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Redmond joined me, crouched behind an SUV. “Same plan as before?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “This time, we go in the front. We move as a unit.”
“Think there’ll be more resistance?”
“No doubt in my mind. Get your men ready.” I turned from him and prepped my soldiers.
Silvano was desperate. If he’d stooped to lighting Griffin’s place on fire, that meant he’d be willing to do anything to make this plan go forward. He’d have as much strength here as possible, and if we didn’t stop him soon, he’d send trucks filled with that disgusting synthetic drug out to the world, and kill thousands, and ruin the lives of countless more.
As we locked and loaded, the sound of cars drew my attention. Redmond cursed, and his men gathered up around him, weapons leveled. Five black vans roared into the parking lot and screamed to a stop.
Griffin hopped out the front of the lead car. Liam got out of the car next to that. And about twenty soldiers piled out from the main bodies of the vans.
Griffin and Liam jogged over, keeping low, as their men prepared. I laughed, staring at them with delight.
“Who the hell called you?” I asked.
Griffin winked and nodded his head at Erin as she stood off to the side with Palmira. “That one found me.”
“She said we either stood and fought or we let Silvano win.” Liam scowled, looking miserable as always. “I’d rather fight.”
“Works for me.” I clasped hands with both of them and turned to the factory. “Truth is, I wasn’t sure we’d have the muscle to take this place.”
“Think Silvano’s dug in?” Griffin asked.
“I’m positive. He’ll fight.”
The others went quiet as the soldiers finished loading up.
I glanced back at the Rover and caught Melanie looking out the window, worry all over her face.
Things changed so fast. Before her, I never imagined I’d care about another person like this. My parents taught me to always worry about myself first and others second, but Melanie made me want to be better. She made me want to help, instead of harm.
“There’s something between you two,” Redmond said softly as we leaned against the hood of a truck while the last of the men got into position to storm the front.
“I won’t deny it.”
“Just tell me something, and be honest. Did you go into this thinking you’d get involved with her?”
I shook my head. “Not at first. Things changed.”
“Do you care about her?”
“I do.”
“Love her?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Yes, I do.”
“Good.” He squinted ahead. “If you hurt her, I’ll kill you. I’ll bring all the power of my house down on your head, and I think Erin just might help, too.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less. But if I get my way, we’ll be allies soon.”
He said nothing, only clenched his jaw. He wasn’t such a bad guy. Worried about his little sister, and unhappy she was involved with an Oligarch of my reputation. I couldn’t blame him one bit.
“Let’s move,” I said, and gave the signal to my men to go.
They started with smoke grenades. The cannisters burst and gray smog filled the air. The soldiers rushed forward under cover and reached the glass-fronted building. The pop of a small explosive bursting open the door signaled the rest of the soldiers to rush forward.
Gunfire shattered the quiet.
Screams echoed from the building. My men pushed in. I rushed ahead with Redmond at my back. Griffin and Liam were on either flank, rallying their forces. Windows smashed and blew out as men inside the structure began firing their rifles, shooting to kill. The fighting just inside the door was bloody and vicious, and bodies piled up, forming a barricade. My men had to shove the corpses forward and climb over them, spilling into the lobby, killing some defenders and forcing others back.
I slipped on a gore-slick carpet and followed my lead soldiers. I didn’t know where Redmond had gone or what the others were doing. I didn’t care—I had one goal, and one alone. Find Silvano and kill him.
We reached the far hallway and found a locked door. My men set more charges and we covered our ears as they breached the barricade. I motioned for more grenades, and rolled two cannisters inside. The guards must’ve expected smoke, but instead they got flashbangs. Bright, blinding light and ear-splitting noise burst out, and we ran inside as soon as they’d gone off, firing and clearing the area.
We stumbled onto the factory floor. Cover was ample and abundant behind the machines, but that meant Silvano’s men were well positioned. We took a beachhead just inside and lined up behind a conveyor belt, but got pinned down by rifles.
“With me,” I grunted, grabbing two men and yanking them aside. Further down, another door burst open, and Redmond led his men inside, followed by Griffin. That left Liam unaccounted for, and I hoped he was all right.
