Dirty Tactics

by Peyton Banks

  Mac waited for his turn as the rest of the team went ahead of him, allowing him to pull up the rear. They made their way down the hallway in tight formation. He moved to the front of the line as they headed to the entrance.

  They stormed into the room, and what they found had the bottom of Mac’s stomach falling out. He scanned for armed gang members, but there were none. The room was only filled with women chained to the walls. The smell in there was horrid; it reeked of musk, urine, and feces.

  Curses echoed around him, and his team slowly crept inside, trying not to scare the women. Brodie and Iker manned the exit as they all took in the women.

  “We’re not going to be able to stay here long,” Ashton remarked, aiming his gun outside the door.

  “Call it in,” Mac uttered to Declan.

  They would notify the FBI where the women were, but as his gaze roamed the room, he didn’t see Sarena. He pulled out his phone and brought up a photograph of Sarena that her mother had sent him. He walked around the room trying to find at least one woman who had seen her. Most were too traumatized and scrambled away from him. He growled, trying to hold his shit together.

  “Calm down, Mac. These women have been through some shit and don’t need another man barking at them,” Declan snapped at him, tugging him away from a few who were cowering in their corners.

  Mac blew out a deep breath knowing his friend was right. These women would have to wait until the other enforcement agencies could come in and unchain them. The Feds would lead them out of the building safely. He turned and caught a woman with curious eyes staring at him. He slowly made his way to her.

  “Have you seen this woman?” he asked quietly, stooping down next to her with his phone out so she could see it.

  Her eyes turned to his phone and recognition flared in them. She jerked her head in a nod. Beneath the grime and dirt, she would be a pretty woman. The bags under her eyes spoke volumes. He didn’t even want to know what horrors she’d be through. He’d probably lose his shit, just imagining if the same had happened to Sarena in the short time she’d been missing.

  “Two of the guards came and grabbed her,” she whispered, clearing her throat. Her wide eyes were filled with fear as they flickered around the room taking in his men who were trying to calm the other women down. “She was kept over there. She was a newbie.”

  “Where do they take the women?” he asked, trying to rein in his emotions. Snarling at her wouldn’t get him the answers. She was a victim, just like his Sarena.

  “To the boss. Once they go there, they don’t come back,” she replied with wider eyes.

  “Where do they go?”

  Her eyes filled with tears, and the floor of his stomach gave way. She shook her head, and the tears flowed down her cheeks. Her lowered eyes had him wanting to unload his clip into a Demon Lord.

  He knew the answer.

  He released a curse and stood, searching for Declan. He moved to his friend’s side.

  “They took her from here,” he growled.

  Declan turned to him and let loose a curse.

  A feeling of helpless slowly crept into Mac’s chest. “She was here. They’re moving her. What if he—”

  “Don’t think it. We’ll get her,” Declan barked, his eyes narrowed on Mac. His hand shot out and grabbed Mac’s shoulder, bringing Mac back to reality as his imagination tried to run riot. “We’ll bring her home.”

  “Brodie and Iker, you’re here with the women until the Feds can get in here. Then you join us,” Mac snapped, moving toward the door.

  His team mates would follow his lead. It took just his friend’s reassurance to bring the alpha leader in him back to the forefront. He could not lose his shit. Sarena needed him. “Declan, Ashton, and Zain, you’re with me.”

  “Copy that,” Iker replied.

  With all the commotion going on in the building, Mac didn’t want to leave the women unprotected. His men would defend them until they could evacuate them.

  “SWAT, let’s move,” Mac growled, training his MP5 outside the door. He swept the hallway with his gaze before he strode through the door. He felt his team behind him as they filed out in perfect formation.

  His eyes narrowed on the hall, and they made their way down it and into the unknown.

  Hold on, Sarena, he thought to himself. Just hold on a little longer. I’m on my way.

  The Feds are here,” Taser exclaimed, moving away from the window in the room. He and the other goon started scrambling around stashing things in duffle bags.

