It took two long weeks and enough negotiations with multiple branches of the federal government, but they had a working plan in place. Senator Benjamin Crenshaw fought them in the beginning, refusing to acknowledge his involvement, much less participation, in something as morally reprehensible as death matches. With the looming threat of incarceration and the loss of his political career, he caved.
A team was assembled with the joint efforts of FBI, ATF, DEA, State Highway Patrol, and federal attorneys, and tonight they were raiding the secretly scheduled match. Crenshaw provided the intel, and was isolated at a facility where he would be held until after Darius and Eileen Black, and everyone else associated with the underground fight ring was captured and in custody.
“I can’t believe they’re finally going to pay for what they’ve done.” Renee’s soft voice whispered.
“Because of you. Your bravery in exposing them, fighting for the ones who can’t fight for themselves. That’s what’s shutting Darius down.”
“Everyone, get ready. We’re moving in five.” Williamson’s voice echoed in Shiloh’s earpiece. The literal extent of the operation was mindboggling. Hundreds of men had been brought in to handle the takedown. The FBI had agreed to allow Williamson to ride point on the mission, since he’d been the one to bring the information to the upper echelon, and coordinated with the task force throughout the subsequent interrogation of Senator Crenshaw and his wife.
Renee insisted on being here. While part of him wanted to refuse, citing the danger as too great, another part realized she needed to witness the events transpiring. Hearing about it secondhand wouldn’t give her the closure she’d need to put it behind her. He didn’t plan to leave her side for a single second. Let the others be glory hogs, he’d rather have the woman he loved safe.
Darkness had fallen a couple hours ago, and for the last hour, expensive luxury cars and mid-level sedans had pulled up to the derelict warehouse on the northern outskirts of Kansas City. It wasn’t the same building where Renee had captured the first fight, but another similar in size. Someone on the task force managed to scrounge up the old blueprints of the building, so they had a fairly good idea of the layout and where everything was located.
The location was abandoned and in one of the not-so-nice neighborhoods on the outskirts of suburbia. It would’ve been overlooked by most, and deliberately avoided by others. It made it the perfect place to do something ethically and morally abhorrent without prying eyes or nosy neighbors calling the cops.
Shiloh had to admit, they were clever. The attendees turned their keys over to the valets, and went inside like they didn’t have a care in the world. The cars were scattered and parked within a couple blocks’ radius of the building. He noted a couple of discreetly placed guards on each block, ostensibly watching over the makeshift parking lots to discourage would-be thieves.
He, Renee, and twelve men in flak jackets and body armor were in the back of a panel truck, waiting for the go signal. There were several more trucks parked close enough to the warehouse. When they got word, they’d arrive simultaneously and stop the fight. Placing his hands on Renee’s shoulders, he squeezed gently, feeling the bunched muscles beneath his fingers.
“It’ll all be over soon, sweetheart. Tonight’s the last night you’ll have to live in fear.”
“It’s all surreal. I’ve pictured this moment in my head so many times, I can’t help thinking I’m dreaming, and when I wake up everything will be the same. And another man would have died, because I was too afraid to stand up and tell anybody what was happening.”
Shiloh gave her a brisk shake. “Don’t ever think that. You tried telling the police, and they didn’t act. That’s on them. If you hadn’t run, chances are good you’d have died.” A shudder racked his body at the thought.
“I know you’re right. I just—”
“Alpha team, beta team, you’re a go!” Williamson’s voice was loud and clear in Shiloh’s earpiece, and within seconds the engine on their truck revved to life. This was it. Tonight was make or break, taking down Darius’ illegal fiefdom. The squeal of tires sounded and the men in the back of the truck jostled around, bracing their hands against the walls of the truck.
Screeching to a stop, the back doors were flung open, and they poured out the back, racing toward the back door of the warehouse. A lone streetlight shone on the broken asphalt of the alley, enough light to illuminate the back door as the agents raced inside. Shiloh climbed down and turned, reaching to help Renee down. He slid his arm around her waist, clamping his hand firmly against her side. Nobody was getting close to her tonight. Not a single hair on her head would be mussed, not while he had breath in his body.
The sound of yells and screeches of outrage spilled through the open doorway, the sounds of chaos evident from inside the warehouse. A few of the agents remained outside, lining the alley, ready to apprehend any who might try and escape out the back.
“I have to go inside.”
“Not happening. I can’t allow you to put yourself in the line of fire.”
“Shiloh, I have to do this. You can go with me, or you can let me walk through the door by myself, your choice. But the one thing you can’t do is stop me. I have to see this through, make sure Darius and Eileen pay for what they’ve done.”
