Rushing to the doors, they were lucky to find them unlocked and no one standing behind. They ducked into the entrance and gently closed the doors behind them. As soon as their eyes had adjusted to the gloom, they continued down the narrow corridor. At the end was another door, this time with a small window from which they could view inside. Red took a peep through and noted a man pacing the next corridor. He appeared to be alone. Using just his hands, he signaled his findings to his brothers. They both nodded their understanding. Just when the man stepped in front of the door, all three of them launched themselves at the wood with full force. The door instantly snapped from its hinges and shoved the unsuspecting man into the far wall. Red could hear something snap at the impact and he wasn’t surprised to see the man laying still on the ground when they pulled away. When he checked for a pulse, he was glad to find the man still alive, but completely knocked out. Red hated having blood on his hands. Van dragged the body back to the first corridor while Ace picked the door up and placed it back in the frame, attempting to disguise their surprise attack.
They now found themselves in another corridor, this time the far wall was dotted with windows looking out onto the warehouse below. Red was surprised to realize, they were at least a couple of floors up and that they could look down on the operations below. There were plenty of members hard at work, filling boxes with what could only be drugs and illicit weapons. The Romanos would never operate their entire business from just one location. It was rather stupid, that the Martinez thought this to be a good practice. One bust from the authorities and the whole gang would be out of service.
Stupid fucking idiots.
Red continued to survey the building from his vantage point and noted the offices to the right of them, slightly higher up than their own level. They would have to find a way to get to them. He headed towards the nearest doorway and gently pried it open. He peeked around the side and, seeing no signs of movement, ducked through, followed by his brothers. They looked around the room they now found themselves in. It looked like an old office, unused and sparse. The only furniture remaining was a dusty desk with no drawers and a shriveled plant curled up into a pot in the corner. Just as they were about to proceed into the next room, they heard voices heading their way. Ace and Van rapidly crouched behind a large desk and Red shoved himself into the far corner, next to the door. It left him with no choice but to attack when the disembodied voices found their way in. The door creaked open and two men stepped into the room talking. Lucky for the Baileys, they were so absorbed in their conversation about women that they had shut the door and made their way halfway across the room, before they noticed the silhouette of Red in the corner. They cried out, but were soon silenced as the brothers jumped on them and rendered them unconscious. Their slumped bodies now replaced Ace and Van’s hiding place behind the desk.
“We can’t keep this up forever, Red. Soon all these guys are going to wake up and send an alert. Then the place is going to be swarming with these fuckers on the lookout for us. We can handle a couple at a time, but if we get a group we’re doomed. What’s the plan?” Ace’s voice was grim.
“We need to get to Rachel as soon as possible. She’s up in the highest office to the left of us, we just need to get there faster. I’m not sure what to suggest at this point other than powering through.”
Van rubbed his chin before speaking, “We need a distraction again. With the men’s eyes elsewhere, the passageway to Rachel will be clear. I think we are going to have to split ways. Red, are you going to be able to get to Rachel by yourself? Ace will need to help me make a quick getaway if things go south with the distraction.”
I can’t let my brother’s risk their lives for me. What if something happens to them? Are they really going to be able to escape all these men in here? But then again, what about Rachel? What about my unborn child? I got them into this mess and I can’t abandon them. That settles it then. What must be done must be done.
“I’ll be fine by myself. What are you thinking of doing?”
“We’ll cause a commotion by one of the exits. Act like a pair of drunks trying to break in or something. If we’re already near an exit we can make a quick escape while you get your girl. Call us as soon as you get out. If you’re not out within an hour, I’m calling the twins and we’re heading in.”
The thought of the twins finding out his plan, made his stomach twist in knots. They were bound to find out later, when they threw their plan into action, but for now time was of the essence. Red nodded his agreement and Ace wrapped him in a tight hug, before they went in opposite directions. He waited until his brothers had left the room, before sneaking out the door the two men had come through. Red found himself on a walkway, with little cover from eyes below. If anyone looked up from the work floor at that moment they would see him straight away. Trying to not attract attention, Red steadily walked across and made his way to the next door. It was sheer luck no one questioned the shadow stealthily making his way to the second office.
Once more he heard voices within. It sounded like a one-sided conversation so Red took his chance and raced through. Lucky for him the man was on the phone and barely had time to react before Red was upon him. The man managed to get a quick jab to the ribs which winded Red and he keeled over. The man took his opportunity to knee Red in the face and blood spurted from his nose. Red wasn’t going to back down this easily though and quickly righted himself, landing a punch square on the man’s jawline. He heard something crack as the man screamed out in pain. Before the commotion could draw any unwanted attention, Red elbowed the man in the temple and he fell to the floor like a sack of bricks. He didn’t have time to hide the unconscious men this time around. His brothers’ distraction would only give him a limited amount of time to reach Rachel, until then he had to push through the obstacles.
