Chapter 28
Raven
We get to the gym, and I go straight to the ring.
I need to punch something, because Damien’s face wasn’t enough.
The guys immediately walked to Eddie’s office, I assume to talk to him and Zeke.
This plan is shit, and I don’t like it at all.
How do they plan to keep Blake safe on top of trying to save Luis?
Ugh, this is bullshit. How does he still have everyone playing his game? I just cannot.
Jab after jab I throw at the dumbass that decided to climb into the ring and help me practice. Poor kid.
“Damn, you’re on one today, Raven,” he says, and I can’t for the life of me think of this poor guy's name.
“Let’s just say I have some things I need to work out before I call it a day. Or I might kill someone. Ya’ never know.” I shrug and roll my shoulders as I bounce back and forth on my toes. Ready to go again. I can feel the tension roll through my body as my neck pops.
Just as I throw my leg out to kick at him, the office door bounces off the wall, and it echoes throughout the gym.
Catching me off guard, Reyes comes storming out.
He meets my stare, but not for long. He casts his eyes down at the floor and walks past me standing in the ring and pushes the door open, walking outside.
Well, that’s my cue. I start unwrapping my hands and tell the kid thanks as he slips between the ropes and jumps down.
I toss my wraps over the ropes and follow Reyes out of the door.
Grabbing the door as it swings closed, the wind blows in my face.
I look around and see him pacing back and forth in front of the building like he’s about ready to unleash hell on someone.
“What’s wrong, Lover boy?” I ask, walking up behind him and grabbing his shoulder, turning him to face me.
“I don’t like this plan. I don’t like the thought of putting a child anywhere close to this,” he huffs out, looking at me as he starts to pace again.
“None of them like it, and I get why Damien suggested it. God knows we’d never let anything happen to her.
It’s still just the fact that, yes, I want my brother back, but not at the cost of someone else getting hurt.
Especially her, she’s been through so much already.
She’s just a kid,” he finishes while I walk back and forth with him.
I’m speechless, literally have no words to say back to him.
Damien comes walking out of the double doors, Zeke and Eddie hot on his heels, and lord help us all with all the testosterone going on out here.
They start talking about the situation at hand, apparently picking up where they left off inside.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and pulls my attention off of them.
Chad-
I got a job for us… Just got the location of another trafficking ring around here.
Me-
Oh yeah? Where at?
Chad-
Southside, in some of those old abandoned houses. We need to hit them, whoever we take can go to the safe houses. Eddie has been working on adding on new buildings.
Me-
Shit, really? I didn’t know that. I thought we were almost at capacity. LOL. Let me ditch my detail and I’ll meet you. Drop me a pin.
Chad-
You got it, boss. The guys are going to kill you, you know that, right?
Me-
I’m in a whole mood today. Let’s fuck some shit up and set motherfuckers on fire.
Chad-
Location Sent. Lord help us all, lol. I’m almost there. See you in a bit.
I slide my phone back into my shorts pocket and look up. All these fuckers are still deep in conversation.
“I’ll be back in a bit, gotta have a meeting with one of my guys,” is all I say and walk off.
Once I’m in the locker room, I take my workout clothes off and put my jeans and tank-top back on.
Sliding my leather jacket over my shoulders and looking at my holster in my bag, I roll my eyes, toss my gym clothes in and zip it up.
Better I just do all that in the car, otherwise I’ll get asked a million questions as to why I’m loaded down.
Tossing my bag over my shoulder, I walk out, as nonchalantly as possible. Even though I’m in a fucking hurry.
“You want us to go with you, Babygirl?” Reyes asks as I come through the front door.
“No, I’ll be fine. It’ll be good for me anyway to try to get back to my normal routine. Can I borrow your truck though since you wouldn’t let me drive my car?” I ask and raise a brow, because he fucking better hand over those keys.
“Just be careful with her, treat it like you would your car,” he replies and tosses me the keys.
“If you say so.” I laugh sinisterly and walk off towards his truck.
Opening the driver door, I hop in and toss my bag in the passenger seat.
Pulling the location up from my messages, I set the GPS, put the truck in drive and pull away from the curb.