  “Your boyfriend thinks he can save you,” Silas sneered from behind his desk.

  She sat, still handcuffed on the floor, awaiting her fate. But now with the news that a rescue team had arrived, she hoped she would be saved.

  He punched buttons on his keyboard.

  Her heart seemed to lurch in to her throat as she thought of Marcas making his way to her. Tears formed in her eyes when she imagined being free soon.

  Silas stalked to her and grabbed her by her hair, and she released a cry.

  “Come on, bitch,” he ground out, pulling her to a standing position, then he and his men made their way toward the exit. He brandished a large gun from the back of his pants and held it pointed at her when they paused at the door. “Smurf, you first.”

  Smurf? That was the name of the hardened gangster? Her gaze flew to the other goon who leaned out the door slightly.

  “The coast is clear, boss,” Smurf announced and glanced back to Silas.

  “Let’s move before the bastards make their way to us,” Silas ordered, pushing her out the door behind Smurf.

  She stumbled along, holding back a cry.

  “We wouldn’t want to let your boyfriend see you take a bullet right now, now would we?” Silas hissed in her ear. He kept a firm grip on her arm, guiding her along the hallway.

  Taser stalked behind them while they rushed along.

  Silas kept the muzzle of the gun pressed into her side, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. Her arms, sore and achy, were going numb from being locked behind her.

  Their pace was fast as they rushed her through the hallways. The sounds of gunshots echoed through the building. She flinched when screams rang out following the sounds of bullets.

  They were running through a war zone. Gangsters appeared out of hallways and rooms armed with the guns raised high. They lowered them upon recognizing Silas and his men.

  “There are cops and Feds everywhere,” one of the new gang bangers announced.

  They approached him.

  “Is the van ready?” Silas snapped.

  “Yes, Loco just drove up.” The gangster nodded. “It’s parked right out back.”

  “Hold off the fucking police,” Silas growled and dragged her toward the double doors. “No matter what. Don’t let them through.”

  “Just let me go,” she begged, but he pushed her out of the building.

  Smurf and Taser flanked them, moving across the parking lot. She frantically took in the dark area, and dread filled her chest. Where was everyone? Shouldn’t the cavalry be in the back of the building, too? The sounds of a helicopter met them as it hovered above the warehouse.

  “Please. Just let me go. I’ll just get in your way.”

  “Shut up!” Silas hollered, dragging her across the tarmac. “Marcas MacArthur took a member of my family, and I will take away someone important to him.”

  “No!” She tried to break free, but he tightened his grip on her arm, digging his fingers into her biceps. “Let me go!”

  There was no way she could let them put her in the back of the van. She knew if she were to get in that truck, she would never see Marcas again. She didn’t know how she would get away with her arms handcuffed behind her.

  But she would figure it out.

  Silas snatched her from the ground, his arm wrapped around her waist. Her legs sailed through the air, and she let loose a scream, praying someone would hear her. She locked her gaze on the helicopter as it flew
overhead.

  Please, help me, she thought, continuing to fight.

  “You fucking bitch!” Silas snarled. “You’re coming with me.”

  Her body slid down his, and her feet touched down on the ground.

  “Let me go ahead and kill her now, boss,” Taser growled, pointing his weapon at her.

  She stilled at the sight of his gun pointing directly at her head.

  Would he shoot her with his boss standing directly behind her?

  “Get her in the fucking van. She’s our ticket out of here—”

  “CPD! Freeze!” a deep voice called out. “Release the girl and put your hands up!”

  Sarena could have wept with relief at the thought that her rescuers had found her.

  “Fuck!” Smurf muttered as they turned, standing a few feet from the van.

  She glued her gaze to her knight in black fatigues. His face may not be visible, but she’d know those deadly eyes anywhere.

  Marcas.

