Page 16 of Brooks

“Roger that, boss,” they both replied in unison.

We reached the side door of the warehouse, and I couldn’t help but think of the risks we were taking. Lives hung in the balance—not just Tina and Kennedy’s, but our own as well. Was I leading my brothers into a trap? The thought gnawed at me, but I pushed it to the back of my mind. We had come too far to turn back now.

“Ready?” I asked, my hand on the door handle.

“Always,” Zane responded, his eyes steely and determined.

With a deep breath, I turned the handle and slipped inside, my heart thundering with anticipation as we embarked on the final leg of our mission.

As we slipped into the warehouse, the air was thick with tension. The dim glow of a single flickering light overhead cast eerie shadows across the concrete floor. I could hear a distant banging from somewhere deeper in the building—was that the sound of my family fighting for their lives?

10

As we stormed the warehouse, the Red Devils moved with precision, their weapons drawn and ready for whatever the Pistons had in store for them. Their demeanor was everything I’d come to expect from my brothers in arms—focused, fearless, and unwavering in their loyalty to one another. Our bond as a club was stronger than anything the Pistons could throw at us, and we were prepared to lay down our lives if it meant saving Tina and Kennedy from their clutches.

“Brooks! Over there!” Zane yelled, pointing towards a group of Pistons guarding a door on the far side of the warehouse. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that was where they were holding my wife and daughter.

“Cover me, I’m going in!” I called back, taking off towards the guarded entrance. My boots slammed against the concrete floor as I charged forward, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I knew the risks, but nothing mattered more than getting my family back.

“Right behind you, brother!” Zane responded, following closely. I could hear the gunfire and shouts of my fellow Red Devils as they fought to clear a path for us. The weight of their loyalty and the knowledge that we were all in this together gave me the strength I needed to face whatever lay ahead.

“Come on! Is that all you’ve got?” Raptor sneered from across the warehouse, his voice dripping with contempt.

“Your days are numbered, Raptor!” I spat back, rage coursing through me. “You messed with the wrong family!”

“Your family belongs to us now!” one of the Pistons shouted, aiming his gun in my direction.

“Like hell they do!” Zane roared, firing back at the Piston who dared threaten our kin.

The air crackled with tension as bullets whizzed by and ricocheted off the metal beams above us. The smell of sweat and gunpowder filled my nostrils, a potent reminder of the high stakes we faced in this deadly showdown. My heart pounded in my chest with each step I took towards the guarded door, knowing full well the danger that awaited me.

“Brooks! Keep moving!” Ryder urged, muffled by the cacophony of gunfire and chaos.

“Covering fire!” I yelled out, signaling my brothers to lay down a barrage of bullets as I sprinted forward, dodging and weaving between crates and barrels.

“Watch your six!” Zane bellowed, taking out a Piston who had snuck up behind me. I nodded, reaffirming my resolve to get Tina and Kennedy back.

“Damn it, Raptor, you’re going down!” I growled under my breath, cursing the man who had forced us into this perilous situation. But as much as I hated him, I knew I couldn’t let my emotions cloud my judgment. Too much was at stake.

“Keep pushing, Red Devils!” Ryder commanded, rallying our forces as we continued to exchange fire with the Pistons.

“Show these bastards what happens when you mess with our family!” Zane added, his fierce determination fueling our collective efforts.

As the firefight raged on, I couldn’t help but think of the sacrifices we’d all made to be part of this brotherhood. The long nights away from our families, the constant struggle for survival—it was a hard life, but one bound by an unbreakable bond. And as bullets flew and bodies fell around me, I knew there was no other group of men I’d rather have by my side.

“Let’s finish this!” I shouted, feeling a surge of adrenaline as we inched closer to the door where Tina and Kennedy were held captive. The sounds of gunfire were deafening, drowning out all thought and reason. But amidst the noise and chaos, one thing remained clear: nothing would stop us from saving the ones we loved.

I kept my focus on the door just ahead, pushing through the smoke and sweat of the gunfight. But my vision blurred as I saw a shadowy figure aiming straight for me—an enemy Piston, bent on ending my life.

“Brooks, watch out!” Zane’s voice broke through the cacophony, filled with urgency.

Before I could react, Zane lunged forward, his body colliding with mine, shoving me to the ground. The pain in my side from slamming into the concrete was overshadowed by the realization that Zane had just saved me from taking a fatal shot.

“Zane, what the hell—” My words were cut short as the sound of gunfire rang out once more, and this time, I knew it had found its mark.

“Damn it,” Zane whispered, clutching at his stomach. “Took one for you, brother.”

As I looked into Zane’s eyes, I could see the pain he was trying to push down, but also the unyielding determination in him. He’d made a choice—a sacrifice—to protect me, and there was no going back.

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