Page 5 of Ballistic

“How many of those you think have girls in ‘em?” As if Evander could read my mind right then.

“No idea. He doesn’t keep them here for long. For him, it’s like throwing money away, just having them sit there.”

“I say we bankrupt the bastard and clear out every unit. Torch the place and watch them scatter like ants.”

“I have no idea what we’re up against here. If it’s the one girl, a dozen girls, or a bunch of empty fucking storage units. I’m not playing superhero tonight. I’m sticking to the plan, until we know who’s down there.” My buddy Rhys and another friend of ours had left to take position on the south end of the property, and the plan was to trap the handlers and, hopefully, Tesarik inside, round them up in the center like sheep for the slaughter.

“You’ve lost your adventurous streak, man. Won’t be long before you’re drinkin’ prunes and beggin’ the hot young nurses to change your shitty diapers.” Evander’s snickering laugh got cut short by his wheezing cough, and I flipped him off without bothering to look at him.

“Ah, just pissin’ with you. ‘Time is it?”

Tugging back the sleeve of my black coat, I checked my watch. “After nine,” I said, pushing the sleeve back down my arm.

“Whoa. ‘The fuck’s that?”

“What?” I asked, already knowing what’d caught his eye.

Evander shoved the cigarette into his mouth and nabbed my arm. Yanking the sleeve back again, he pointed to the ink on my wrist.

Not quite new, as I’d had it a couple months, but the circle seven tattooed there wasn’t something I cared to show off. It was a calling card, a pass to get into some of the most debase and twisted places in the underbelly. Places no cop could ever penetrate, because the tattoo only meant something to the members, and anyone who didn’t have one was likely denied entry, or killed on the spot. In fact, the group didn’t take new clients unless they came recommended by a club member, making them completely impenetrable.

The extent I’d been willing to go just to find the girl.

I wrenched my arm out of his grip and covered it up again. “It’s nothing.”

“You’re not getting into some devil-worshipping bullshit, are you? What’s that thing all the goth people masturbate around? A penta something.”

“Pentagram?”

“Yeah, but it’s upside, or some shit.”

“No. It’s not a pentagram. It’s clearly a seven. And no, I’m not a devil worshiper.”

The group it represented wasn’t far off, though. Bunch of rotten bastards that could all burn and make the world a better place.

“Good. That shit freaks me out. Sacrificing animals, and fucking virgins in the woods.”

I stole a moment to frown back at him, and returned my attention toward the storage facility.

“That part wouldn’t be so bad, though. I mean, as long as the virgin was down with it. I’d have her ride me, so she didn’t end up with a stick up her ass, or something. First time is important, ya know? She has to be comfortable with it.”

“Can you shut the fuck up now? I’m trying to stay focused.”

“Who gave you the tip, anyway?”

“A friend.”

“I’ve known you a long time, Dax. Long ass time. So what the fuck kind of shady friends have ties with these bastards?” He gave a quick nod toward the facility. “I say we grab our guns and just start shooting every motherfucker we see.”

Much as I’d have loved to do the same thing, the plan came down to timing. I couldn’t afford to lose them again. I’d gotten word that Tesarik had holed up deep inside the city to lay low, but the girl had been held in the abandoned storage units. Holding cells, until she’d likely be transported out to buyers, or thrown into some sickening production to be uploaded to the dark net.

“That’s why you’re not in charge.” I nodded toward where a camera panned the front entrance. “They’ll see us coming. We wait for the signal from Rhys.”

“What’s the deal with this girl, man? Lots of girls need saving. What makes this one so special?”

A quick glance over my shoulder, and I shook my head. “Wish I knew.”

Except, I did. From the time she’d been kidnapped, she was all I could think about. Even right then, the memories of that day stirred a cold hollow somewhere inside of me.