  Chapter 19

  Mac burst through the double doors with his team right behind him. His breaths were coming fast, and his heart seemed to lodge in his throat when he watched the thug dragging Sarena turn and place his gun to her head. Her eyes were wide as they connected with his. He eagerly took her in. Her clothes were filthy, her hair crazed on her head, and there were smudges of dirt on her face.

  Shit.

  This situation had gone to Hell in a flaming handbasket.

  “Put your hands in the air!” he yelled.

  They paused.

  His men spread out and aimed their weapons at the gangsters. They all waited for his order to fire. The cop in him was trying to follow protocol, but the man in him wanted to instantly put bullets in the three men who had been dragging his heart toward an unmarked van.

  One man sat in the driver seat, waiting on the three thugs to jump in the vehicle. Had they been one minute later, Sarena would have been in the van.

  He had to suppress that thought.

  His finger twitched on the trigger, his MP5 trained on Silas.

  He moved his eyes to the deranged eyes of the gangster.

  “Officer MacArthur, nice of you to join us,” Silas called out, gripping Sarena to him.

  She cried out as he wrapped his arm around her neck and pushed the gun harder against her.

  Her eyes widened even more in fear. Tears slid down her cheeks, and she frantically looked to him.

  Remain calm, Mac, he chanted repeatedly in his head.

  One wrong move, and he was sure Silas would put a bullet in her. Right now, she would be their ticket out of the situation, and going by the sinister grin that spread across the gangster’s face, he knew it.

  “Why don’t you let the female go and we talk like men?” Mac snarled, losing the battle of staying calm.

  “Why, so you all can shoot me and my men? Nah, not happening.” Silas shook his head.

  The thugs next to him had their guns trained on Mac and his men. He knew they could easily take them down, but he didn’t want to risk Sarena.

  “I’ll tell you what is going to happen,” Silas said. “Me and my men will get in the van and will drive off. Once we are safe, maybe we’ll talk about an exchange for your woman.”

  “Not happening,” Mac replied, keeping his weapon trained on Silas.

  There was no way in hell he would allow her to get into the van with the leader of the Demon Lords. He would never see her again. If she wasn’t sold and lost in the underground world of sex trafficking, Silas would surely kill her, just to get back at Mac.

  “What do you want?” Ashton, the SWAT negotiator, called out, moving next to Mac. He, too, had his gun trained on the group. Maybe it was best for Ashton to negotiate the release of Sarena.

  If they left it to Mac, they’d all be getting shot today.

  “Safe passage,” Silas responded. His eyes flickered to Ashton.

  Mac studied the gangster and knew he could get a shot off, if only Sarena moved to the right just a little. He tried to catch her attention, but she had her eyes squeezed shut.

  His heart shattered at the fear that was evident on her face. If he didn’t know better, he’d say she was praying.

  “We can do that, but you’d have to leave the girl—”

  “Fuck, no! I know you cops. We’d be dead by the time she makes her way to you,” Silas said, and his men shifted.

  The men didn’t relax as they pointed their guns at Mac and his team.

  You got that fucking right, Mac thought and was thankful the words didn’t spill from his lips.

  “We’ll give you whatever you want as long as you release the woman,” Ashton’s calm voice shot out. He lowered his weapon, and Mac knew what he was doing.

  Gaining their trust. They wouldn’t trust a word he’d said if he kept his gun trained on them.

  “Is that so?” Silas’s attention was on Ashton.

  From their position across the parking lot, Mac could see the thoughts racing in his eyes before they left Ashton and locked on Mac.

  “Okay. Let’s trade. The woman for Officer MacArthur.”

  “Deal,” Mac growled, not even thinking twice. He’d switch places with Sarena any day.

  Her eyes flew open, and she shook her head frantically. “No, Marcus. He’ll kill you—”

  “Shut up!” Silas hollered, his hand flying to Sarena’s mouth. His eyes moved to Mac’s as he lowered his gun, and curses filled the air behind him.

  “Fuck that, Mac,” Declan snarled from his other side.

  Mac slid his eyes to look at his friend’s.