As he headed through the next door, he heard several men cry out. He was about to get ready for another fight when he noticed them running in the opposite direction down the hallway.
The distraction must be in action. I wonder what they’ve done to get the whole workforce heading their way. I wish I could help them, but right now Rachel needs me.
Red waited for the last of the men to disappear before heading into the corridor. He quietly closed the door behind him, before getting a bearing on his surroundings. There were still windows looking out over the warehouse floor, but now he appeared to be directly underneath the office he was looking for. He glanced out the nearest window and spotted a large group of men running towards the exit on the other side of the building. The brothers had planned it perfectly to lure Valentino’s men as far away from him as possible. Just as Red was about to head up the stairs, his phone started ringing. He ducked into the corner and answered the call without checking to see who it was.
“We’ll be outside the warehouse in an hour. Are you ready, Red?”
Joe’s voice was instantly recognizable. He had been the more understanding of the twins, and Red had gone behind his back, to execute his own plan. Red really wanted to avoid talking to him, until he had Rachel safe, but hanging up the phone would only cause him more trouble in the long run.
“You could say I’m ready, Joe.”
“What is that suppose to mean? Where are you?”
“I’m in the warehouse.”
“You what? What do you mean you’re in the fucking warehouse?” Joe exploded, “Are you insane? Who are you there with?”
“Joe, I couldn’t wait for you to show up at nighttime. Rachel is in trouble and she needs me now. I’m with Van and Ace. They caused a distraction at one of the entrances and now I need to get to Rachel while the men are away from Valentino. I need to go now, Joe. My window of opportunity is closing and if I don’t get to her in time, then it will all be for nothing.”
“Stay where you are, I’m getting everyone in now. I’ll have your head for going behind my back like this. Mark my words Bailey. All three of you are in deep shit.”
Just like that,
the line went dead. His words made Red’s skin prickle. He had never intended for his brothers to get in trouble, especially with the mafia. This could only lead to heavy discipline later on, but right now he didn’t have the time to think about it. Red steadied his nerves before quietly walking up the stairs. There was yet another door at the top and Red took the handle firmly in his grasp. He knew he wouldn’t have much time when entering the room, so he needed to stay focused.
Three…
Two…
One…
Red thrust open the door and burst into the room. As a bullet went shooting past his ear, he curled into a ball and rolled across the ground. He popped up behind a table and chairs. Tossing the chairs away, he flipped the table on its edge and used it as a barrier to the men on the other side. Swiftly, he reached behind him and pulled the gun out from its holster. There was no point continuing to use the sneak attack as they were well aware of his presence. Bullets continued to fly at him, smashing through the table and spraying splinters of wood in his direction. Lucky for Red, none managed to make any direct contact and soon the shooting stopped.
“Who the fuck are you, and what are you doing in my headquarters? You must be absolutely insane to come in here by yourself,” the voice boomed across the room.
Red didn’t bother trying to conceal his identity as he spoke up, “My name is Red Bailey. I think you have something that belongs to me.”
“You mean someone,” the voice laughed, “Damn. She must have meant a lot to you after all. My son was right about something for once. Show yourself, there’s no point hiding behind there.”
Red thought for a moment, but realized if they wanted him dead he would be dead already. The flimsy table had done its job by shielding him from the first wave of bullets, but there would be no way he would survive another attack. He felt like an idiot thinking he could tackle a whole group of them by himself. Quickly, he pulled himself upright and stood staring at them across the room.
The first man was small and rather plump, a wiry beard running down the length of his chest. He wore a black bandana and had yellowing teeth when he snarled at him. The second and third men looked alike, both tall but consistently average in all other features. It was the fourth man located directly in the middle that took most of his attention. He instantly recognized the voice that had been speaking to him, but was shocked to see an older man. Red recognized the resemblance in the man’s face, to that of Valentino’s, but he was worn and wrinkled from age. But even with an age disadvantage, Red knew this wasn’t a man to underestimate.
“How rude of us not to introduce ourselves, but you rather took us by surprise. This is Diego, Jorge, and Tomas. My name is Felipe Martinez, Valentino’s father. Am I right in presuming the two drunkards by the exit are something to do with you? They’ve been causing some trouble, but they’ve been sent off now.”
“They’re my brothers. I didn’t realize you were still around, Felipe. Why is Valentino running the operations, if you’re still in the office?” Red was confused.
“Ah, that is the question many people have been asking me of lately. The answer is very simple. He is not. Valentino has been running astray for the last two months after I refused to step down. He had big plans for the gang, but had no resources to back it up. He thought he could force me to surrender my title by causing a war with the Romanos. True, the Romanos and I have never seen eye-to-eye and I would love to rip their organization to shreds, but one must concede when they do not have the manpower. It did not matter, how many times I have told my son this, he has decided to go against me. He was here just a couple of hours ago, trying to get me to change my mind when he flipped. He told me about his plan with that woman of yours. A certain Miss Evans, am I correct?”
