Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
He sighed. “We’ll find the victims all a safe place or get them back home, if that’s what they want.” He scrubbed his eyes. “From the heat sources, we figure about twenty people, plus the women. We can handle that. More, if needed.”
“Good. Whatever we need to do.”
The room was busy for a while, one of us always stepping into the hall or in a corner to talk.
Finally, we looked at one another. “Everything is set. Men, plan, backup, vehicles, medical, weapons,” I stated.
“Auction is at ten p.m.”
“I have our guy planting small drones on the beams inside the barn. Should be done in the next couple of hours as long as that window is still open. No one will notice them, but we can have a visual. He’ll connect to the power outside and cut it on our signal. We go in, secure the women, and start taking out the bad guys.”
Aldo rolled his shoulders. “It’s been a while. It’s gonna feel good.”
He was right.
I faced them. “Lopez doesn’t come out alive. None of them do.”
Everyone nodded in accord.
Turning, I shut my eyes, inhaling deeply. I would have her back tomorrow, and I was never letting her out of my sight again.
I’m coming, Una. Hold on.
It was dark, the clouds cooperating and covering the moon. We watched in silence as people would appear and slip into the barn. Beside me, Niall would identify them as he got the intel in his earpiece.
“Boris and Olga,” he murmured. “The very worst of the worst. Husband and wife team known for their brutality.” He was quiet for a moment. “Jesus, these people are sick.”
There were eight of them in total. Plus guards. Lopez and Juan, in addition to a few others.
Aldo crackled in my ear. “First wave takes out the guards. Only four outside the barn. We’ve got others covering the tunnel exits we know of. All shoot to kill. The only ones safe are those of us with the green stripes our night goggles can pick up on. We’re the second wave. The third will move in and get people out, then the bombs get planted, and we’re done.”
I grunted in reply, shifting a little, making sure my bulletproof armor was in place.
“Everyone, protect the women—that is our highest priority,” Roman rumbled across the group.
Bright lights suddenly exploded in the darkness, spilling out from the higher-up windows and under the doors. The auction was about to start. My nerves tightened in anticipation, a rush of calmness tearing through me. The end goal was Una. I needed to concentrate on that. Nothing else.
“We have a visual on Una,” Roman breathed out. “She and five others on the left side of the barn, held behind bars.”
My chest constricted. I would have her back soon. In my arms. Lopez would pay for this with his life.
“We go in five,” Luca breathed out. “On my count. The power will be cut in three. Then we have control.”
I pulled my night goggles down and checked to make sure my silencer was tight. We didn’t want to attract any attention.
I was ready.
We crept forward, surrounding the structure. There were plenty of us here—good guys—more scattered on the property, waiting if needed. I watched as the guards were swiftly dealt with, and our men took their places, ready to open the doors for us.
Luca drew in a deep breath. “Five…”
And two seconds later, the power went out.
UNA
I had never known terror the way I was feeling it. Waves of cold rushed over my body as I looked at the people staring at us. We had been dragged up some stairs into a stable, pushed into stalls, metal bars rolling from the ceiling, keeping us locked in. Anna and I clung to each other’s hands, both of us trembling in fear. But I refused to cry. To let them break me already.
People had strolled around as if attending a party. No one spoke, but they circled in slow strides, their dead eyes never leaving the cages that had effectively been constructed. Icy stares, smirking lips, and unbridled evil were in front of us. We were merchandise. Not even human to them. Once they were all there, the doors shut, and I felt all my hope drain away. This was it. My life ended now. I knew I wouldn’t survive whatever came after this evening.
Lopez droned on, his words insulting and degrading. Brian leaned against the back wall with Juan, and the one time I met his gaze, he looked away as if suddenly uncomfortable. I hoped he was. He looked terrible, although I was certain I looked worse. Juan looked smug, his ankles crossed, his stupid red sneakers out of place.
Lopez clapped his hands. “Let’s begin, shall we?”
I wanted to scream. To fight and to run. But I had no chance. Locked behind bars, barely clothed, and with no weapon, I would fail. I had to stay in place and pray that somehow, some way, I could get out.