Struggling against his instinct, which told him to pick her up and plant her backside in the truck, where she’d be safe, he finally nodded.
“You do not leave my side under any circumstances, got it? The first sign you’re in trouble, I’m picking you up and we are out. Done. Finished.”
Her shoulders slumped in what he assumed was relief. Guess she’d been expecting him to put up more of a fight. Maybe he should have, but he understood her need to see this through. Guilt was a heavy burden, one he didn’t want her to live with for the rest of her life. That was the only reason he was standing aside, and letting her do what she had to do. Because he loved her enough to set her free.
He went in first, shielding his eyes from the flashing lights. The sounds of heavy metal pounded, Nine Inch Nails if he wasn’t wrong. Pretty smart move actually on the organizers’ part. Any innocent person going past the building would assume a bunch of teens were having a rave or something, and wouldn’t give it a second thought. After all, who’d assume death and destruction hid in plain sight?
He managed to squeeze through a hallway filled with people, corralled by a wall of agents applying handcuffs and zip ties to wrists amidst loud and profuse protests. Though they were mostly men, he was surprised at the number of women present. Guess depravity bypassed gender bias.
The end of the hallway opened to a scene resembling a nightmare. Holding a hand over his eyes to block out the flashing lights, he breathed a sigh of relief when they suddenly stopped blinking and changed to white overhead lights being turned on, illuminating the spectacle. It was eerily similar to what Renee had described to him that day in the gazebo. A large boxing or wrestling mat filled the center of the floor, encircled entirely by chain link fencing on all sides and across the top.
Makeshift seating formed an almost perfect circle around the fighting area. Sections cordoned off by velvet ropes highlighted the more exclusive area. If he took a guess, he’d assume it was the VIP area. Dozens of agents attempted to maintain some semblance of order, standing guard at each section, refusing to allow anyone to leave. Several people stood, demanding to call their lawyers, while others simply cried over being caught.
“Over there,” Renee pointed toward his left. Seated close to the front was a dark-haired man, an air of power and authority surrounding him. There wasn’t any doubt this man controlled everything and everyone around him. Shiloh could picture him seated on his quasi-throne, like a Roman emperor, gazing down on his citizens, deciding who deserved to survive, and who would perish. He wondered if during the death matches Darius sat impervious to the atrocity and destruction, and held out his hand, signaling a fateful thumbs up or thumbs down, ending a person’s existence.
“That’s Darius. I wonder where Eileen is; she’s never far from his side.”
Shiloh watched her scan the crowd, and wondered if she’d be able to pick Eileen out of the teaming mass of bodies. When he felt her stiffen against his hand, he knew she’d succeeded. Following her line of sight, he spotted a beautiful blonde woman about six feet from where Darius sat, slowly making her way toward the exit. Only six feet separated her from escaping her fate. He couldn’t allow that to happen.
“Will you give me your word you’ll stay right here? I’ll get her.”
Renee nodded. “I promise.”
Taking a deep breath, Shiloh began maneuvering his way through the bodies, shifting and shimmying past men in jackets with FBI across the back. Others were emblazoned with ATF. He knew agents had been pulled in from various agencies to handle a takedown of this scope. There was a lot of pushing and shoving, but he doubted many would escape the vigilant agents.
Only a few feet now separated him from his quarry, and he quickened his steps. No way was this big fish escaping the net, though if he didn’t make it through this quagmire of bodies, she had a shot. He watched her try to make herself look small and innocent, almost deceptively fragile as she slid past a group of people being secured with zip ties. Another few feet and she’d be out the door. While it was a longshot that she’d elude capture, because outside teemed with more agents and vans and trucks to transport the people detained, Shiloh didn’t want to give her any opportunity to slip through their fingers.
A large man stepped into his path, blocking her from sight, and Shiloh shoved him out of the way. Frantically scanning the crowd, he didn’t see her anymore! Son of a—he couldn’t have lost her. Renee counted on him, trusted him to catch her, see that she paid for the innocent lives she’d destroyed. He raced toward the last spot he’d seen her, skirting around several more agents in the process.
Nothing. Eileen had vanished like a puff of smoke. He craned his neck around, scanning every person. No blonde-haired woman anywhere close. Shoulders slumped in defeat, he turned back, looking at where he’d left Renee. Panic rose in his chest—she wasn’t there.
