Page 68 of Trust In Me

Whiskey chuckles. “I told you I would know the sign.”

“Right, gear up, we need to go now,” Kian shouts, as everyone rushes around gathering up the weapons and security vests they need. Bree keeps her eye on the security feed, while I get everyone’s communication devices up and running. Once I’ve made sure they’re all working, the guys leave the helicopter and run around the corner to the house.

I take the laptop into my hands and begin altering the security footage, cutting down the alarm, so we can freely access the house.

From then it's a blur of movement as Liam, Kian, Whiskey, and Joker breach the house. They move with expert precision, like they’re a well-oiled machine, instead of a hastily put together group of people who barely know each other. But, they all have a common goal, to get the girls out of there without anyone getting hurt.

I keep my eye on the monitor, giving them directions and warnings whenever I see someone approaching. They all have silencers on their guns, since the aim is to get into the wedding unnoticed, and loud gunshots would definitely cause people to panic. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the security guard walking Mia and Shayla through the house. For a short period of time, he goes off camera, using a back staircase that doesn’t appear to have a working camera covering it.

Cursing, I let Liam know, and the decision is made that we can’t extract them from a blind spot. We have to have visuals so we can assess the risk. For all we know, the blind spot is deliberate and he’s trying to draw us into a trap. I mean, I highly doubt that given the vast majority of Kyle’s men are manning the main wedding ceremony room, but we have to consider everything.

It’s not long before the girls reappear on camera and they’re in the room just next to the sunroom. There’s only two ways into the sunroom; the external door that all the guests have used, and that leads out to the garden, or the internal door that leads into a type of dining room. That is where Mia and Shayla now are. The security seems to be split between those doors, with the occasional person manning the perimeter. Everyone else has been taken out by the team.

Joker appears to have taken control of the staff, moving them all into the kitchen and locking them in there. He is treating them as hostile civilians, as he doesn't want any of them to raise the alarm. We will get them all out safely afterwards.

I watch as the guys move closer, until finally they’re around the corner from Mia’s room. Once they round this corner they will be faced with several security guards, and I doubt they’ll be able to extract the girls without anyone noticing. Liam gives everyone some last-minute instructions via the communication devices they’re wearing in their ears, and they get ready to go. They’re just waiting for my signal. I want the security guard to turn his back, and given the way he’s pacing, it won’t be long until he does that. It’s the only way they will get the element of surprise.

Just as I’m about to give the warning, the door to the sunroom opens, music begins to play and the security guard indicates it’s time for Mia to walk down the aisle. All eyes are on the room Mia is in, meaning there’s no way we’re going to have the element of surprise now. Shayla has obviously come to the same conclusion as she looks straight at the camera and mouths the word, “Now!”

“We have lost the element of surprise. You’re going to have to go in, all guns blazing. Go now!” I shout, and the guys waste no time at all.

Liam goes around the corner first and ducks so he’s kneeling down, and Kian is behind him in a flash. At the same time they both shoot their weapons and the first two security guards drop to the floor. Their bodies create a loud bang, and all eyes travel to the open door. Joker and Whiskey run around the boys and begin brawling with four security guards that have rushed to the door. There are people everywhere, moving at such speed as they battle it out. I watch as the bodies fall, making sure none of them belong to our team. At the same time, I keep my eye on the girls.

Kyle, along with three of his men, is fighting to get through the mass of people that are all panicking and trying to flee from the battle. Thankfully, their panic stops Kyle from getting to Mia. He’s obviously instructed a few of the guards nearest to her to make sure she’s kept safe.

I watch as Shayla catches the security man closest off guard. She kicks him in the bollocks, and as he bends over in what I’m sure is blinding agony, she lands a couple of blows to his head, knocking him down for good. Once he is down she picks up his weapon, and using the technique I taught her, she checks if the gun is loaded and gets it ready to be fired. She then pushes a terrified-looking Mia into the corner of the room, and puts her body between Mia and the action.

I have had a lot of bad things to say about Shayla after what she did to me, and I didn’t think I would ever be capable of forgiving her, but that action right there just put her a lot fucking closer. She is using her body to protect the woman I love, and I couldn’t be more fucking grateful.