“You are correct.”
“Yes, he has her. I told him, he was playing of fire and there was only a matter of time, before the Romanos retaliated. When I heard it was a Bailey brother’s woman, I told him to leave the warehouse immediately and never return. I can only guess his whereabouts, but I presume he is at his house stewing. From what I hear, the woman is not in a good state. I really should have you killed for breaking and entering into my premises like you have done, but I need to be in the Romano’s good books for when they arrive. I assume if you’re here, they must be close behind. Am I right?”
“You are correct again. I don’t understand, are you letting me go?”
“No. I am letting my son go. I have never felt as disappointed as I have in the last few months. He is worthless to me now. Do as you will with him. Tomas will give you the address and Diego will escort you out. Can you please tell the Romanos the truth? I have been trying to rebuild the foundations of this business ever since my son started to destroy it. I would rather not have them come along and obliterate what is left.”
With those final words he turned his back on Red and stared out the window. Tomas walked over to the nearest desk and scribbled the address on a piece of paper, before handing him the note. Red accepted it gratefully and the short man, presumably Diego, gripped him on his elbow and shoved him towards the door. Red considered smacking the little man’s hand away, but thought better of testing the eldest Martinez’s kindness. He let himself be directed down the stairs and back the way he had come. A couple of men were lingering about in the hallway, as they passed and they eyed him up suspiciously. Red had no qualm with these men, so kept his eyes low and headed out. At the exit, Diego turned to him.
“Do not mistake Felipe’s kindness with weakness. The Martinez may not be what they once were, but we will come back one day and take what is rightfully ours. Mark my words. Felipe turning in his son like he has done, has taken true leadership skills and all I can do is respect him for it. I hope you can do the same in time. Do not show your face around here again.”
Diego slammed the door, before Red had a chance to respond and left him standing there awkwardly. He looked around before heading back to where he had parked the bike. He was surprised to see his two brothers still there.
“Red! You’re okay!” Ace leaped at his brother and gave him a massive hug.
“Where’s Rachel?” Van cut into the moment.
“She’s not here. Never was. Valentino is playing his father by convincing the twins that it was the Martinez gang behind all the recent attacks and taking Rachel. It was never them, it was all down to Valentino. Supposedly he has been causing trouble for months, because his father won’t back down from his position and let Valentino take control. Felipe, his father, knows he isn’t ready and I think he is sickened by what his son has been up to. They gave me his address and told me to pass on the message to the Romanos. Ace, can you enter this into your phone and see where we’re heading. I better get Joe back on the phone, before they wind up hurting the wrong people. After all, I technically owe Felipe my life for letting me go. I would never have gotten out there alive without his permission.”
Red handed the scrap of paper to Ace who quickly started typing the address into the map application on his phone. Red then pulled his own mobile out his pocket and dialed Joe’s number. It rung for ages and Red was about to give up and hang up on the call, when Joe answered.
“What the fuck do you want? I’m surprised you’re still alive,” Joe’s voice was menacing.
“It wasn’t the Martinez. Call of the mission.”
“What do you mean it wasn’t the Martinez?” Joe spat down the phone, “Of course it was, we know it was Valentino. It’s been confirmed. You saw what they did to Kevin, we can’t let those cunts get away with it. They have Rachel and your baby, for fucks sake!”
“True, it was Valentino Martinez and his men, but not the Martinez gang itself. Valentino has been misleading you, so you place an attack on his father and force him to back down his leadership in the crew. He’s been playing us all along to do his dirty work. I just spoke to Felipe and he’s given me the address to Valentino’s house. He let me go without so much as a scratch. I can’t say the same for the
men we met on the way in, however. I’m heading over there now with my brothers. I can text you the address if you want, but I will not wait for you. I’ve left Rachel with that man for too long. I can only guess what he’s done to her during this time.”
“Fuck that bastard. I should have known this wasn’t Felipe’s work. He’s been quiet for all these years, why start trouble now? I’ll tell Pearl and organize things our end. Just because I’m agreeing to your plan, doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. You have much to answer for, once this is done. I’ll await your text.”
The line went dead and Red quickly typed the address into a text message and sent it to Joe. Joe returned a confirmation text before Red turned his attention back to his brothers. Ace was staring at his phone, figuring out the direction they needed to head off in while Van looked over his shoulder.
“Are we ready to go?” Red asked.
“Yes. I think I know the way,” Van hopped onto his bike.
The brothers followed and soon they were ready to depart. The engine came to life beneath him and Red rode off behind Van, Ace trailing behind. The wind rushed through Red’s hair and he breathed in the evening air. He would finally get to Rachel. He could finally rescue her from that bastard’s clutches.
Hold on, baby. I’ll be there soon.
Chapter 12
The Bailey Brothers Box Set- the Complete Trilogy Page 34