Chapter 34
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FOUR
Brew
Everyone is in place, now that Willow is in charge as the Captain, there’s no question of our involvement, even though there are NOLA Rebels everywhere.
Having friends in high places has its benefits, thanks to Callaghan, and then there’s my brother; Haze may not be acting on his feelings for Willow, but I know he will.
He never got over her, and he never moved on.
By the looks of things, neither has she.
I don’t know why the two of them don’t just bone and get it over with. It’s pathetic.
Not that I’m one to talk. I waited almost two years to even speak to Erica, in fear that I’d drive her away like I do most things. I don’t mean to, but this life has hardened me beyond belief.
In school, I was always the protector. Haze wasn’t as tough as he is now when we were kids, so whenever he was in trouble, or being picked on, I came to the rescue.
He’s the youngest, so it was a rite of passage that I stepped in and helped as his older brother.
‘Helping’ usually resulted in the annihilation of whoever his tormentor was, and I regret nothing.
Kids can be cruel, but I wasn’t about to see my little brother being a victim.
Hell no. Logan had stepped in as our father figure long before Dad left and drunk himself to death, so we have him to thank for using our fists the right way.
These days, Logan likes to try and talk his way out of shit first, but Haze and me prefer to use pure brawn.
Conversations can happen later; if they have any teeth left.
It didn’t excite me that I had to leave those assholes in the warehouse, but we have bigger fish to fry.
Cash and the Rebels intercepted a shipment of girls a few years back, when Haze and I were out of town, and that didn’t go over well. He doesn’t have to pander to me, but I know this is some kind of peace offering, and it’s soothing the beast just a little.
One surefire way to get to the main man himself is another step in the right direction.
Willow knows the drill. She’s not a dirty cop, but she hovers somewhere in the gray area.
Now she’s Captain, she has a quota to fill.
She gets how it works. In exchange for this bust, we agreed we would get Evans.
He’s the one I want, and he better not get fucking shot in the meantime.
Without him, I’ve no chance of getting to Ridgely.
He can run, but he can’t hide. Chances are, a man like Ridgely has probably forgotten all about my vendetta.
He’s been underground for years because he’s a wanted man, but that just makes the thrill of the chase that much sweeter.
I smirk when I think of what’s in store for him. I’ve planned out his murder a million times. If I don’t get to have my vengeance in this life, I fear I’ll never settle.
I know it’s wrong to involve Erica when I have to do this, but I’ve been upfront. Finding these bastards has been a big part of my life. I promised Valencia’s family, and I need to deliver on that promise. Just as I would in anything I do.
“Moving in,” Willow’s voice sounds through the earpiece. “We want Evans alive. I’m sure he’ll be easy enough to identify — as we know, most of these criminal assholes don’t get their hands dirty, they leave the dirty work to everyone else.”
Which is why it’s a miracle he’s even here. This shipment is an important drop. And heads are gonna roll a hundred percent when these girls don’t get delivered. And the museum curator? I guess he’s got some explaining to do. We’ll leave that up to Willow.
“That’s my girl,” Haze snickers by my side.
I side eye him. “If she’s your girl, why don’t you do somethin’ about it? Goin’ on to me every day about Erica, but you won’t take your own advice.”
“I think we both know it’s not me who needs convincin’,” Haze mutters. “It’s just a matter of time, and my wife will be back in my arms.”
I roll my eyes. “I thought she wanted an annulment.”
“She did.” He clears his throat. “But that doesn’t mean I have to give her one.”
“That the story you’re goin’ with?”
“She’ll come to her senses,” he maintains, though he’s been saying that for as long as I can remember.
We secure our weapons and move in on Willow’s count as the cargo is about to be lowered onto the dock.
Everyone is in place. Men are on the dock, posing as Grid members, and our friend with the missing tooth and a broken nose?
Well, he had to sit this one out, so we brought the next in charge.
He’s packed with explosives, so if he even thinks about warning anyone, they’ll all go up in flames.
That was my little present in case he decided to squeal.
The fact that they have women in these cargo containers makes my blood run cold. Heartless monsters don’t even come close. They don’t value human life. They value money, nothing else. Wealth, greed, and power. Anything less than that is a commodity.
As we storm the hold, undercover cops and Rebels appear everywhere, catching the men off guard. Even the security they had in place doesn’t stand a chance with snipers dotted around the entire compound, ready to disarm.
I haven’t done anything this intense in a while, but I’m not surprised how easily old habits fall into place. It really is like riding a bike.
I tackle the first guard, kicking his gun out of his hands when I sneak up on him by surprise. The fact that this entire operation is under the clover of darkness helps.
What’s more astounding is how they clearly thought they were gonna get away with it.
I guess they thought they had an ally on the force, and that was probably mistake number one.
