“And he’s bringing the cash?” Cutter asked.
“Yep,” Slade confirmed with a slight nod. “All of it and none of it in bills larger than a hundred.”
Cutter nodded his approval before Trigger spoke, “Slicer, Payne, and Keg will bring the drugs and weapons. Junk, Cutter, and I will bring your special order. We’ll meet at the warehouse an hour before your buyer. So, two o’clock. You can send the buyer the address once we are all there with the merchandise.”
“Works for us.” Slade smiled.
“Now that the business is settled, I believe drinks are calling our names.” Cutter stood from where he sat relaxed in a recliner.
“That they are,” Slade agreed and led his team out the door to the bar.
Slade’s team left Hell’s Minions early by biker standards, but they weren’t the only ones to call it an early night. Cutter left before them and Payne and Keg had left before Cutter. Trigger walked them to their bikes and all four men mounted their motorcycles. Slade’s team turned out of the parking lot to head in one direction while Trigger pulled out and headed in the other.
***
“Fucking Fish,” Hunt cursed while he watched Zep and Knight gear up for the raid that was about to go down in six hours.
“Don’t pout, Irish.”
“Fuck you, Zep.” Hunt glared before he walked over to his teammates.
Both Knight and Zep wore black tactical pants and a navy blue Kevlar vest that was stamped with INET on the back over their black under armor T-shirts. They each wore two thigh rigs equipped with 0.9 mil’s. Knight also wore a knife sheath over his pant leg above his left boot.
Knight chuckled and stood up from sliding his military grade combat knife home into his leg sheath. He twisted as if to pop his back, but that wasn’t the reason he was trying to loosen up. This was the first time he’d worn a bullet proof vest and the damn thing felt fucking weird. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but instead just felt foreign.
“You’ll get used to it,” Zep told Knight while Hunt equipped him with surveillance equipment.
Knight grunted in reply and watched Hunt with interest. Their Irish tech was just finishing placing a mini cam on Zep’s back, between his shoulder blades. It matched the one on Zep’s chest.
“You’re one,” Hunt told Zep and handed him one of the small hearing aid type earbuds so they could hear Hunt. “Your turn,” Hunt turned to Knight and handed him an earbud.
Knight put the small listening device in his ear while Hunt attached the micro cam between his shoulder blades before he walked around him and repeated the process on the center of his chest.
“You’re two,” Hunt said as if Knight might not have already figured it out. “Remember, if I say ‘two B’ that means you have a perp behind you.”
“Got it.” Knight nodded at Hunt and took his windbreaker from Zep that would cover his vest until they got to the warehouse.
“Let’s test those buds so you two can get the hell out of here.” Hunt’s tone made it clear that he hated having to stay behind in order to collect all the footage that was more for ICE and ATF than INET.
Zep and Knight did just that after Hunt verified he could whisper in their ears. They took the INET issued SUV instead of the crappy rental car that Zep had been driving for the last three weeks. They parked three warehouses down in an alley between the buildings and waited.
Until Hunt gave them the signal, the verification that Fish entered the warehouse, they weren’t going to make their move to be in position by the back door of the warehouse where the deal was about to go down. Hunt confirmed the field team’s arrival at the warehouse even though the roar of motorcycles reached their ears.
***
Slicer, Payne, and Keg were just stepping out of a Ford F350 pickup when they heard the Harleys approaching. The truck bed was covered with a tarp that hid the bales of marijuana and crates of AK’s and handguns.
They had parked beside two other pickups that Keg assumed were just as loaded down with illegal shit provided courtesy of INET. Standing by each truck was a rough looking biker and Keg would bet his next ICE paycheck that the patches on the men’s biker vests matched the KoV patches the INET agents wore. He had no idea which agency the men belonged to or if they were actually Knight members. Not that it mattered.
