalizing his escape route.
Behind my back, the rough hemp ropes gave way. The slick mix of rain, sweat, and blood on my skin allowed my left hand to pop free of the final knot.
I kept my wrists crossed behind the chair frame, hiding my freedom. Pain burned through my dislocated, bandaged shoulder, but adrenaline drowned out the agony.
I looked down at Noah. He was curled against my knees, sh