I love it when people think that because they have a high ranking in their profession, they feel as if that exempts them from any consequences.
Even though we were always aware the museum curator, Bellamy, was never gonna show up to receive the goods, the money exchanged into his foreign bank accounts kind of gave it away.
Good hackers aren’t that hard to find when you’re a Rebel, and the boys have been busy ever since we got wind about his involvement, and this Evans idiot.
One more crooked criminal put away is a good one, and Willow won’t let anyone slip away.
Putting her in charge was the best thing this city has ever done.
I choke him until he drops, then dump his lifeless body, take his weapon, and keep running. They had more men inside than expected, and when gunfire sounds, we duck for cover.
“Fuck,” Haze mutters.
“You hit?”
“Nah, but I sure as shit felt the wind beneath my wings just now.”
“Keep your motherfuckin’ head down,” I tell him. “If you get shot, I’ll be the one explainin’ to Mom.”
“Speakin’ of which, she’s not happy about us bein’ gone the entire time she’s been here,” he whispers.
“Can we talk about this later? A little busy here.” I shoot the next two men who come running out of the hold, not understanding they’re completely surrounded, and the only way to go is down. Weak. They deserve it, knowing full well what they’re involved in.
“How do we fuckin’ know who’s who?” Nevada slides beside me, gun drawn. “Not like we can pull their masks down and make sure before we take them out.”
“We could, but it’d be time consumin’,” I say. “I’ll bet he’s makin’ his getaway from the front, if he’s caught wind of what’s even goin’ on.” We haven’t gotten to the cargo hold yet, but the gunfire was sure to have been heard.
“They came prepared,” Nevada says. “Thought they were gonna get away with it, too. Would love to be a fly on the wall when we saw his face.”
“If he gets away...” I mutter.
“He won’t,” Haze assures me. “There’s no way to go except into the water.”
I glance at my brother. “You’re gonna make me go in there if he jumps, aren’t you?”
“You’re a stronger swimmer.”
“Right, and if I wasn’t, you’d still make me go in there.”
“Do you two ever quit bickerin’?” Nevada grips his gun as we move forward once more. “You’re like two little old ladies.”
I ignore his quip as we delve deeper into the ship. The girls won’t be kept in glorious conditions, but the life they were about to embark on would’ve been so far away from the American dream it would be unrecognizable.
This is why we do what we do. This is why I chose to devote my life to helping others, because this is no fate for any living person.
Especially ones picked up off the street, stolen, drugged, you name it.
Some are even promised a better life working in restaurants or factories, but that’s never the case.
There’s more money to be made by their abusers in sex trafficking.
My cell chimes, and I see Harlem’s name on the screen. “Dude, we got him.”
Blood pounds in my ears. “Alive?”
“Yep, a little roughed up, but alive nonetheless. We’ll get him to the van.”
“And the girls? You get to them yet?”
“Yep. Shit scared out of their minds. There’s gotta be girls as young as twelve in there.” He sounds disgusted. “Say you’ll fuck him up good and proper and let me have a turn, I have a teenage daughter at home.”
“So do I,” I mutter. “Headin’ your way.”
“Watch your back.” He clicks off.
“They got our man,” I say as we rush for the stairs that lead down. It smells musty the farther we move along. We’ve gotta be close. “And the girls are secure.”
“I’m depressed we didn’t get to kick more butt,” Haze replies, ahead of me. Just as he says it, a gun fires, and it clips me on the shoulder. I grunt.
“Fuck.” We duck, firing back as the soldier ahead drops to the ground.
“You hit?” Haze asks, pointing his gun as we move closer.
“Yeah, but it’s just a graze.” Or at least I hope it is. It won’t stop me, regardless. I feel the top of my shoulder, my fingers painted with blood as I grimace. Bastard.
“You get shot on my watch, I’ll be the one dealin’ with Mom,” he says, reiterating my earlier words.
“Can’t have that, can we now?” We storm forward, dodging this way and that because Evans came prepared with plenty of artillery. They’re still no match for the police.
People are getting arrested left, right and center. We sweep through the entire cargo hold until we spot Cash, Priest and Hustler, they’re letting the women out of the holds as the police swarm around.
I’m sure Willow will have some explaining to do because of our involvement, but maybe it’ll be the Rebels in the headlines this time. Heck knows we’ve set things up for years so the cops look good.
I stand there, my throat thick as they follow one another out of their confinement and into the ship’s hold.
My hands shake. I need to get to Evans while he’s still breathing. He’s my only shot at getting to the man himself. The very last person whose death I need etched into my soul. The last penance for a journey I’ve been on for far too long.
It’s not over yet, but it will be soon.
And then I can start my new life with Erica and Olive, the family I never had.