Slade, Lita, and Spider pulled up next to the pickup that was the furthest from the warehouse. Keg watched the three agents approach both drivers. Hands were shook and brotherly hug’s exchanged before the trio headed toward him, Payne, and Slicer.
“The others here yet?” Slade stopped before them and asked.
“Inside more than likely,” Payne nodded toward the door. “I’ll check.” Payne pulled out his cell phone from his back pocket and quickly sent a text. “Yeah, they are inside with the rest of your order.”
“Alright.” Slade didn’t wait for a reply before he started toward the door that led into the warehouse. Slicer followed while Lita fell in step with Payne and Spider did the same with Keg.
“Here.” Spider pulled a Glock from under his vest and discreetly handed it to Keg.
Keg grunted. “This is mine.” Keg kept his expression neutral even though he couldn’t figure out how the agent acquired his personal ICE issued weapon.
“It’s a present from your brother,” Spider replied and neither man said anything else.
Lita slipped Payne a 0.9 mil just as covertly and even though they exchanged no words, Lita was sure Payne was already armed.
Slade walked through the side door of the warehouse just like he had walked into Hell’s Minions the first time. Like he owned the fucking place and in less than an hour, he would. A quick scan showed him everything he needed to see.
Junk stood by several crates, but it wasn’t the warehouse inventory that Slade looked over. No it was the dozen women whose ages appeared to range between twelve and sixteen. Just seeing those scared shitless girls made Slade want to put a bullet through Cutter and Trigger’s head. He squashed the feeling and smiled brightly at the two Blades who were watching them approach.
Spider felt the ICE agent’s anger, but was impressed that the man didn’t react outwardly when the girls that were about to be sold finally came into view. He hoped the man kept a lid on what Spider knew was the fury he felt at least until the Calvary came.
“Looks like we’re good to go,” Slade said to Trigger and Cutter at the same time Payne and Keg moved to stand next to their club brothers. “I’ll text the buyer our address.”
Slade pulled his phone out of the inside of his vest. He noticed Cutter and Trigger tense, but kept smiling like his only thought was on the money they were all about to make. It only took him a minute to send the text, especially since the raid team already knew where they were. Less than a minute later his phone started singing American Soldier and Slade opened the message.
“He will be here in thirty.” Slade looked up at Cutter. “He’s bringing two drivers with him so looks like two of us are going to need to take the rest of the inventory to his plane at the private airfield.”
“I’ll send Slicer and Keg,” Cutter offered and Slade frowned.
“You send Slicer and one of my boys outside can take the other truck.”
Cutter grinned. “Okay.”
Almost thirty minutes later on the nose, Slade’s phone started singing again. He glanced at the text even though he knew what it would say.
“He’s here,” Slade informed everyone.
“Payne,” Trigger called out, but didn’t take his eyes off the door that led outside. “Escort our guest in.”
Payne didn’t say anything before he crossed the warehouse to fetch their ‘buyer.’ The last person, the abso-fucking-lutly last person that Payne expected to see when he pushed open the door and looked out into the parking lot was his boss. Not only had he not laid eyes on Fish in almost two years, he couldn’t remember a single time their boss went into the field for an op and he sure as hell had never seen the man in a suit.
A fucking really nice, likely extremely expensive, fucking suit.
Fish didn’t smile at him or show any inkling of recognition. Not that Payne thought he would. The agent in Payne made him shift his gaze away from his boss to look over the two men that walked behind Fish.
They were as opposite as day and night even though both wore suits. Not expensive suits like Fish, but they still weren’t cheap and they were obviously tailored.
The smaller of the two, Payne took in with a glance. The man was thin, not skinny, just thin and had dark hair that was gelled back from his face. He wasn’t tall, maybe 5’6 or 5’7, but carried himself with confidence. The guy reminded him of Hunter, but Payne wasn’t sure exactly why.