  “Dec—”

  “There are other ways,” Declan said, keeping his eyes and gun trained on Silas and his men.

  “Are you sure, Mac?” Ashton asked quietly, turning to him.

  “Anything to keep her safe. The minute she’s close, grab her and get her the hell out of here,” he snapped, tossing his weapon to the ground. This was going against every procedure code in their handbook, but Mac didn’t care anymore. He’d do anything to ensure Sarena was safely returned to her family. “That’s an order.”

  Ashton jerked his head in a nod with his lips in a firm line. Mac could see in his negotiator’s eyes that he didn’t like the plan.

  “Okay. Deal,” Ashton called out to Silas.

  “Perfect,” Silas said.

  Mac knew he would have taken great pleasure in killing Sarena to revenge his cousin’s death, but to have the man who actually pulled the trigger would be better.

  “Remove your mask. I know you have more than that gun. Toss all your weapons to the ground, then walk ten feet and turn in a circle first.”

  Sarena’s scream was muffled as she fought Silas. Mac held his hands up showing he didn’t have any weapon in his hands. Silas gripped her tighter to him, gaining control.

  The sound of a helicopter flying overhead filled the air. Mac began doing as the gang leader commanded. He knew it would be minutes before the Feds would be making their way to them.

  He kept his eye on Sarena and pulled his other gun that was strapped to his thigh and tossed it to the ground. He removed his helmet and mask, making sure that rage was evident on his face. There was no way he could hide it any longer, and his fingers itched to get around Silas’s neck for taking Sarena.

  He moved forward and turned in a slow circle to show that he no longer had any weapons on his body. He locked his eyes with the pissed-off eyes of Declan.

  No words were needed between the friends. Mac knew Declan would hunt them down the minute the van pulled off. He knew that just putting a bullet in Mac’s head wouldn’t be as satisfying for the gangster. He’d want to play and torture Mac to make an example out of him. The minute he was in the van, he knew Declan would go after them.

  He turned back and faced Sarena and the gangsters. He kept his hands in the air while he made his way to them. He stopped midpoint.

  “What are you stopping for?” Silas hollered.

  “Trade. Send her over,” M
ac growled. He wouldn’t budge another step until he was sure Sarena was safe.

  “Taser, go check him. Make sure he isn’t lying about no weapons.” Silas nodded toward Mac.

  The gang banger named Taser moved to Mac. He braced and stared at Silas as his man came over and patted him down.

  “Spread ’em,” Taser ordered, running his hands down Mac’s legs.

  He did as told, not taking his attention off Silas. Taser found the knife strapped to Mac’s ankle. He showed it to Silas before tossing it far away from them.

  “Nice.” Silas nodded.

  “Forgot about that one,” he murmured, trying to keep his murderous rage down. He swiveled his eyes to Sarena. She whimpered and shook her head. “It’ll be okay, Sarena.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure of that for you, Officer MacArthur.” Silas chuckled.

  “He’s clean,” Taser announced, standing to his full height.

  “She would have been a good piece of ass, too, but killing you will be even better,” Silas said, pushing Sarena forward.

  She stumbled, her arms bound behind her.

  Mac locked that comment in the back of his mind for later.

  “Remove her cuffs. We’ll need them for him.”

  “Marcas—”

  “Go to Ashton, baby,” he said, not trusting Silas, refusing to take his eyes off him.

  The gang leader had his gun pointed to the back of Sarena’s head. She moved in front of him. Taser stood behind her and removed the cuffs.

  “Go ahead. Give your lover one last kiss.” Silas chuckled sarcastically.

  “Mac,” she whispered.

  He flickered his eyes at his nickname. She never called him by it. He preferred her using his first name. The way she always pronounced it gave it a more intimate feel.

  Her hazel eyes searched his as he looked to her. “I love you.”

  He nodded. “I know. I love you, too. Now go,” he urged.

  She reached up on her tiptoes and gently kissed him on the bottom of his chin.