Treat it like I would my car. Ha, doesn’t he know I race?
It takes me at least thirty minutes to get across town, stupid city traffic.
Pulling into one of the old abandoned grocery store parking lots, I park next to the van Chad drove and get out.
Reaching into the truck, I drag my bag over the console and begin to shuffle through it.
Letting my jacket fall off my shoulders so I can load my body down for this shit that’s about to happen.
I strap my sheath around my leg for my daggers, then slide my shoulder holster over my back for my pistol.
My body is definitely going to hurt tomorrow, oh well.
My arm is still sore when I strain it too much, but fuck it, we ball.
“I was wondering who the hell was pulling up. I didn’t recognize the truck, I’m so used to seeing you in your car,” Chad chuckles softly, walking up behind me as I slide my Glock into its holder.
“The hounds aren’t letting me be alone for long yet.” I laugh and hear another set of footsteps approach. I turn and see some man I’ve never seen before walk up beside Chad. His eyes meet mine, and his lips pull into a slow smirk.
“Raven, this is Raiden. He likes to help with jobs like this when he’s in town.
” Chad says as Raiden reaches out and offers me his hand.
I look down at it, then back at his face and place my hand in his, shaking it.
This man is covered in tattoos from what I can see and has the eyes of a killer.
The coldness behind them tells an entire story.
“Alright, so do you have the blueprint of the building? We need to figure out all the exits in case something goes south,” I ask, looking over at Chad and pulling my hand out of Raiden’s.
“Don’t worry, boss. I got it all, here look,” he says, laying the paper across the back of the open van doors.
As I look over the paper, I’m hoping this is a quick in and out.
Most of the time, it’s not like that, especially if there are kids involved.
It's harder to be quick when everyone is scared. Looking at this, they are probably keeping everyone locked in the basement. My stomach churns at the thought of what we’ll find.
“Alright, fuck it. Let’s get this shitshow started,” I say and finish loading myself down with weapons.
“Wait, you need these. Chad says your guys don’t play around when it comes to your safety.
We don’t need bullets flying and hitting their mark, sweet cheeks.
” Raiden grins, tossing me a vest and a couple of smoke bombs and grenades from his pack.
I take my shoulder holster off and slide the vest on, securing it around my waist, then slide the straps back over my shoulder, making sure my pistol is tucked in the holder.
Feels like we are going to war, but I guess in a way we are to get people free.
I toss my leather jacket over my shoulders, look at the guys and nod, then we start our walk across the lot.
This side of town is literally abandoned and has been for years.
Hardly any cops or anyone comes to check in.
So, it makes sense that they put the ring in this area.
We cross the street to a line of run-down houses, most of which have their windows boarded up.
“It’s that one over there,” Chad whispers, pointing at a blue-colored looking house. Me and Raiden both nod and follow behind.
This is exactly what I needed. I haven’t done a trafficking raid in a hot minute.
As we close in on the house, there’s two guys standing guard up front.
I pull a dagger from my leg holster and pick up my pace, ready to feel my blade slice this motherfucker's throat. Raiden picks up pace coming up right beside me. He taps my arm and points to the smallest guy in front of us, gesturing for me to take that guy on, and points at himself and the huge burly looking man that he’s going to tackle.
Seems fair, and today I’m not even arguing.
If I go home all fucked up again, I’ll never be able to get out of the guys' grasp.
We watch and wait as they walk back and forth in front of the house, doing normal patrolling.
When they pause to turn around and face the house, we sneak up behind them.
I pounce on the guy like a feral cat. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I bring my arm around his neck and quickly slide the blade across his throat.
Giving him no time to react or call for help, I dig the blade in deeper just as I drag it across the bottom of his neck, reveling in the way his blood feels between my fingers.
I jump down off the man as his body falls slack to the ground.
The only noise coming from him is the gurgling of his own blood.
Chad walks up the stairs, and I look over in Raiden’s direction.
He’s got two blades shoved into the underside of the guy's jaw. I give him an ‘I’m impressed’ look and follow Chad into the house.
We’re out for blood, and tonight, we’re painting the streets.