The larger man was a whole different ball of wax. His bulk was impressive and made Payne think of bears or bulls. The guy was easily Slade’s height which gave him a few inches over Payne, but it wasn’t his height that drew Payne’s eye. No, it was his bald head that sported ink. Starting at the corner of both of his eyebrows, tattoos arched up and back over his ears and Payne could just make out where they started to swirl. He wasn’t sure if the ink made the guy hot or just plain scary.
Payne had no idea if the two suits that followed Fish were INET agents or worked for one of the other alphabets that were involved in his suddenly clusterfuck op, but he knew they had to be agents of some sort if they were with Fish.
Slade just happened to be standing in the position to see the door and the side of Spider’s face. He didn’t miss the ATF agent’s eyes going wide at the sight of Fish. To be honest, Slade’s own eyes threatened to widen when his boss walked through the door. He had no idea why Fish came into the field for this op after being behind a desk for so long. The only reason he could come up with was because ICE and ATF were also involved. However, whatever the reason, it didn’t matter to the part he was supposed to play.
“Mr. Quentin,” Slade began with a friendly smile and took a step toward the man.
“You have my merchandise?”
“You have our money?” Cutter replied to Fish before Slade could answer.
Slade shot a glare at Cutter before he turned back to Fish. “Of course. The trucks outside hold your original order. Your additional request is just over there.”
Slade turned and gestured to the girls who huddled in fear against the wall of crates and away from Slicer. If Slade hadn’t turned to indicate them, he would have never seen Keg’s glare toward Fish. Slade could only be glad that Keg stood behind and slightly to the side of Trigger.
What the hell? Slade couldn’t help but think since he’d yet to see the man’s cover crack in the last three weeks.
Slade remained turned sideways and followed Keg’s gaze. He wasn’t really glaring at Fish, but rather the ICE agent was shooting daggers at the shorter man who stood off to the side of his boss.
Well, whatever the hell Keg’s problem with the guy is, it will have to wait, Slade thought and focused back on Fish.
Fish lifted his hand arrogantly and snapped his fingers. The smaller man moved around him and it was clear he was headed toward the women. To the Blades, Slade was sure it appeared that their buyer wanted the merchandise checked over before he made payment.
Fish played the part perfectly and Slade was sure that the smaller man was with ICE. He was even more sure when Keg stepped in front of the suited man and blocked his path. Again, it appeared as if Keg was a Blade and waiting for Cutter to give permission for anyone to approach the merchandise before they got the money for the goods.
“The payment?” Cutter asked with a satisfied grin after seeing Keg stop the buyer’s man.
“Of course, but it would be easier to deliver if we could drive our vehicle inside since you insisted on cash and small bills.” Fish’s tone was condescending as if he was used to wiring money instead of having to purchase anything with cash.
“Of course,” Slade echoed Fish’s words in agreement and looked to Cutter.
“Payne get the door,” Cutter ordered.
“Bull,” Fish said and the larger of the two men who accompanied Fish turned and walked back out of the warehouse assumedly to drive their vehicle inside.
Silence settled around them, the only sounds were the quiet whimpers of the girls and the warehouse door being raised. Keg ignored it all while he glared down at his lover who had the balls to smirk at him.
Oh, how I’m going to tan his ass. Keg couldn’t help but return Rick’s smirk.
He knew and trusted Rick skills when it came to undercover work, but this was the first time his lover had been in the field since the shit that happened with the Bratva. Rick was supposed to be acting as his handler, not walking into the center of a raid that was about to go down and Keg couldn’t help but worry about his lover’s safety. It was a distraction that he didn’t need.
Payne opened the warehouse door and couldn’t help but appreciate how smoothly Fish had managed to give the raid teams a huge fucking entrance to storm into the warehouse. He didn’t even wait for the gray SUV to approach to open the door before he walked back to Slade, Fish, and Cutter. Payne was back in place standing next to the Blades’ president by the time the SUV stopped several feet away.
“Your payment,” Fish said as if he were bored with the whole process.
