“Who’s ready to have New Year’s celebrations early?” he asked as we got closer to him. He had a good sense of humor, and like Sephie, tended to make jokes when he was nervous. We were all in mission mode, however. His face fell when nobody laughed. “Right. Jokes later,” he said, clearing his throat.
Viktor had brought a few guys from the building security team on as well. They were all guys that had been working for us for years. We’d used them before for various things. They knew how to handle themselves and we could trust them. We knew that the two smaller warehouses should be easy to get to, but the warehouse at the docks was covered with armed guards. Even with all the extra people, we were going to be outnumbered.
I had scouted the warehouse at the docks and found a suitable nest where I could even the playing field as much as possible. They wouldn’t see us coming, hopefully.
The dealers were waiting at Sephie’s old apartment when we got there. The security detail guys had already gone ahead to the two smaller warehouses to get eyes on them. We grabbed the dealers and went to the first warehouse. Conversation was minimal. Our guys had earpieces, like usual, but the dealers didn’t.
We pulled up a few blocks from the first warehouse. This was the smallest of the warehouses. They were running the operation 24/7, but there weren’t that many people in the warehouse. Only enough to make the brawn along with a handful of guards and that was it. Our plan was to get the explosives attached to the building in strategic spots and get out without being seen. Because this one was an easier job, only a few guys were needed to get everything in place. Andrei and Oscar went with two other guys. The rest of us waited as backup if needed.
Before they left, Sephie had to hug Andrei. She was trying to be tough, but she couldn’t help herself. If anything, it was motivation for him to make it back. While the rest of us didn’t have a romantic relationship with her like Adrik, there was still a special relationship between her and the five of us. If ever there was unconditional love, Sephie was it. She was something. special in our lives and not a single one of us wanted to give that up.
Andrei, Oscar, and the other two guys jogged toward the warehouse. It was approaching midnight, so we had the cover of darkness to help conceal our movements. We could hear everything through the earpieces, but there wasn’t much to listen to. Communication was kept to an absolute minimum.
It took maybe 20 minutes and the four guys were jogging back to us. We all chuckled when Sephie exhaled loudly as soon as she saw Andrei come into view. Ivan put his arm around her shoulders, smiling down at her. It was nice to have someone worried for your safety.
We loaded up quickly and drove to the second warehouse. It was much the same as the first. In and out with no problems. We were ahead of schedule on our way to the warehouse at the docks. I was going to set up in my nest, silently taking out as many of the guards around the perimeter as I could. When I was scouting, I counted at least 10 that I could easily pick off. Once the first line of defense had been neutralized, the rest of the guys were going to come in on foot. This warehouse was almost three times the size of the other two. It was going to need. more explosives to bl ow completely. I could only cover one side of the warehouse from above. Two sides were on the water. The third wasn’t accessible without announcing our presence. That made me nervous. I liked having a better vantage point, but I’d covered worse. I would make this work. I found myself feeling overly protective, not only of Sephie but of the other guys too. We really were a family. I was going to make sure we all made it out.
It only took me a few minutes to get into position. “Ready.”
“Ready when you are,” Viktor said.
Stephen
While it was somewhat macabre, I got enjoyment from counting out loud whenever I took out one of the guards. “One…two… three…” So far no one else in the warehouse had noticed. “Four… five…” Still business as usual in the warehouse. “Six, seven, eight…that last group shouldn’ta been f**king around on duty, but I appreciate them making my job easier.” I heard quiet. laughter over my earpiece. “Aaaaand…nine. Almost to a personal best, folks.” More laughter through my earpiece. “Oh, number ten found number nine. That’s not helpful, number ten. But wait, there’s more. Eleven…twelve… go. Now.”
I could see everyone moving from my vantage point. The people inside the warehouse were slowly becoming aware that something was going on. I was trying to pick them off as they came out of the building. Andrei and Oscar were systematically moving around the building, setting up the explosives. The two guys that went with them for the first two warehouses were moving in the opposite direction around the building. Everyone else was providing cover for them.
I kept an eye on as much as I could through the scope of my rifle. Things were happening quickly, I caught sight of one guy that had taken cover as he came out of the warehouse. He was on the phone. His call ended abruptly, thanks to me. “We may have a problem. Someone made a call. Everybody watch your 6.”
“One wall to go,” Andrei said.
The people inside the warehouse had barricaded themselves inside, thinking that was going to save them. I took a moment to find Sephie. She was between Adrik and Ivan, her gun pointed at the warehouse like she belonged here. She was one of us now.
I checked the alley leading to the warehouse. Quiet, so far. I could hear gunfire at the back of the warehouse, where Andrei and Oscar were. “Remind me to thank Trino for sending Oscar. He just saved my a ss,” Andrei said. “All charges set. On our way back.”
I did another sweep of the perimeter. This time, there was movement up the alley. “We’ve got company. Their backup just arrived. Don’t know how many yet, but I’ll try to get as many as I can. They’re coming up the alley,” I said.
I counted five guys trying to quickly make it to the warehouse. They were being smart about moving up the alley, so I couldn’t, get a clear shot. Whoever made the call must’ve warned them I was here. “They’re on to me. It’s difficult for me to get a clear shot on any of them.” I looked further down the alley to see more guys coming. “More guys coming too. I count 15 total. So far. I need help drawing them out so I can get a clean shot. They’re using cover as much as possible. Oops. Make that 14.”
Misha and Viktor moved closer to the alley, along with several of the security detail guys to try and keep the new group from advancing any closer. The alley was the easiest entrance point. The pressure from Misha and Viktor caused the new arrivals to make mistakes, which gave me a clear shot. “Down to 11. I haven’t seen anymore coming yet. I also haven’t checked the other access points. Be careful down there.” As soon as I said that, I heard Ivan say, “we’ve got more coming from the west side.”
Shi t. That’s directly beside where Ivan, Adrik, and Sephie were. “How many? Can you tell?” I asked.
“Looks like just a handful. We should be able to hold them off. Andrei’s back,” he said.
There was steady gunfire in both directions now. I was slowly working on picking off the guys in the alley. I checked on the group coming from the other direction, toward Ivan. I couldn’t get a clear shot on any of them. I went back to the alley just in time to see more guys arrive. “Shi t. We’ve got more incoming up the alley. At least 20 this time.”
“Almost clear this way, but I don’t like that more are showing up. We need to get out of here,” Ivan sald.
“We can go around the warehouse,” Andrei said.
“I can’t cover you that way,” I said.
“You won’t need to. I can blow the building as soon as we’re clear. Bait the rest of the guys toward the building, we won’t have to worry about being followed,” Andrei said.
“We’ll do it. Ivan, get Sephie out of here. Stephen, cover Ivan and Sephie as far as you can. The rest of us are going around the warehouse. Andrei will detonate as soon as we’re clear,” Adrik said.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.