Page 35

ARES

A nthony wouldn’t tell us anything, but we figured it out.

The hallway to what appeared to be his office had a door in the back with an elevator behind it.

Kylian found zip ties and duct tape in his desk.

We’d secured his arms behind him, pocketing the tape if we needed to shut him up.

None of us wanted anything to do with the guns—the ones on Anthony and his guys—but they were a necessary evil for what we planned to pull off.

I had my hand locked around Anthony’s bicep and a gun pointed at his head. I glanced back at Liam, who nodded and flashed me his phone, already videoing everything. Then, at Kylian, who also confirmed he was good.

Things could go sideways, and Liam said we needed proof for Fiona. Two videos were better than one. As for me, I’d turned on the voice recorder. We weren’t taking any chances. Those assholes needed to be behind bars. Maybe they would end up in prison with Brielle’s dad. I hoped so.

I tensed as the elevator doors opened. Muffled screams filled the air, and I jerked Anthony back half a step until I realized they weren’t coming from the hallway before us.

It was surprisingly empty, but that could be because of the auction or betting event—the one that would be, or was being, raided that night.

Several closed doors lined the hall on either side. Could Brie be behind one of them? “Where’s Brielle?”

We would check every goddammed room until I found her. We inched forward, and I shouted for Brielle. Kylian tried the doors, which were locked, while Liam continued to needle Anthony.

A gurgling laugh left Anthony’s bloodied lips. “You’re too late. She’s already gone onto the floor. She’s probably bleeding out right now.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Liam snapped. “The cops are onto your organization. You’re going away for the rest of your life.”

“That won’t happen.” Anthony smirked. “We own this city.”

“Bullshit,” I snapped. “You only think you have that much power, but there’s no way the police chief or the mayor will let you get away with kidnapping and trafficking girls.”

“Of fucking course I’ll walk. And right after, I’ll have you three killed. We can arrange for that to happen right next to your dead girlfriend. Poetic justice, if you will.”

“You don’t have crooked cops to help you,” Liam pushed.

We needed names, and if we could get Anthony to trip up and give them to us, it would only help ensure he went to jail and stayed there.

Gunshots sounded. Muffled screams and shouts bled through the walls from somewhere in the building. A door opened farther down the hallway. I tensed, jerking Anthony to a stop.

Brielle emerged, and my heart leaped into my throat.

I wanted to run to her, but her arms were up by the back of her head.

Something was wrong, and I needed to assess the situation.

Each inch she moved forward played in slow motion, a horror flick that sent shock waves through me.

Tears ran down her cheeks. A gun pressed against her temple as a man emerged slightly behind her. Rage almost blinded me.

“Hold,” Liam growled.

I knew the warning. It barely leashed me.

I understood it wasn’t time to rush him.

Not yet. We needed more information. Not at Brielle’s expense, though.

I would take my chance if it presented itself, with or without incriminating evidence to ensure those assholes were locked behind bars. Dead would be better.

Kylian shifted closer, his phone discretely aimed at Brielle and Vincent Canino. Liam would do the heavy lifting with extracting information.

“We have a proposition for you, but only if you let her go,” I growled, shoving the barrel of my gun harder against Anthony’s head, revealing enough of the weapon for Vincent to notice.

“Your son here was more than willing to help, but we thought a little assurance was in order since you have something that belongs to me.”

“Is that a fact?” Vincent gave nothing away other than the slight twitch near his left eye.

“Sports betting. We’re in a position to tip the scales for you,” Liam injected. “If you release Ares’s girl.”

“They’re full of shit!” Anthony shouted. “Don’t listen to them.”

Vincent cocked his head, his pose casual, unhurried, despite the continued disturbance happening somewhere beyond those immediate walls.

“You’re hardly in a position to offer advice, seeing as three college kids have you at their mercy.

” His eyes hardened, and he sneered, disgust etching harsh lines around his mouth and between his salt-and-pepper brows.

“This is why I haven’t handed anything of significance over to you. You’re a constant disappointment.”

“This wasn’t my fault. Paulie and?— ”

“Shut up!” Vincent shouted, his face darkening. “Not another word.”

Kylian reached around Anthony and slapped a piece of duct tape over his mouth, effectively silencing him.

“What makes you think I need inside men on your team? Or that I’m even interested in college sports betting?”

“We heard whispers on the street. Anthony’s guys like to talk,” Liam improvised. “They told us Chief Williams is on your payroll and we should contact him. But we preferred to go to the source.”

“Especially since you have Brielle.” My voice was tight, my skin stretched uncomfortably across my body.

“We know Chief Williams has been on the take for years. Also, he has a gambling problem.” Liam directed the conversation.

“No point in giving him a heads-up on how the game’ll go so he reaps the benefits.” Kylian drew Vincent’s suddenly interested gaze. “Besides, he’s a bit full of himself. Thinks he has more pull than he probably does.”

