Chapter 18
They parked a half mile from the warehouse several hours before Artem was supposed to show up to fight. Their plan was to get into the warehouse before the stands were filled with civilians and the fighters were in the locker room getting ready, so they could set Promise free without the fighters coming to Nero’s aid or any civilians getting hurt.
That was assuming that Promise was actually at the warehouse.
The warehouse was on a back road and at one time had been used by the mining company before the shafts went dry and the company went belly-up. Nero hadn’t had any trouble taking the building over and using it for his fights.
Hell, the town of Trumble didn’t even have a police force. If there was trouble, the locals called the Little Hope cops.
Artem and the others were in the woods that surrounded half of the building’s property, giving them ample cover while they watched to see who was coming and going.
The building looked like it was deserted from the front, but they saw vehicles at the back and although the windows were covered with newspaper, light was visible in some of the torn sections.
Ian stood next to Artem. “Is there a basement?”
“I don’t think so,” Artem said. “Front and back doors, and there’s a ladder up to the roof.”
Ian hummed. “You can get inside from the roof?”
“I don’t know, I was never up there.”
“If there’s roof access, it’s probably not being covered by anyone,” Axtyn said.
They quieted as two males walked around the corner of the building. They were dressed in dark clothing but didn’t have visible weapons.
Artem stared at the males as they walked casually along the back of the building and rounded the corner.
“Does Nero normally have guards walking around the building on regular fight nights?” Mark asked.
“No,” Artem said, shaking his head.
“So she must be there, and he must know you’d come for her,” he said.
“That makes sense to me too,” Blake said. “What do you want to do?”
“Try the roof,” Artem said.
“Then let’s do that,” Axtyn said. “I’ll go with you and we’ll text if we can get in that way.”
“Be careful,” Mark said.
Silently, Artem and Axtyn crossed the property to the warehouse. The ladder was a security style that didn’t reach the ground. Artem backed up a few paces and raced to the wall, jumping and pushing off the bricks to propel himself upward. He narrowly missed the bottom of the ladder but managed to grab it with one hand. His weight brought the ladder squeaking downward. He froze as it rattled to a stop, wondering if the sound would bring the guards back. But after a long, quiet moment where he held his breath and hoped to hell no one heard it, they didn’t see or hear the guards.
Letting out the breath he’d been holding, he climbed upward, his dad following and pulling the ladder back up after them so the guards wouldn’t see it.
They reached the roof of the warehouse a few moments later. As they scouted for a way inside, Artem stopped at a maintenance hatch near the far side of the building. He pointed to it and called his dad over.
The hatch was secured with a simple latch, but the hatch itself was rusted shut, so it took some effort to pry it loose without causing too much noise. Once it was open, it revealed a ladder that led down into a room.
Artem wasn’t sure what room it was, but it didn’t look like the main area where the fights took place.
Axtyn texted Richard. It was quickly decided that a few more would join him and his dad and the others would wait outside unless they were needed.
Artem let the ladder down once the guards went past a second time, and then Ian, Blake, and Taylor joined them on the roof.
Ian peered down. “This should get us in quietly, that’s for damn sure.”
“Hopefully it doesn’t lead to a locked door,” Artem said. “I’ll go first and whistle if the coast is clear.”
He climbed down the ladder, moving quickly and silently. The metal rungs were cool and slick under his hands and he tried not to move so quickly that he would slip from the ladder and make noise.
He stepped down from the ladder and turned slowly, his heart in his throat as worry that he’d just taken a ladder into a room full of fighters came to his mind.
But the room which seemed to be filled with janitorial supplies as well as the water tank and electrical panel, was empty.
He leaned over and whistled softly.
Moments later, his dad and three friends were in the room with him.
Artem tested the door and found it unlocked.
He remembered from being in the warehouse that there were public bathrooms down a hall away from the fights, and he’d seen a door that had a maintenance sign on it.
“I know where I am,” he whispered, explaining where things were situated, including the locker rooms and the balcony box where Nero spent time during the fights. The question was: where was Promise?
Artem walked to the door and closed his eyes, searching for his beast and the connection he had to Promise as marked mates. He thought about her pretty brown eyes, the musical laugh he adored, the way she smelled so sweet when she was turned on, but mostly that he loved her, with every ounce of his being.
A tug in the center of his heart pulled him out of the room. He was so damn happy to feel the connection to her, to know that she was actually being held in the warehouse that he wanted to shout her name until she answered him and run to her. But he knew he couldn’t do that without drawing attention from Nero and his men, so he kept his excitement in check.
Inhaling deeply and focusing on the feeling of where she was, he opened the door and peered out. The hallway was empty and he didn’t hear anyone coming, so he stepped out and so did his friends.
He felt the tug to the left, so he followed the hall, realizing quickly that Nero had put her in the main room of the warehouse. Artem looked around the open doorway leading into the room where the fights were held and he saw only one male in the room behind one of the long metal bleachers. The male was leaning casually against the wall next to a closed door.
Axtyn touched his shoulder and when Artem looked at him, he pointed up.
In the balcony box, he could see Nero and several other males. Their backs were to the open room, though, which meant they had at least a moment to sneak in.
The male guarding the door was on the phone and distracted.
Perfect.
Promise had the strangest feeling that Artem was nearby. Her heart clenched and she thought she could smell the leather and sunshine scent of him.
Moving to the door, she pressed her ear against it and listened.
There was a thud and then nothing.
Her heart pounded.
The key slid into the lock and twisted, the sound loud as it unlocked.
Click!
She backed up a few paces, her mouth dry and her palms sweaty. What if it was Nero opening the door?
The door opened and Artem, fierce and furious, stood in the doorway like a dark angel, ready to wreak havoc on any and all who’d hurt her.
She could have fallen to the ground and cried she was so happy to see him.
But she knew that time must be precious, so she took his hand and rushed from the room. His dad and several males from the campground were with them.
Nero’s voice boomed all around them. “Find them. Don’t let them escape!”
The sound of pounding feet made Promise’s wolf snarl in worry. Artem and the others rushed toward an open door, but males rushed in.
Artem and the others stopped and Promise crashed into Artem’s back.
“Stay close to me,” Artem said.
“You really thought you could waltz in here and take her?” Nero called from behind them.
They turned and found Nero and several other males standing near the fighting ring. “She belongs to me,” Nero said. “You both do. Your friends can leave, but you two aren’t going anywhere.”
“Dad?” Artem said under his breath.
“I texted the others. The police are on the way, we just have to hold on until they get here.”
Artem gave Promise’s hand a squeeze. “Stay with Ian.”
Before she could ask what he was going to do, he bellowed out a war cry like some ancient Viking and rushed toward Nero and the males. Horns were sprouting from his head and his body was bulking up.
His dad and two other males rushed into the melee that followed, but Ian grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the fray. “Let’s get to the roof where it’s safe.”
“I don’t want to leave Artem.”
A male stalked toward them with a deep howl, and Ian pushed her behind him, letting out his claws. The two met head-to-head and fought, and Promise had to duck as Ian flung the male over his shoulder and into the bleachers.
“Okay,” she said as he grabbed her hand. “Let’s get to the roof before someone else sees us.”
They rushed from the main room, Promise looking over her shoulder to see her mate turn into his minotaur form and take on several males.
Be safe, Artem.
And kick ass.