Renee watched as Shiloh made his way through the crowded warehouse. The sounds bombarded her on every side, until she wondered if she’d ever hear normally again. Glancing again toward Darius, she couldn’t help smiling when she watched the man who’d introduced himself earlier as Derrick Williamson spin him around and place cuffs on his wrists. It seemed fitting that Darius be treated like a common criminal. He committed heinous acts in his drive for wealth and power. Achieving both hadn’t made him feel fulfilled or happy, and she couldn’t help feeling that the consequences of his actions fit. He stood tall and proud, never giving an inch, even with his kingdom crumbling around him. The fight club where he’d gained so much of his wealth and privilege was little more than a sham, the illegal gambling that lined his pockets helping tighten the noose, and she couldn’t be happier.
Her eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Shiloh. So many people, they all started to blend together, and she shielded her eyes with her hand, blocking out the bright light. She didn’t spot Shiloh, but her eyes rested on the face of her nemesis. The woman who’d been more like a big sister than a mother until Renee had discovered the truth. She also knew everyone underestimated Eileen, because she could put on the sweet and innocent act, and could have almost any man eating out of her hand in minutes.
She bit her lip, thinking about the promise she’d made to Shiloh that she’d stay put. But Eileen was getting closer and closer to the door. If she made it through to the outside, Renee knew in her gut she’d get away. Somebody had to do something, and everyone had their hands full rounding up all the audience members. Which meant it was up to her to stop Eileen.
The only way to reach the other woman was to head straight past the combat zone, the one stained with blood from past matches. The cage door had been forced open, and it hung half off the hinges, vacant of the men who’d been forcibly held inside. Thankfully, they’d managed to stop the fight before either had been injured too badly. At least that’s what one of the agents told Shiloh earlier.
The smell of blood was strong as she picked her way past, skirting past bodies struggling against the zip ties restraining them. Federal agents were guiding two and three people at a time down the makeshift aisles, and she maneuvered her way one agonizing step at a time, trying to keep Eileen within view.
Darting to the left, Renee spotted an opening and raced toward it, realizing this would be her one and only shot to get to Eileen. Spotting Shiloh in the middle of a throng of bodies, she knew he wouldn’t make it in time. It was up to her.
Taking another step forward, she realized Eileen had disappeared. No! Surging toward the exit door, she elbowed and shoved her way through, catching a glimpse of the golden sequined gown Eileen wore and sprinted toward her. The other woman turned to glance over her shoulder, and spotted Renee. Tossing her a smirk, she bounded through the open door and outside.
Renee sprinted toward the doorway Eileen had disappeared through just as Shiloh reached her side. Out of breath, she pointed.
“Eileen…she’s out there. I couldn’t catch her.”
“Come on.”
Shiloh grabbed her hand and pulled her along behind him into the humid night air. Flashing red and blue lights formed a nimbus, illuminating the darkness enough she could scan the crowded parking lot. Men in suits stood talking with a couple of the agents, while others loaded cuffed individuals into the backs of trucks like the ones they’d ridden over in with the agents. Others were loaded into vans, packed together like sardines in tidy rows.
Movement out of the corner of her eye had her spinning, because of the golden glint. “There she is! She can’t get away.”
“She won’t.” Shiloh scanned the area, and shouted, “Antonio—a little help here.”
He pointed toward Eileen, and Antonio’s eyes widened. Without another word, Shiloh raced toward the fleeing woman, Antonio following quickly behind. Renee wrapped her arms around her middle, her eyes never leaving the scene in front of her. Right as Shiloh and Antonio caught up to her, Eileen’s heel caught on a rutted piece of pavement and she tumbled forward, sprawling onto the ground. Her screech had several heads swivel in her direction.
A dizzying relief spread through her when Antonio reached down and grabbed Eileen by the arm, yanking her upright. Though she couldn’t hear what he said, she had a pretty good idea he was reading the Miranda rights to her former friend.
Shiloh walked back to her and slid his arms around her. Laying her head on his chest, she savored the feeling of warm seeping deep into her. It was finally over. For the first time in a long time, she realized the good guys did win in the end, and the bad guys went to jail. It was a heady feeling, and she wanted to savor it, relish it, because it had been a long time coming.
“How do you feel, knowing Darius is going to be behind bars?” Shiloh’s hand smoothed the back of her head and slid down her spine in a comforting motion.
“I glad it’s over. I’ll have my life back. Have a future. Figure out what I’m going to do with having choices.”
Antonio passed them, his grip on Eileen’s elbow strong and sure, and he turned her over to another FBI agent, gave Renee a brief salute and a cocky grin, and jogged away, rejoining the group of agents standing with Derrick Williamson.
Glancing around, Renee laid her head on Shiloh’s shoulder. Tonight’s raid succeeded in shutting down Darius’ operation, and effectively eliminating the threat to her life. Her job was done and she was finally free.