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CHAPTER TWENTY

FINN

“W e’re certain?” I asked.

“Greg assures me the information is accurate.”

“It makes no sense. They’re having an auction at the racetrack? In front of people?”

I paced the room. “No, there is something we’re missing.”

Roman and Aldo began to speak in Italian. Fast—their hands gesturing, words tumbling. Luca listened then clapped his hands. “Yes. Hiding in plain sight!”

“What?” I asked.

“You get to the racetrack, and you’ll be escorted elsewhere on the property. It’s a busy night, and no one will notice people coming in or disappearing. The normal crowd is only concerned about the horse racing. The noise and mob cover everything. They’ve added a late-night race for that very purpose. All smoke and mirrors.”

“But where?”

“The barn.” Niall looked at the screen, studying it. “See how this piece of the back of the racetrack is like an extended wing? I think this structure beside it has a dual purpose. Those golf carts parked there? Enough to get staff around, but I would bet my last dollar there is more. And I think underground tunnels from a couple of the empty buildings lead under the stable. In and out, no one sees a thing.” He sat back, running a weary hand over his face. “There was more activity around that barn set back on the property last night. Lights. But no people outside. No one coming and going. That’s how they get in and out.” He traced a path on the screen. “People slip away in small groups, heading to the wing and out to the golf carts. It’s dark, and no one is looking. The path we saw in the grass? It is going to have a fork not many use that leads to the trees and to the barn. Others will go through the tunnels. No one will notice the movement.”

I studied the screen. “You’re right. That stupid fecker. Doesn’t he know how dangerous—” I stopped my rant, knowing it would do no good. “We can do it all at once, then. Rescue the women and blow his lab.”

“So, how are we doing this?” Aldo asked. “Will we follow them?”

“No. We need to surround the building earlier. Be in the trees behind it in camouflage. Surprise them. We need men. Guns.” I looked up from the screen. “Night goggles. And tech. We surround the building, verify Una is there, cut the lights, and move in.” I drew in a long breath. “Kill everyone involved. Blow the barn and the lab once we get the innocents out.” I looked at Luca. “Between us, we have the right people to make sure it’s called an accident, right?”

“Consider it handled.”

“Men?”

“I’m on it,” Aldo said, walking away with his phone to his ear.

“I’ll get on the equipment,” Niall muttered. “We’re going to need a lot of explosives.”

Roman held up his hand. “I’ve got a guy.”

For the first time in days, I smiled. “Of course you do.”

“We need supplies. Vans to move the victims. Blankets. A place to take them for medical attention.”

Roman smirked at me. “Good thing your hotel was built with a private parking lot underneath and an elevator, isn’t it? We can set up a makeshift hospital.”

“Yes. I’ll get the floors cleared and the public elevator locked off.”

Luca glanced up. “Others will help. We have enough men to make sure this goes off without a hitch. We’re not the only ones sickened by human trafficking. Kidnapping and forced labor.”

He sighed. “We’ll find the victims all a safe place or get them back home, if that’s what they want.” He scrubbed his eyes. “From the heat sources, we figure about twenty people, plus the women. We can handle that. More, if needed.”

“Good. Whatever we need to do.”

The room was busy for a while, one of us always stepping into the hall or in a corner to talk.

Finally, we looked at one another. “Everything is set. Men, plan, backup, vehicles, medical, weapons,” I stated.

“Auction is at ten p.m.”

“I have our guy planting small drones on the beams inside the barn. Should be done in the next couple of hours as long as that window is still open. No one will notice them, but we can have a visual. He’ll connect to the power outside and cut it on our signal. We go in, secure the women, and start taking out the bad guys.”

Aldo rolled his shoulders. “It’s been a while. It’s gonna feel good.”

He was right.

I faced them. “Lopez doesn’t come out alive. None of them do.”

Everyone nodded in accord.

Turning, I shut my eyes, inhaling deeply. I would have her back tomorrow, and I was never letting her out of my sight again.

I’m coming, Una. Hold on.

* * *

It was dark, the clouds cooperating and covering the moon. We watched in silence as people would appear and slip into the barn. Beside me, Niall would identify them as he got the intel in his earpiece.

“Boris and Olga,” he murmured. “The very worst of the worst. Husband and wife team known for their brutality.” He was quiet for a moment. “Jesus, these people are sick.”

There were eight of them in total. Plus guards. Lopez and Juan, in addition to a few others.

Aldo crackled in my ear. “First wave takes out the guards. Only four outside the barn. We’ve got others covering the tunnel exits we know of. All shoot to kill. The only ones safe are those of us with the green stripes our night goggles can pick up on. We’re the second wave. The third will move in and get people out, then the bombs get planted, and we’re done.”

