Page 43 of Seeking Salvation

“I’m going in.”

“I’m still tracking her. She’s inside.”

“I don’t give a fuck. I’m going in to get her back. You either come with me or leave me the fuck alone.” Titan shook Reaper off and jumped out of the car, heading for the entrance.

“Fucking hothead. Watchdog was just disabling the cameras for us, for fuck’s sake.”

Titan said nothing, only looked at Bishop and Reaper as they checked their weapons, his breathing heavy as his heart hammered in his chest. He’d never faced a mission in this state before, never felt this kind of fear. They were going in without backup, and mostly blind, to face the man who was holding Maya and who’d just admitted to killing Rose. Yet, his friends didn’t hesitate.

Dipping his head in thanks, he moved with them into the side alley next to the club, letting Reaper, as the most experienced, take the lead.

“We go in quiet. I don’t want this to become a bloodbath and this scene is hot as fuck. Bish, you take the lead here, I’m going to come in from the opposite side near the other fire exit. Titan, your only objective is to get Maya out. We’ll take care of the rest. Understood?”

Titan nodded wordlessly.

“Good, now put these in.” Reaper handed out earpiece comms and the second Titan put it in his ear, he was greeted by Watchdog.

“Strike team three, this is Watchdog. Do you copy?”

“Copy,” came the replies from the three of them before Reaper nodded and disappeared like the ghost he was.

“Titan, proceed north to the back of the building.”

With his gun tucked close to avoid alerting anyone he was carrying, he moved with Bishop inside the club. The interior was dark with lots of black walls, and a long bar at the far wall. Dance poles were set up every eight feet and a long stage where five topless girls danced in the middle.

He barely glanced at the suited men who were leering at the girls, though most had to be in their late fifties and the girls young enough to be their granddaughters. Bishop halted as two men across the room spotted them and began to move in fast.

Not wanting a gunfight in a room full of mostly innocent people, they turned on their heels and headed for the opposite side.

“We have company, Reaper.”

“On it.”

A loud clatter rang out, followed by a scream, and everyone, including the men pursuing them, turned. Reaper had punched one of the customers in the face, spraying his blood across his jowly face.

“Motherfucker broke my nose.”

Titan smiled to himself as Reaper let fly again, punching someone else and the two men went after him instead. Moving silently, Bishop and Titan got to the back.

“She’s barely three feet to your right, Titan.”

He saw the closed door to what looked like an office and put his ear to it to listen, hating being so blind.

“I hear three men. We can take them but it’s not without risk, Titan.”

Titan appreciated Bishop letting him make this decision now he was calmer and mission-focused. “On three.”

Titan counted backwards and, with one heft of his size fourteens, he kicked the door until it splintered under his weight. He spotted Maya tied up and gagged on the floor and had to fight the red mist that wanted to slide over his eyes. In that split second, Bishop had subdued Nico’s sidekick, pinning him to the ground and was holding a weapon on another man he didn’t know. Titan lifted the gun to Nico at the same time he lifted a knife and let it fly.

Pain pierced his shoulder but he didn’t let it register, blocking out everything but making Maya safe. “Big mistake.” He walked forward, so pissed off he could spit nails, and Nico backed up to the desk.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. She came here and attacked us. She wanted to sell us your secrets.”

Titan felt his lip curl. “You piece of shit. We have the whole thing recorded. We know exactly what she said and what you admitted.”

With his gun trained on Nico, he moved to Maya as Reaper walked into the room, an extremely unfriendly smile on his face.

“I’ve come to take out the trash. Take her to safety and we’ll deal with this.”

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