I try to keep my eye on the carnage, but there’s so much going on. You would think we have a whole army on our side, rather than four ruthless guys, but as each member of the opposition falls, there’s no doubt that our team has the upper hand. Each guy methodically takes out all of the security that charges them. They don’t even have to move forward, Kyle has been instructing his men to charge them, which is working out in our favour as the guys are able to hold their positions, supporting each other as they take the men out.

“Liam, all of the security are now in your vicinity. There’s a few manning the external sunroom door, a few with Kyle in the sunroom, the rest are in Mia’s room or guarding the internal door to the sunroom. But there’s only around ten left.” I aim the update at Liam, but I know everyone can hear me.

“I’m going into the dining room. Kellan, where are the girls so I know where to avoid?” asks Whiskey, who is closest to the door into the dining room.

“When you go in through the door, they are in the north-east corner. Shayla is armed and is attempting to keep two security guards away from them. She appears to have the situation under control.”

Whiskey chuckles. “That’s my girl.”

He then charges into the room, pushing his way past the two guards blocking the door, and while they are distracted by Whiskey, Joker takes them out, clearing the doorway for the rest of the boys to follow. Whiskey starts shooting, and again as everyone converges into the dining room from both sides it’s a blur of bodies, and as much as I try, I’m struggling to keep up with the action.

Kyle’s voice rings out loud as he shouts to get everyone’s attention. “Stop right now, or you will regret it!”

Everyone freezes instantly, and I watch as the guys scan the room, trying to identify where the noise is coming from. I follow the sound until I see my worst fears being played out before me. Kyle is standing in the corner of the room with Mia tucked in one arm, while he holds a gun to her head with the other. Shayla is next to him, blood running down her face, the gun that was once in her hand is now long gone, and Kyle’s bodyguard has her secured against him, a knife to her throat.

“Kyle, think very carefully before you do this,” Liam says, his voice steady and even while he tries to negotiate. I look over at Bree and see the matching fear in her eyes. She turns away from me and begins rummaging through the boxes we brought with us in the helicopter. I can’t watch what she is doing as I’m too busy staring at the hostage situation on the screen.

“Oh, I’m thinking very carefully. I want to marry Mia, and nothing you do will stop that. My father’s next door along with the registrar. You may have scared off all the guests, but it doesn’t matter to me. I will marry Mia today, no matter what,” spits Kyle, and I check the cameras for the adjoining room to confirm what he’s saying. His father, along with two bodyguards I’m assuming are allocated to Mr. Fratacello, are in the corner of the sunroom, alongside the registrar.

I’m so focused on Mia, looking at all the cuts and bruises that are littered across her exposed skin, and the way she is barely holding herself upright, and it breaks my heart. My broken girl looks defeated and I’m so consumed by her, I miss the second wave of security that arrived from the dead zone that I couldn’t see on the cameras earlier. Around ten men all charge into the room and one by one they pull Liam, Kian, Joker, and Whiskey away from the dining room. They’re trying to drag them out long enough to get the registrar in to perform this shitshow of a wedding, and it seems to be working.

Once Kyle is sure that the guys have been pulled in from the sunroom, he shouts for his father to bring in the registrar. The guys are fighting hand-to-hand now, having run out of ammunition. Fear is etched on my face as I look over at Bree. She has pulled the last remaining gun from the gun storage and is starting to put on a safety vest.

“No way!” I shout at her, as I snatch the vest from her hand. “There are already two girls in danger in there, Liam won’t forgive me if I let you risk yours and your baby’s life. Mia would never want that either. The majority of the work here is done. I know where all the remaining security is. I’m going,” I explain as I pull the safety jacket over my head and grab the gun from her.

Bree looks torn, like she wants to argue with me but she knows she can’t. “I’m very pissed right now that I’m pregnant and can’t help. But I’m not risking this baby’s life. You’ve got this, Kellan. There’s only six bullets left in this gun, and no extra ammunition. Use them wisely.” Bree pulls me in for a quick hug before practically pushing me out of the helicopter.

“I will bring them all back safely,” I shout as I run off in the direction of the house.

---