Is this destiny?

Stella was leading the way with Julius and Allen and she was not sure why Owen tagged along. He is not a fighter, but he didn't want to stay behind. Doesn't he know that he can be a burden more than help? Stella went on so many missions without Owen. Why did he insist on joining this one? Is it because this is to rescue Sarah? Or because all her daughters are involved? Stella was not sure. 

Through their tunnel-journey, Stella was trying to persuade Owen to give up, but he was not willing to listen to reason.

"I can use a gun, and if they shoot, use me as a shield.", Owen said before they exited the tunnel that leads to the main base of the Voronin family.

Stella rolled her eyes. "You are too heavy to drag around as a shield."

Owen ignored her sarcastic comment. "Sarah is my niece. How can I sit behind and watch everyone risking their lives to get her out? Don't tell me that you will miss me if I die."

"You are a shitty shield, but a good assistant.", Stella said. "Don't you dare die on me."

Owen smiled. "I knew you would be missing me."

"If you are not related, I would think that you are flirting…", Zack grumbled behind Stella and Owen.

"They are not related.", JoAnna said for Stella, Owen, and Zack to hear. "And mom… dad can hear you as well."

Stella snorted. "I was not flirting."

"Focus on the mission, dear.", Edward's stiff voice laced with warning sounded in Stella's ear.

Edward knows that Owen has a thing for Stella since… forever. But Stella never gave him any chance. Maybe for Stella, this is just a friendly chat to lift someone's spirits, but Edward knows that Owen is taking advantage of the situation. Shameless.

Back to the present…

They moved swiftly and the invisible drones took out silently anyone who was on the street in the visible range.

Due to the rush, the unconscious bodies were left lying on the street and it looked eerie like a plague just swept through.

It was a matter of time before someone from within buildings noticed oddity on the street, but they could not do much about it other than move swiftly and hope to escape before reinforcements arrive.

They reached the building where Sarah and Aiden are without a hitch, but this was the easy part. Their retreat will be more dangerous.

It is easier to walk into a spider's web than to get out of it.

Five guards later, Stella knocked on the door that Aiden locked from the inside.

Sarah opened the door and saw several familiar faces smiling her way.

"No time for greetings. We need to get out quickly.", Stella reminded everyone.

Sarah extended her arm toward Aiden, and she didn't move until he placed his hand into hers because she feared that he will stay behind. Sarah was not afraid of whatever is waiting for them outside, as long as they are together.

Aiden knew what is on her mind and he was thinking the same. No matter what, the worst outcome for him is the possibility of losing Sarah.

He smiled and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Together."

Sarah nodded and gripped his hand firmly. "Let's go home."

"Are these people coming also?", Owen asked while looking at seven prisoners that were standing behind Sarah and Aiden. And his eyebrow raised suspiciously at the sight of Vanya whose leg is in a cast.

Sarah confirmed. "They will join us to the exit, and once we are out, they are on their own. Don't worry about them, they all agreed to fend for themselves. If they can't keep up, that is their problem. We will not risk our people for them."

Aiden was surprised that Sarah stopped her urge to adopt more humans. Must be due to the stress.

"They are coming, we need to rush!", Zack spoke with urgency. He saw large groups of people approaching from both sides of the street.

"Drones are almost out of ammunition. Make a run for it.", JoAnna's voice rang in everyone's ear stud.

Julius and Allen dashed out of the building first, moving closely next to the wall and they were greeted by the gunshots from above. Luckily, the drones took out those shooters, but more were coming.

Ade and Hande kneeled and started shooting, two steps away from Ron and Zula.

"Don't linger! You are an easy target!", Owen warned the youngsters and that made them move.

Vanya was happy to be out, but three steps later, a bullet got her shoulder and she cursed. A second later, another bullet got her healthy leg.

Vanya fell on the ground and a shadow came above her. It was a huge man with a gun, shooting above her, toward the third-floor window on the opposite side of the street.

When he moved, Vanya recognized a familiar face.

Igor was holding a pistol in each of his hands and taking down any enemy who was in the visible range.

"Igor! Igor! Help me!", Vanya screamed, hoping to get his attention. Igor is a big guy, and he can carry her easily.

Unfortunately for her, Igor didn't spare her a glance. Sarah told them not to bother with anyone who is not from their team, and he will stick to that. And he didn't like Vanya from the start. Shameless woman, always scheming. If she is not in a hopeless situation, she would never acknowledge his presence, yet now she is talking sweetly and asking him to save her. She got herself into this pickle, and now she needs to live (or die) with it.

Vanya cried in frustration when she realized that no one would help her. She is still stuck in this base, but this time with two additional bullet wounds. If she had a gun, she would kill herself to avoid additional torture.

…

Maksim was coming down the street and he saw a row of people in black uniforms dashing across the street into the warehouse.

Sarah and Aiden were side-by-side with one hand waving for others to rush, and in the other they held a pistol each.

Everyone was rushing, yet Sarah and Aiden moved slowly in a half-squat, observing the surroundings, taking down enemies, and making sure that their rescuers get out of there safely. That image alone told Maksim that Sarah and Aiden are the leaders of that group... good leaders, who take care of their soldiers, how people in movies do.

Maksim saw that the man next to him extended his arm with a pistol while taking aim.

"Stop!", Maksim shouted and slapped the man's hand down.

"They are escaping! Are you letting them go?", one of the men hissed in frustration.

"I am letting you live.", Maksim responded. "This is not so simple. Don't you see all the bodies on the ground? There is something else going on."

The men around Maksim panicked and looked nervously at all the bodies that were sprawled on the street.

Sarah glanced that way at the group of men and her eyes met with Maksim's.

Maksim smiled and tilted his head toward the right, silently telling her to move.

She gave him a small nod and pushed Aiden toward the warehouse.

It all happened in less than a second, but this time she was sure that Maksim let her go. She still didn't know why he did that, but she had a feeling that Maksim will be punished for it.

At the entrance of the warehouse, Sarah met Vasily's smiling eyes giving her an approving look. She wondered if he saw her silent exchange with Maksim or not. If he did, Sarah was confident that Vasily will give her an earful for this when he gets a chance.

Sarah and Aiden reached the trapdoor, and they were happy to see that everyone is getting through. 

There were sounds of commotion and gunshots from the tunnel but much less compared to the mayhem on the outside of the warehouse.

"Go.", Aiden nudged Sarah.

Sarah paused. "Not without you."

"Don't argue. I am right behind you. I will close the trapdoor."

They knew that the door needs to be closed because if they leave it open, their pursuers will come after them immediately, and the closed-door will give them at least a short-lived head-start.

Sarah pressed her lips into a line and her eyes moved toward the main door. Most of the kids were in the tunnel, but she saw Zack, Masika, Igor, Aaron, Vasily, Owen, and Stella at the door, shooting to prevent enemies from approaching the warehouse.

"Come on!", Aiden reminded them. "Time to go!"

Zack and Masika dashed in, followed by Igor and Aaron.

"Go…", Aiden urged Sarah. "I will be last because I am the fastest. You can't run at full speed so I will catch up."

Aiden gave Sarah a light kiss and Stella pulled Sarah with her into the tunnel.

If they had time, Stella would scold them for being lovey-dovey and lingering at the entrance. Can't they be aware that this is an emergency?

Sarah's and Aiden's hands parted, and Sarah saw her wedding ring turn black.

"If you don't come, I will not forgive you!", Sarah shouted at Aiden and turned to rush down the tunnel with Stella by her side while suppressing the bad feeling that swelled inside her.

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