Everyone in the college sports world knew who Kylian Wilder was. I could see Vincent salivating at having control over him for college and the NFL.

“And you learned of Chief Williams how again?” Vincent said through clenched teeth.

“Tony, but he’s not talking anymore.” I fed Vincent the name we’d learned when Fiona had shown us the pictures of Anthony’s bodyguards.

Since he was the one with the broken neck, I didn’t have to feel bad about giving him up to a bullet between the eyes, courtesy of his boss.

“You’re not going to demand we go through him, too, are you? ”

“No. It seems we need a cleanup in our organization.”

Anthony mumbled loudly behind the duct tape, straining against my hold.

I smirked, notching my head toward Anthony but never taking my eyes off Vincent.

“Your son confirmed everything and also told us to go through Williams. We had other ideas.” I couldn’t look at Brielle while we set things in motion.

We didn’t have much time as the noise grew louder.

“What’ll it be, Mr. Canino?” I asked. “Do we have a deal? Brielle comes with me, unharmed, and we’ll discuss game outcomes? ”

“We can negotiate.” Vincent shifted, and the barrel of his gun tipped up slightly.

The door at the end of the hallway slammed open. Armed cops with Kevlar vests and guns drawn rushed in. I didn’t think. Shoving Anthony at Liam, I charged Vincent.

He’d turned his head at the commotion. It was perfect. Brielle’s gaze met mine, and a silent communication slid between us.

She mouthed, “Do it.”

I reacted as she flung her arm up, knocking the gun from her head and twisting away from Vincent. He still had her, though.

I threw my body behind my fist, slamming it into the side of his face.

Terror vibrated around me. Anything I did could hurt her, which was the last thing I wanted.

He jerked back from the power of my punch, Brielle’s hair still clutched tightly in his fist. She cried out, her body bowing back as he fell.

My fingers curled around Vincent’s hand, twisting backward until his wrist gave with a crack.

The gun fell from his useless fingers, and he released Brielle.

She fell. I lunged, grabbing her outstretched hand before she hit the floor.

Hauling her to me, I wrapped my arms around her then pivoted so her back was against the wall, shielding her as chaos swarmed around us. Her body trembled against mine.

I wouldn’t let her go for anything. “Are you hurt?” Gently, I tilted her face up until our frantic gazes caught and held.

“I’m okay. Promise.” Her arms tightened around me. “Just don’t let go.”

“I’m never letting you go. ”

Shouts and orders echoed through the hallway, but in our bubble, Brielle slowly relaxed.

“Thank you, Ares. For coming.”

“I would follow you into hell and back. I’ve got you, promise.”

“Liam!” Fiona growled.

I jerked my gaze to where Liam’s furious sister stalked down the hallway, cops moving aside for her.

“The hell? I told you to stay out of it.”

“It all worked out, sis. Relax.”

“He did not just say that.” Brielle’s jaw dropped.

I rested my forehead against hers, wanting to shut them all out. Liam and his sister bickered like crazy but loved each other fiercely. I could understand her fear. Liam pushing her buttons by telling her to relax just dispelled some of that.

“You interfered in an investigation.” Her voice went quiet.

He wasn’t out of the woods yet. None of us were.

“We’ve got video for you, Fi”—Liam tossed her his phone—“implicating the chief.”

“Goddammit,” Fiona snapped. “McHenry. Give me an evidence bag, and get the feds on the line.”

Kylian fell against the wall beside us. “You okay, Brie?”

“Yeah.” She gave him a small smile, the tight grip she had on me never loosening.

“You three.” Fiona pointed at me, Kylian, and Liam before her voice softened. “I’ll need statements. And, Brielle Sinclair?”

“Yes?”

“Do you need an ambulance?”

“No.” Her voice wavered. “I’m not hurt.”

“I’ll need you to come down to the station, too, just for a statement.”

“Of course. But… I want Ares to take me.”

Fiona nodded .

An officer jogged over with a plastic bag before stepping to the side to place a call.

We watched as Vincent and Anthony Canino were cuffed and taken away. Fiona reamed Liam a little more for putting himself in harm’s way before she let him know the bust had been successful. They’d saved a few of the girls and arrested a roomful of people.

It took a while before Brielle and I were outside and by my car. Liam and Kylian dragged their feet, chatting with Fiona so we could have a moment.

I wouldn’t waste another second before telling Brie what I needed to. “I love you. I know it’s not the best time or place to tell you that, but I almost lost you. I need you to know. You’re everything to me.”

Her lips parted, and some of the fear fell from her beautiful ice-blue eyes. “I love you too. I have for a while. I just… didn’t know what to do about it.”

Relief slid through me, loosening some of my tense muscles. “We’re going to date for real. And, Brielle?” I pressed a soft kiss to her mouth. “I’m never letting you go. Our life together is just beginning.”