I grunted in reply, shifting a little, making sure my bulletproof armor was in place.

“Everyone, protect the women—that is our highest priority,” Roman rumbled across the group.

Bright lights suddenly exploded in the darkness, spilling out from the higher-up windows and under the doors. The auction was about to start. My nerves tightened in anticipation, a rush of calmness tearing through me. The end goal was Una. I needed to concentrate on that. Nothing else.

“We have a visual on Una,” Roman breathed out. “She and five others on the left side of the barn, held behind bars.”

My chest constricted. I would have her back soon. In my arms. Lopez would pay for this with his life.

“We go in five,” Luca breathed out. “On my count. The power will be cut in three. Then we have control.”

I pulled my night goggles down and checked to make sure my silencer was tight. We didn’t want to attract any attention.

I was ready.

We crept forward, surrounding the structure. There were plenty of us here—good guys—more scattered on the property, waiting if needed. I watched as the guards were swiftly dealt with, and our men took their places, ready to open the doors for us.

Luca drew in a deep breath. “Five…”

And two seconds later, the power went out.

* * *

UNA

I had never known terror the way I was feeling it. Waves of cold rushed over my body as I looked at the people staring at us. We had been dragged up some stairs into a stable, pushed into stalls, metal bars rolling from the ceiling, keeping us locked in. Anna and I clung to each other’s hands, both of us trembling in fear. But I refused to cry. To let them break me already.

People had strolled around as if attending a party. No one spoke, but they circled in slow strides, their dead eyes never leaving the cages that had effectively been constructed. Icy stares, smirking lips, and unbridled evil were in front of us. We were merchandise. Not even human to them. Once they were all there, the doors shut, and I felt all my hope drain away. This was it. My life ended now. I knew I wouldn’t survive whatever came after this evening.

Lopez droned on, his words insulting and degrading. Brian leaned against the back wall with Juan, and the one time I met his gaze, he looked away as if suddenly uncomfortable. I hoped he was. He looked terrible, although I was certain I looked worse. Juan looked smug, his ankles crossed, his stupid red sneakers out of place.

Lopez clapped his hands. “Let’s begin, shall we?”

I wanted to scream. To fight and to run. But I had no chance. Locked behind bars, barely clothed, and with no weapon, I would fail. I had to stay in place and pray that somehow, some way, I could get out.

Pray that Finn would find me.

And then the lights went out. There was a startled murmur, and suddenly, it was chaos. I heard the sound of thundering feet and bodies dropping. Muted shooting. Screaming. Cursing. A line of men appeared before us, one shouting, “Get down!”

I grabbed Anna and pulled her to the floor. I crawled with her to the back of the stall. “Keep your head down,” I ordered.

“What’s happening?” she gasped.

I could feel it. Feel him .

Finn had found me.

“My hero,” I responded.

* * *

FINN

Lopez was too comfortable with his hidden auctions. He’d been doing them in secret, and his ego was big enough to think he had everything in hand. He’d become lax.

He didn’t expect us.

Our plan was executed without a hitch. We had accounted for every contingency. Our element of surprise and the darkness worked as we needed them to. Immediately, ten men lined up in front of the women, their guns pointed to the crowd. Another group guarded the doors, guns ready. We followed the first group, shooting as we went, eliminating the world of scum with each bullet. We took out the inside guards first, then aimed at the buyers and Lopez’s group. They didn’t stand a chance against our firepower.

I had one fast glimpse of Una in the darkness. She looked terrified, but she was alive, and that was all I needed.

It was over quickly, and we tore off our night goggles as the lights were turned back on. Bodies littered the floor, the scent of bullets and blood filling the air. I felt nothing but contempt as I looked at the dead around me.

Lopez was against the wall, shock on his face at the blood saturating his ill-fitting suit jacket. Juan was not far away, facedown, his red sneakers identifying him. All the guards were dead.

I sprinted to the side where our men still guarded the makeshift cages. “Get these open,” I shouted, dropping to my knees in front of where Una lay, huddled in the corner, her arms wrapped around a small blond woman.

“Una! Mo chroí —it’s over. You’re safe.”

She didn’t move, and I felt the panic that flooded my body. “Una,” I begged. “Please, look at me.”

Finally, she raised her head, and I held out my hand, tamping down my horror at her appearance. She was bruised and battered, her face, arms, and legs showing marks. She was whiter than paper, her eyes sunken. Her hair was tangled, and the robe she was wearing barely covered her torso. She was shivering and terrified, her eyes unable to focus.

Ignoring the commotion behind me, I reached out again. “Come here, my love,” I urged. “Come to me.”

