Chapter 27 Badger
TWENTY-SEVEN
BADGER
I stood cloaked in shadows in Olympus, waiting for orders from Chief. My heart rate picked up as I took in the club around me. Ricci had classed it up since the last time I’d been here. What was once a divey strip club was now elegant and chic.
I refused to acknowledge the other reason for my quickening heart rate.
It had been a day since I’d last seen Machine.
After the mind-blowing orgasms we gave each other, we fell asleep together, then spent the following day with our respective teams preparing for tonight’s mission.
I was haunted by the vision of me wrapped in Machine’s arms as he kissed me so thoroughly I felt it down to my bones.
I glanced over. Machine stood near the stage stairs with a black mask that covered half his face. A red curtain shielded the stage, but I knew Phantom was behind it. My blood boiled. Just because this was part of the plan didn’t mean I liked it. Ricci began his introduction.
“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to tonight’s event. At each of your seats, you will find a red button. If you want to make a bid, please press the button. Payment is due as soon as the bidding ends for each prize.”
I took several deep breaths as the thick curtain began to rise and my blood went cold. There was Phantom in a gorgeous red dress, handcuffed. Spotlights turned to face the stage, sending the crowd into complete darkness.
“I would like to start tonight’s festivities with our gem of the night. We will be starting bids at two million,” Ricci boomed, his voice commanding.
A small ding sounded as the first bid came through. Just as Ricci was about to up the bid, the lights in the club shut off before floodlights switched on. Gasps and murmurs filled the room as the attendees tried to figure out what was happening.
“Go!” Chief commanded in my earpiece, signaling it was time to find the girls.
I maneuvered as quietly as I could through the hallways behind the stage. Buddha had my flank as we worked our way to the door leading backstage. With all my strength and anger, I kicked it open.
Two guards jolted up from their poker game in the small dressing room.
“What the fu—” one of the guards started before I knocked him out cold with a swift punch and kicked his firearm away from him. Buddha handled the other guard, who was no match for the behemoth of a man.
In a metal cage were five girls who couldn’t have been more than nine years old. My heart sank at the sight of them, and for a minute I wished I could have found Lily amongst them. Buddha efficiently picked the lock, freeing the girls.
“It’s okay, we’re here to save you,” I soothed, encouraging the girls to leave their confinement.
As soon as the last girl climbed out, the lights shut off everywhere, and gunshots rang through the air. Screams filled the room as the guests started running toward the exits.
“I need an update,” I heard Chief order through the earpiece.
“We have the other girls,” I reported.
Buddha led the way, and I took up the rear with the girls between us. The girls jumped every time they heard a gunshot, but continued to follow Buddha.
“All security has been taken down. I have my men taking Ricci to RSS,” I heard Kade confirm.
“And I have Phantom,” Machine reported next. His words made me relax a fraction, knowing that my best friend was safe.
We made our way to the stage, weapons drawn, to meet Phantom and Machine. When we got to them, Phantom opened her arms to the girls, who let her wrap them in a hug.
“It’s okay. You are safe now,” she soothed, the girls trembling in her arms.
“Chief, we have everyone together,” I confirmed, looking around the room.
“Kade, find Sarah,” Chief ordered, naming Phantom’s sister who we knew was working with Ricci. “She should still be barricaded in the club,” Chief ordered. “Badge, Buddha, Machine, and Phantom get to RSS.”
Adrenaline coursed through my body, making it impossible to take in the gravity of what we had accomplished. We saved five girls. Ricci was in captivity, bringing us one step closer to not only finding my sister, but ending this bastard’s empire.
Just as I was guiding the young girls to the door, I was stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Sarah blocking our exit, holding a gun pointed at Kade.
“Sarah, put the gun down,” Phantom said in an eerily smooth tone while putting her hands out, blocking Sarah’s view of Kade, the girls, and me.
“Evelyn, move out of the way,” Sarah said through gritted teeth. “You have no idea what you have just done.”
“Sarah, he was going to sell me, and children, off to the highest bidder!” Phantom exclaimed.
Sarah pointed the gun at Phantom. “You stopped being my sister a long time ago, Evelyn, when you made it your life’s mission to take down Daddy’s empire.”
Jesus, it was clear that Ricci had completely brainwashed the poor girl. Groomed from a young age into the perfect replacement.
“Anthony Ricci is NOT your father. He is the one who KILLED your father,” Phantom bit back.
“Daddy told me you would try to spill lies to me. I’m not going to fall for it. Now fucking move so I can take out this piece of garbage.” She pointed the gun at Kade again.
While Sarah was distracted, I slowly took out my gun. I looked at Buddha, who nodded his head in agreement before reaching for his own. I fired, hitting Sarah in the shoulder. The sound of the gunshot ricocheted off the walls as Sarah fell to the ground, screaming.
Buddha and I kept our guns on her while she wailed in pain, clutching the wound. Kade helped Phantom off the floor and rushed everyone out the door.
“You’ll pay for that, Jessica!” Sarah screamed at me just before the door slammed shut.
I wasn’t sure how she knew my real name, but I did know the dark feeling of foreboding taking over me. It didn’t matter, though, I had a job to do. It was time to get the answers I needed to find my sister and bring her home. It was time for Ricci to pay for his sins.