“Trig, Payne,” Cutter nodded toward the SUV when the bald agent opened the back doors.
Payne and Trigger pulled out the first of four large black storage bins and set it on the floor where the rest of the men could see. Trigger unlatched the buckles and threw the lid back to reveal the cash that was stacked inside.
“The rest is in the other bins,” Fish informed.
***
“The rest is in the other bins.”
Those were the words Zep, Knight, and the raid teams’ had been waiting for. Zep had picked the lock to the back door of the warehouse where they were supposed to breach and prevent anyone from escaping.
Knight pulled the door open and Zep went in low while Knight stayed high to cover him. Nothing but crates greeted them, but seeing only boxes of wood before them didn’t make them drop their guard. It was a damn good thing they didn’t when they rounded the end of the first row of the warehouse inventory.
***
“Well, now that we have our payment,” Cutter began, but only elaborated by pulling out his handgun and pointing it at Fish.
“What the hell, Cutter?” Slade stepped in front of Fish.
“Uh un,” Trigger’s voice sounded from behind Slade and Fish before Cutter could answer.
Slade glanced over his shoulder to see Trigger holding a gun against the large suited agent that came with Fish. Lita and Spider already had their weapons drawn. Lita’s was pointed at Cutter and Spider had Slicer in his sights even though the man was almost thirty feet away. The smaller agent that came with Fish had his weapon pointed at Keg’s chest, but Slade wasn’t concerned the man would shoot. No, he was more concerned about Trigger blowing the head off the agent that came with Fish and Cutter threatening to put a slug in his chest.
“Cutter, man, what the fuck are you doing aside from fucking up any future business?” Slade growled, but held his hands out defensively. They all had known there was a chance that the Blades would attempt to double-cross the Knights, but the likelihood that they would seemed minimal.
“There are other buyers and I’m not happy with our cut, so we’ll just take it all.”
Slade didn’t get the chance to reply before Fish pushed him forward, landed on his back, and rolled off a second later. The blood that splattered on Slade’s hands and arms told him all he needed to know about why his boss shoved him into the ground. Seeing Cutter flat on his back with a hole in his chest that was turning his gray T-shirt a strange burgundy color only confirmed that a sniper had taken out the Satan’s Blades’ president.
##~~##
Twenty-five
All hell broke out in the warehouse after Cutter revealed the Blades’ double-cross. Keg witnessed several
things happen at once. The huge ass suit pushed the INET agent Slade to the floor and followed him down seconds before Cutter landed on the concrete with a hole in his chest.
The other suit took advantage of Cutter going down and turned on Trigger so fast that the lieutenant had no chance to react. The suit lifted his arm and chopped Trigger’s throat with his hand. Trigger dropped his gun, grasped his throat, and fell to his knees.
However, it wasn’t Cutter and Trigger being taken out that caused Keg to react. Shit, it wasn’t even the sudden tinkering sounds of flash bang canisters bouncing off the concrete or the men in black that rushed through the open cargo door. No, it was the sight of several more Satan’s Blades’ members that rose up from behind the wooden crates that were scattered around the warehouse that had Keg moving.
He reached out and grabbed his lover’s wrist that still pointed a 0.9 mil at his chest and yanked. Rick stumbled toward him, but Keg had expected him to and used that momentum to pull them both toward the cover of the crates closest to them.
***
The sight of Blades’ members with semi-automatics standing behind crates that faced the center of the warehouse was the last thing that Zep and Knight expected to see when they rounded the row of crates they had been following along the wall.
Since they were INET agents and there was no protocol that ‘required’ them to identify themselves, they each took a shot on two of the four Blades’ members who were now firing rounds into the center of the warehouse as if they were Al Qaeda shooting on American soldiers in Afghanistan. They didn’t shoot to kill, just leg and shoulder shots to disable. The two other Blades’ members never noticed their club brothers go down and apparently never heard their curses of pain, either.
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