32. Carter
W aiting several houses down from the Fire Chief’s has anticipation running through me. The need to do something is intense, and my entire being buzzes as I have to hold myself back. There’s a thrum in the air, and the urgency to get this over with falls over all of us.
Even so, I watch Lio carefully, studying the tight way he holds himself. There’s a sinking feeling in my gut that says something happened before we left the house, but I’m terrified to ask what. The haunted look in his eyes wasn’t there before, and my heart aches for him.
Two figures appear out of the night, and all thoughts of anything except the task at hand vanish. The twins pop into existence like two phantoms, and I’m glad they’re on our side, as I didn’t realize they were out there until they wanted us to.
“There are a few guards,” one of them says. “Which is interesting as they have an alarm system as well. Why would they need guards on top of that? He’s a fire chief, not someone important. Far as we can tell, they cover the front and back exits, though I’d bet there’s at least one inside as well.”
“Thank you, Nicolo,” Antonio says. “Any movement from the household?”
“No. They went to bed around midnight or so, and the guards got into position around ten p.m. So I guess they’re worried about nighttime raids?
Or maybe they don’t feel safe with whoever it is they’re keeping in the basement.
Since the guy is being held captive, you have to assume they have him under lock and key. ”
“They might be of some use then,” Lio mutters. “If they’re dangerous enough that the Fire Chief is afraid of them, even while keeping them hostage…”
“That could backfire on us,” Jude points out.
“Yes, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. Biting the hand that rescues them would be a reckless move.”
“I agree,” I reply. “There’s always a risk, but there are more of us than there are of them. Hollis should have already taken care of their security system, along with any cameras in the house, and those any neighbors might have. We’re as prepared as we’re going to be.”
“Right,” Antonio says. “Thank you both. Please, continue to be lookout for us.”
“We’ll keep watch, don’t worry,” Nicolo replies. “Be safe.”
“I will. You, too.”
There’s a moment where the three of them stare at each other, longing clear on their faces, before the twins disappear into the night once more. Jude moves closer to Antonio and brushes their hands together, offering some comfort and support.
“Let’s move. Marcus and Lio, Carter and Jude, take the entrances. Keep as quiet as possible. Preferably, just knock the guards out, do not kill them, but if there’s a risk to your lives, or blowing the operation, take them out.”
“How are you getting in?” Marcus asks.
“Don’t worry about me.” There’s something in Antonio’s voice that promises insanity, and I figure it’s best not to ask. “This is my specialty, remember? I’ll be fine.”
“You better not get yourself killed,” Marcus grumbles.
“Aww, you do care,” Antonio teases.
“Don’t worry,” Jude says. “He knows better. He wouldn’t dare risk his safety, would you?” There’s an edge to Jude’s voice that I’ve never heard before, but I can recognize the underlying meaning, and I have to look away, not wanting to hear that from the mouth of my son-in-law.
“I’ll be careful, Sir,” Antonio says. “We’ll meet at the basement door, which is through the kitchen. Marcus and Lio will take the back door, which is closest to the kitchen, so they’ll get there first, all going well.”
“Try to move your guard out of sight,” Marcus says. “Middle of the night or not, it’s best not to make it so obvious that they’ve been taken out at first glance. Do we know when the Fire Chief needs to be up?”
“Hollis was able to find his schedule online. He has a meeting at nine, and seems to normally get to work around eight on most days. So we’re going off the assumption we have two to three hours before he gets up for the day. That will hopefully be enough time to get in and out,” Lio answers.
“Okay.” Marcus passes out the earbuds that have a direct line to Hollis, so he can alert us if anything goes wrong. “Let's do this then.”
I insert the earbud and Hollis makes sure they’re all working before we split up.
Jude and I quickly but swiftly make our way down the street.
The quiet, dark neighborhood seems picturesque as we start up the driveway toward the front door.
There’s a security light that turns on before we can make it to the door, and we freeze just outside its range.
“You’ve drawn the guard’s attention,” Hollis says. “Let him come to you, if possible.”
It doesn’t take long for the front door to open and the guard pokes his head out. “Get out of here,” he yells.
Neither Jude nor I move, but when the security light turns off, I shift so the motion turns it back on.
“Hey!” The guard steps out of the house, closing the door behind him. “You’re trespassing. I’ll have the cops here in minutes if you don’t leave.”
He steps into the range of the light, and without a second thought, I move quickly, rushing him.
He fumbles for the gun at his side, but I don’t hesitate, grabbing him to prevent the movement.
He fights me, trying to knock me off him, and his fists slam into me a few times, but adrenaline and the angle make it so they barely hurt.
It takes longer than I’d like to subdue him, and in the end, I am forced to snap his neck. The rush of excitement and pleasure course through me as I take his life, the feeling is thrilling and one I haven’t been allowed to experience in a long time.
Jude comes over and helps me move the body. We drag it to the other side of the driveway, where there’s not a motion-sensitive light—poor planning on their part. In the shadows, we drop the body to the side of the garage.
“You guys okay?” Hollis asks.
“Yeah. Fine.” I look to Jude. “You’re okay? Your leg?”
“Fine, tell Hol to stop worrying. I’m okay. Antonio and I managed to rest enough earlier that I’m good to go.”
I’m not sure I quite believe him, but he agreed to this mission, so I have to trust he wouldn’t have done that if he wasn’t sure he could do it. Jude’s biggest worry is letting anyone down, so I need to trust he wouldn’t put us in a bad position.
“We’re good,” I tell Hollis. “Infiltrating the house now.”
“Be careful.”
Jude and I walk back up the driveway, and find the front door is unlocked, thanks to the dumbass guard coming out to investigate. It's so amateur to leave the door unlocked, I have to wonder why they have guards at all.
Carefully, Jude and I enter the house. It's darker inside than outside, and it takes my vision a minute to adjust.
As silently as possible, we make our way through the house, sticking close to the walls. As the twins guessed, we don't run into any other guards, thankfully.
When we enter the kitchen, we find Marcus and Lio already there, with a guard at their feet. “Any other problems?” I ask quietly, barely giving the body a second glance.
“The guard outside is dead, too,” Lio whispers.
“Same,” I sign and voice. “Dumbass left the front door open for us, at least.”
Marcus snorts.
“Antonio?” Jude asks.
“Right here, Sir,” Antonio says, popping up out of nowhere and scaring ten years off my life.
The dim light coming from the rangehood allows Jude to give his lover a quick once over. “I’m fine,” Antonio reassures him, brushing his fingers over Jude’s arm. “Let’s get this over with.”
The basement door is, of course, locked, but it doesn’t take any time for Antonio to pick it. Marcus pulls a gun, and the two men have a silent staredown, before Antonio rolls his eyes and gestures for the taller man to go first.
A few seconds later, Antonio follows him. Then Lio and Jude, and after pulling my own gun, I take up the rear.
My heart pounds and I take slow and deliberate breaths, getting myself under control, so that by the time I hit the last step, my thoughts are focused once more.
Stepping up to where Jude is standing, I follow his gaze and stop dead in my tracks when I see none other than Luca fucking Martelli chained to the basement wall.