Shrill screams and panicked voices filled the quiet room. The sounds of multiple heavy things falling to the ground made a shiver run down my spine. I tried to move my body as low as I could to the stage. I could hear Ricci ordering his men to find out what was going on just before the first gunshot fired.
FIFTY
EVELYN
Screams and gasps filled the room as the guests started running toward the exits.
Masked figures moved to the area where Ricci had been standing. The glint of metal reflected in the floodlights. I covered my head with my free arm before I felt a warm body shield over me. I had a moment of panic before I recognized Machine.
“I’ll cover you. Here’s the key for the cuffs,” he whispered.
More gunshots rang out around us. Monitors around the club illuminated before an emblem of a Hive came into view. Pride filled me when I saw the signature of the team that I had learned to respect and love. I placed the key into the lock of the cuffs and quickly unshackled myself from the bar. Machine wrapped an arm around me before walking hunched down to the steps.
“I need an update,” I heard Chief order.
“We have the other girls,” Badger said throughmy earpiece.
“All security has been taken down. I have my men taking Ricci to RSS,” I heard Kade confirm.
“And I have Phantom,” Machine said next to me. It was strange hearing my code name on his lips.
Badger and Buddha made their way to the stage to meet us with their weapons drawn. A group of five scared minor girls stood behind them. I opened my arms. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.” Two of the young girls hurried to me, their young faces making me doubt they were older than fifteen.
“Chief, we have everyone together,” Badger confirmed.
“Kade, find Sarah. She should be still barricaded in the club,” Chief ordered. “Badge, Buddha, Machine, and Phantom, get to RSS.”
Adrenaline coursed through my body, making it impossible to fully take in the gravity of what we had just accomplished. We’d saved five girls. Ricci was in captivity. We finally had a fighting chance to take our revenge against the bastard that had ruined all of our lives.
My hope of having a smooth mission blew up in my face when I saw Sarah blocking our exit, holding a gun and pointing it at Kade.
“Sarah, put the gun down.” I put my hands out to show I was unarmed and stepped between her and Kade.
“Evelyn, move out of the way,” Sarah said through gritted teeth. “You have no idea what you’ve just done.”
“Sarah, he was going to sell me off to the highest bidder and he was traffickingchildren!” I tried to reason with her.
She pointed the gun at me. “You stopped being my sister a long time ago, Evelyn. When you made it your life’s mission to take down Daddy’s empire.”
I winced, realizing Ricci had completely brainwashed her. Anger surged through me. “Anthony Ricci isnotyour father. He is the one whokilledyour father.”
“Daddy told me you would try to spill lies to me. I’m not going to fall for it. Now fucking move so I can take out this piece of garbage.” She moved, aiming her gun at Kade.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement, before the sound of a gunshot rang out.
I fell to the floor to take cover. A ringing sound filled my ears as I tried to orient myself. When I looked up Badger and Buddha had their guns drawn at Sarah who was holding her shoulder and screaming in pain.
Kade picked me up and rushed everyone out the door.
“You’ll pay for that, Jessica!” I heard Sarah scream at Badger before the club door slammed shut. How she knew Badger’s real name I couldn’t be certain. But one thing I did know, was if she knew Badger’s real name then she had to know all the identities of my team.
FIFTY-ONE
KADE
After the young girls were brought to the hospital for medical attention and the call to social services was made, I headed back to the basement of RSS to meet the others. Badger was already in the interrogation room.
Machine was with her, leaning against a cement wall on the far side of the room. Ricci was chained down to the metal chair in the center. His eyes were both bruised and blood streaked down his face. I wasn’t sure what he said to Badger, but I knew by the punch she swung that he had struck a nerve.
