AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sutton sat at the kitchen table, staring intensely at her laptop and chewing on her pen cap. “I’m pulling up the architectural plan for the building now.”
Half-moon shadows rested beneath her beautiful blue eyes. We were all exhausted and running on fumes, but what had happened to Zayne motivated all of us. No one fucked with our family and lived to talk about it.
“Got it.” Sutton set her pen down.
Vaughn and I gathered around her chair to study the building.
I drummed my fingers against my thigh. “I’ll call in Jaxon, Greyson, and Tad. We’ll need the extra coverage.”
Vaughn folded his arms. “Claire will be with Gemma and Mackenzie tonight at our place. I would rather she not be alone in case …” Vaughn glanced in my direction.
“We’re all coming home, man. We’re not dying at Donovan’s hand. No way is that fucker winning. You have my word.” I patted him on the back, and even though I had the same concerns, I refused to voice them.
“I’ll see if I can hack into the surveillance system. If so, I’ll be able to locate where the girls are being held.” Sutton’s fingers flew across the keys.
“Good.” I squeezed her shoulder. The idea of my pregnant wife going on a mission with us scared the fuck out of me, but we needed her. I stepped away and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, then left the kitchen with a heavy heart.
Over the next few hours, we laid out a plan and discussed what to do if shit went south. Tension was high, but our need for revenge overruled any nerves. We’d done this a million times. The only difference was that this time, it was personal.
* * *
Sutton parkedthe van a few blocks away, remaining inside while the five of us snuck up to the building, armed and ready to attack. I wasn’t sure if the security was ex-military or not, but I crept up and knocked them out with tranquilizer darts without issue. Sutton had spotted a ditch along the side of the structure when she first arrived, so we hauled the pieces of shit over and tossed them in the dirt. They would be out cold for hours.
Vaughn gripped his sniper rifle and crouched down, waiting for me to pop the lock on the back door. We were both dressed all in black with balaclavas pulled over our faces. It was hot as fuck, but I didn’t give a shit, and by the look in his mismatched eyes, he didn’t either. This was for Zayne and to save innocents.
The door opened slightly, and I peered in, but the hall was empty. Waving the men forward, I hung back to guard the entrance. I adjusted my comm, then listened to Sutton’s instructions on where to go.
Jaxon signaled with two fingers that he’d heard Sutton and was moving into place. Greyson moved as Sutton gave each of them details on where to hide. Tad and Vaughn were next, then I went last, ensuring that no one else came through our entry point.
Since Sutton could see us through the cameras, there was no need to acknowledge her commands. The racing of my heart pumped adrenaline through my veins. Even with the seriousness of this operation, it felt damn good to be out in the field again instead of schmoozing clients and scanning spreadsheets.
Quietly, I snuck up the stairs and onto the auditorium balcony opposite of Vaughn. We had a clear view of the men chatting on the auditorium floor below us. My attention swept the room, spotting the round platform on the stage from which I assumed the young women would be viewed. I ground my molars together, settling into my position and aiming my sniper rifle toward the fuckers.
“Is everyone in place?” Sutton asked through our coms. “I don’t have cameras available for your hiding spots.”
The guys confirmed they were in place, and now it was just a waiting game. The announcer’s voice rang through the speakers, and I dialed in my scope. Although I knew Vaughn was across from me, I couldn’t see him. I knew my man was itching to take these fuckers out, but the fun wouldn’t even begin until afterward. If my hands weren’t holding my gun, I would have rubbed them together in nearly giddy anticipation at what we had planned.
The lights dimmed more, and a spotlight lit the platform. The first girl was escorted on stage, then her armed guard stepped away. Men circled the young woman one by one, checking her out as though she was a highly sought-after thoroughbred racehorse. My stomach churned, ready to heave up my lunch.
“Holy shit, that’s Ashkov Butrick. How did we get so fucking lucky?” I whispered.
“I’ve got a line on him,” Vaughn replied.
Even with a suppressor, the zing of Vaughn’s ammunition breaking the sound barrier was heard if you understood what you were listening for.
Ashkov dropped to the floor with a sweet little bullet to his forehead.
Screams filled the air as my men and I began to take out the motherfuckers left and right—except for two.
46
Giselle
My body trembled uncontrollably as screams reached my ears from the main auditorium. I had no idea what was happening, and my imagination ran a hundred miles an hour through multiple scenarios.
A loud thunk caught my attention, and I struggled against my restraints, but it was useless. My chest heaved as anxiety began to pull me under.
Muffled noises filled my ears, and I squeezed my eyes shut. Seconds later, my hands were cut free, and the bag was tugged off my head. I furiously blinked against the bright light in the room, trying to focus on the blurry figure before me.
