Page 54 of Alive and Kicking
I expect an explanation when you get home.
I wince at the message but put my phone away. Enzo and I watch the building for a while to make sure that nobody else shows up, and after a half hour of stillness we make our way out of the tree line. Somehow, Enzo manages to get in front of me and leads the way to the back door we’d seen the kids being led through.
Even with my ear pressed to the metal door, I don’t hear any sounds from inside so I give Enzo a thumbs up. He pulls a gun from his waistband while I slip a knife out of the sheath at my ankle. Viv made me get one when she realized I kept a knife in my sock. Something about DNA and evidence being left behind. I wasn’t really listening, but I got one just to make her happy.
Enzo opens the door softly and I roll my eyes. What kind of bad guys leave doors unlocked? Overly self-confident assholes, that’s who.
Once we’re inside, anger rushes through me. There are a lot more than two kids here. There has to be at least ten of them and they’re all being kept in cages. Not even actual cells with steel bars, just dog kennels you buy from the store. They weren’t even smart enough to get the kind you can take through airport security, they’re the collapsable wire ones that have two doors. The room is dirty and has boxes stacked in a few of the corners of the room.
The kids are all cowering in their cages and avoiding making eye contact with us. In one cage off to the side is an older boy. He’s still no older than thirteen, but he’s not as close in age as the other children. And he’s the only one not shy about tracking us with his eyes. I make my way over to him silently and crouch down beside him. “How many bad guys are here?”
He stares at the knife in my hand wearily, and I carefully slip another one out of my waistband. His eyes watch the blade carefully as I flip it over and hold it out grip first to him. He hesitates when I stick it through the bars of his cage. “Go on and take it.”
He slowly reaches forward and rips it away from me. “There’s twelve,” he says softly.
Enzo walks over to us on silent feet and holds out a key. “Fuckin’ amateurs had this hangin’ on a hook by the door.”
I take the key from him and unlock the older boy’s cage. “Can you get the others out while we go deal with the people in the other room? Find someplace to hide. Try to keep everyone together.”
He crawls out and stands to his full height, looking at me like he might cry for a moment before his face goes blank. I’m surprised when he accepts the key and heads over to start letting the other kids out.
Enzo and I are by the door that must lead into the rest of the warehouse when the doorknob twists. We both manage to slip behind the door as it opens, and the idiot doesn’t even look around the room before closing the door behind himself as he comes in. When he turns and sees a few of the kids out of their cages, he steps forward. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he demands.
Before he can take another step forward, I slip behind him and slam my knife into the side of his neck, twisting it harshly. The damage to his throat keeps him from screaming. And when I yank the knife out, he slumps to the ground as blood pours out of his throat. With both the jugular and carotid artery severed, he’s unconscious in moments.
Enzo’s eye twitches at me, and I have no idea what his problem is since we’re so close to the door that we’re both afraid to speak. I hold up all ten of my fingers before putting themdown and holding up one. Then I mouth the words, “Eleven more.” Enzo nods and pushes in front of me to be the first one at the door and I follow behind him as he pushes it open. I pull a gun from the back of my waistband. It’s not my favorite weapon, but it’s better than bringing a knife to a gun fight.
And it’s a good thing I do, because the moment we’re through the door Enzo starts shooting. He has five men on the floor before they even realize they’re being attacked, and I take another three down before they can take cover. With another three left hiding behind obstacles, we have no choice but to wait for an opening. Enzo is a great shot, taking down two of the men left with the smallest of openings. And I’m able to take the last one out when he tries to get a cheap shot in while Enzo is reloading.
When it’s silent in the warehouse, Enzo looks at me. “We’re going to have a long talk about how messy that first kill was on the way home. I’ll call some of my contacts to deal with the kids.”
I frown at him. There was nothing wrong with that first kill. Sure, there was a lot of blood, but it was quiet and got the job done quickly. I don’t argue with Enzo though, because he’s already pulling out his phone and starting to dial. I’m sure when we get home Viv will take my side on this. She loves me the most after all.
Viviana
I’m still waiting in the living room way past midnight when Zane finally walks through the door, followed by Enzo. “Stop being an asshole. It was fine,” Zane snaps as he walks over to me.
He collapses on the couch next to me and leans into my side. Enzo huffs, following behind him and not even bothering to unarm himself at the door. Zane must have really pissed him off if he isn’t following protocol. “He’s a fuckin’ lunatic,” Enzo exclaims, his eyes on me now.
Zane frowns. “I am not. Tell him I’m good at stabbing people.”
I bite my lip and raise a brow at Enzo. He sighs. “The little fuck had an opening for the base of the skull but went for the carotid instead.”
I nod, keeping my lips closed. Looking at Zane, I run my fingers through his hair. “Yeah. He tends to do that.”
Enzo’s eye starts to twitch. “Well clean up took forever. We didn’t even finish by the time the kids were taken care of.”
I sit up straighter. “Kids?”
Sloane walks into the room with a frown. “What kids?”
Zane stiffens beside me, his eyes going to Sloane. Enzo doesn’t notice Zane’s reaction and just looks at Sloane overhis shoulder. “Zane’s been tracking a group of child porn distributers, but we found out tonight they’re also child sex traffickers.” His eyes find mine. “It was awful Vivy. They had ‘em locked up in cages like fuckin’ animals. We killed the carogne?1, but we should have kept someone alive for info. Too late for that now.”
Zane shrugs. “I got all their phones. Nox will be able to do something with them.” When he sees the horrified look on my face he clarifies, “Don’t worry. I shut them off.”
Sloane is still quietly standing in the doorway. He looks frozen in place, the expression on his face far from calm. I stand from the couch, not caring that Zane falls to the side without my support, and walk up to Sloane slowly. “You okay?” I ask, tilting my head to the side to get a better look at his face.
Sloane’s head shakes, and when his eyes meet mine there’s nothing behind them. He just looks hollow. “I’m fine. Just need to take a shower and get to bed. It’s late.”