She startled as the bars were raised. Then she met my eyes. I pleaded silently for her to realize it was me—she was safe and I was here.

“Finn,” she breathed out.

I couldn’t wait. I stood and went to her, scooping her into my arms. She made a sound of distress, gripping the other woman’s hand, and I called for Niall, who appeared beside me. “Help,” I instructed, somehow feeling her need. “They have to stay close right now.”

Niall bent, saying something to the woman before lifting her into his arms. She didn’t fight him, burrowing into him instead, her head on his shoulder. He had an odd expression on his face as he pulled her close. “She’s freezing.” He turned, yelling for blankets, and we wrapped the women we were holding as best we could.

Una was a shivering mass of fear in my arms. I had a feeling Niall was experiencing the same reaction.

I lifted Una higher, my lips close to her ear. “I have you, mo chroí . You are safe. No one will touch you now but me.”

The adrenaline began to fade, and I realized how badly I was shaking. I fell back to my knees, holding Una, whispering comforting words, soothing my hand up and down her back.

Around me, our team was busy. Luca led one group down to where we suspected the lab was. Others were checking bodies, removing IDs, prepping for the next step. It was carnage and horrible, but I didn’t care. The world was better without the scum we had eliminated.

Una lifted her head and made a sound of distress. She pushed against my chest.

“Don’t look, sweet girl.”

“B-Brian,” she stammered.

Looking over, I saw her brother. He was sitting against the wall, his head lolling to one side. Blood was seeping rapidly from his stomach. He was staring at her, his expression pleading, his trembling hand stretching in her direction.

Standing, I took her to him, knowing she needed to say goodbye. It was hard to let her go from my arms, and I made sure the blanket was wrapped around her. She dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. She tenderly pushed the hair off his face. “Help is coming,” she cried, her voice rough. She turned to me, desperate. “Right, Finn?”

There was no hope for him, but I nodded. “Yes.”

He tried to smile, blood trickling from his mouth. He shook his head, his eyes suddenly going wide with fear. “No,” he groaned, lifting his arm, the effort costing him the last of his strength.

I spun to see what he was looking at. Lopez was staggering toward us, a gun held in his unsteady hand and aiming for Una. Before I could draw my weapon, Brian shot, the bullet hitting Lopez. The impact spun him around, and he fell face first beside Juan. The sound of the gun going off echoed in the room, startling everyone.

Brian gasped for air, and Una’s sobs became harder as she reached for him, pulling him close and cradling his head in her lap. He looked up at her, an expression of deep sorrow on his face.

“Sing,” he gurgled.

Lowering her head, she sang for him, her voice thick but still beautiful. I watched as the life faded from his eyes, his mouth forming a word before he died.

“ Sorry .”

Then he was gone. Una bent, still singing, stroking his hair like a child. I looked around, everyone pausing in their duties to watch the poignant moment.

I was helpless in the face of her pain, wondering how much more she could endure before breaking. I touched her shoulder. “Una, we have to go.”

She looked up. “What?”

“We need to clear everything out. The building is going to blow soon.”

She shook her head wildly, clutching Brian. “No! You can’t—he’s not?—”

“ Mo chroí ,” I murmured. “He’s gone.”

Her voice was drenched in horror and so loud she was almost screaming. “ You are not burying my brother with these people.”

Behind me, Roman spoke, his voice firm and calm. “No. We’ll take him, Una. You can bury him properly with your dad. We’ll make sure he gets the respect he deserves, right, Finn?”

“Yes,” I said, meeting her pain-filled gaze. “He saved your life. Tonight, he became a hero. He died protecting you.”

“Promise?” she asked, her voice sounding like a child’s.

“Yes. But you have to let Roman take care of it.”

She finally loosened her hold. Roman leaned down. “Take her, Finn. Leave this all to us. You need to get her out of here. The others have been dispatched and are already on their way to the hotel. Niall has someone he is refusing to let go of. Take them and Una and go. We’ll follow shortly once we finish here.” He met my eyes. “It won’t be long.”

Time was of the essence. We needed to get everyone out and cleared before the explosions began. Before someone heard or saw something. We didn’t want any civilian deaths on our hands.

I didn’t argue. I stood and picked up Una, pushing her head into my neck. The squelch of pooling blood under my feet made me shudder. I covered her ear with my palm, pushing her head into my neck. I didn’t want her to hear it. To look around and see the carnage, the dead bodies and the blood. She had enough to recover from. I walked to Niall. “We need to go.”

He nodded, still holding the small blond woman Una had called Anna. I didn’t ask why.

Clutching my girl, I carried her out of that barn, praying one day her mind would release her from it as well.

I would do everything in my power to make sure it happened.