"Is there a problem?" Angelique's voice asked over the earpiece in Connor's left ear.
"Someone's pointin' guns at us," Connor said while he waved at the women.
"Shit. Abort the mission."
"I think they'll shoot if we move," Romeo said.
"Hold on," Connor said and he slowly held up his hands in surrender. He held up his left index finger, pointed to himself, Romeo and Murphy, pointed down, held up two fingers, pointed at the women then pointed his thumbed toward his left shoulder. He hoped they understood his signals as he sighed and Romeo and Murphy looked at him. "I told them we're here to get them out of there."
"Hope they understand sign language," Murphy said.
"Or they're not a part of DeFloro's security team," Romeo said.
Connor motioned with his hands for the women to lower their guns and the women looked at each other.
"I don't think they understand sign language," Murphy said when the women lowered the guns and Connor smiled. Connor motioned for the women to open the window as the women looked at each other and one of the women opened the window. "I can't believe that fuckin' worked."
The women stood back as Murphy, Connor and Romeo went inside the room and Connor saw there were four more women in the room. He could just see the mattresses on the floor, a small dresser, a wardrobe against the wall to his right, a sink and a toilet. The air in the room smelt stale and he saw some paperbacks sitting on the floor.
"What's going on?" Angelique's voice asked.
"We got inside," Connor said.
"What about the people pointing guns at you?"
"I got them t'lower th'guns after I told them we were here t'get them outta here."
"They're some of the merchandise?"
"I don't like usin' that word t'describe them, but, aye, I think they are."
"Or they're DeFloro's bitches," Romeo said.
"You mean he keeps the best fer himself?" Murphy asked.
"He might."
Connor walked to the door when he moved the door handle, but the door was locked.
"Shit. We're locked in," Connor said as a young woman with black hair and dark eyes walked to him and she pointed to the top of the doorframe. He reached up with his left hand as he moved his fingers over the top ledge of the doorframe when he felt something touching his fingers and he wrapped his fingers over a key. He lowered his left hand as he looked at the key then he nodded to the woman.
"This is way too easy," Romeo said as he looked at the women as Connor unlocked the door. Romeo motioned for the women to leave as the women nodded then the women headed for the window. Romeo helped them out onto the fire escape when one of the women hugged him and he shyly smiled. "You're welcome."
Romeo closed the window after she left and he turned to see Connor had the door open. They carefully walked out into the hallway as Connor pointed to the door at the end of the hallway and they moved along the wall.
"Uh, I think we have a problem," Angelique's voice said over the earpiece
"What now?" Connor whispered.
"Several black vans and black sedans just pulled up in front of the house."
"Not again."
"What's wrong?" Murphy asked as a loud bang filled the air and they heard the sounds of voices, screaming and gunfire. "Are you fuckin' kiddin' me?!"
"Move!"
They moved quickly down the hallway when the door to the room at the end of the hallway opened and DeFloro ran down the hallway. Connor placed his right foot out to trip him as DeFloro hit the floor and Murphy jumped to sit on DeFloro's back.
"Get off of me!" Peter shouted. He froze when he felt something pressing against the back of his head and he sighed. "Shit."
Connor and Murphy dragged DeFloro back down the hallway into the room at the end of the hallway and Romeo followed them. Romeo closed as Connor placed DeFloro onto his knees and he and Murphy pointed the Berrettas at the back of DeFloro's head.
"You're all dead men!" Peter said.
Connor thumped the end of the Berretta against DeFloro's head as DeFloro winced and growled.
"And Shepherds we shall be. For Thee, My Lord, for Thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand, that our feet may swiftly carry out Thy command. So, we shall flow a river forth to Thee and teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti," Murphy and Connor said while arming the Berrettas, fired and the body hit the floor. They had caught the bullet casings as they placed the bullet casings in the pockets of the black, Navy pea coats and they smiled at each other.
Romeo had gone to the window when he tried to get the window open, but the window was stuck.
"Fuck," Romeo whispered.
"What's wrong?" Connor asked.
"The fucking window's stuck."
"Better think of somethin' fast. Someone's comin' up th'stairs!" Murphy said after he had unlocked the door, opened the door then he looked out at the hallway.
Connor hurried to the window when he removed the glass cutting kit and he opened the glass cutting kit. Romeo saw the laptop on the desk as he picked up the laptop and Connor removed the glass from the window. Connor placed the glass on the floor and Murphy ran to him. They looked down, but didn't see a fire escape and Connor frowned.
"Come on," Connor said as he climbed out of the window, stood on the ledge then he headed for the fire escape they used to get in the house. Murphy and Romeo followed him just as the door open and Callahan and several members of his team ran into the room. Callahan walked to the body as he looked at the body, at the window then back at the body and he balled his hands into fists.
"Go check to see if there's a fire escape," Rory said and the men left the room. He looked at the body when he lightly kicked the body and one of the men ran into the room.
"There's a fire escape outside the window in the next room, Sir," the man said.
"Did you see anyone outside?"
"No, Sir."
Snorting a breath of air, Callahan shook his head then he looked down at the body.
Across the street, the doors to the black van opened while Connor, Murphy and Romeo got in the van and Angelina closed the doors. Connor removed the ski mask while he climbed into the passenger seat as he looked at the black vans and the black sedans parked across the street and Angelique started the engine.
"Did you see where those women went?" Romeo asked as he removed the ski mask while Angelique put the van in gear and she backed the van down the alleyway.
"Yes. They came around the corner just as those vans and the sedans pulled up. They were placed in the vans," Angelica said.
"We found a laptop in DeFloro's office," Murphy said while he removed the ski mask and he tried to move away when she tried to smooth his hair down.
"We'll look at it when we get back," Angelique said and the van headed down the street.
Inside the house, Callahan looked at the bodies lying on the floor, half-dressed women, men and some children being talked to by agents and the blood on the walls and on the floor. He had searched the room where he found DeFloro's body, but the only thing he found was a charger for a laptop. He crossed his arms over his chest and he saw Melletti walking in the room.
"What the hell is going on!?" Franco asked then he saw Callahan. "Of course."
"What took you so long?" Rory asked.
"I just got the call."
"We need to go after them."
"Yakavetta?"
"No! The Saints."
"Are you saying the Saints killed all these people?"
"No, but they did kill DeFloro."
"Where is he?"
"Upstairs."
Melletti watched as Callahan walked closer, headed outside and Melletti sighed, heading for the stairs. Callahan walked down the front stairs when he heard the soft beeping and he removed the cellphone from the inner pocket of the suit jacket. He looked at the screen when he pushed the button and he looked at the text.
DeFloro is dead.
I know. Was it the Saints?
Yes.
Where are you?
Callahan looked at the buildings when he saw a quick flash of light from the building across the street and he frowned.
Did you see where the Saints went?
No. What do you want me to do?
Get out of here.
Placing the cellphone back in the inner pocket of the suit jacket, he headed for the black sedan, opened the passenger side door then he got in the black sedan.
Safe Haven
The black van stopped near the gangplank as Angelique turned off the engine then they got out of the black van. Romeo had the laptop tucked under his left arm as they headed up the gangplank and they saw Smecker standing at the other end of the gangplank.
"Where the hell have you been!?" Paul demanded.
"We went after DeFloro," Connor said.
"Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Didn't feel like it," Romeo said.
"What happened?!"
"DeFloro's dead," Murphy said, walking by him and Murphy headed for the doors which led below deck. Angelica, Angelina and Romeo followed him as the doors closed behind them and Smecker looked at Connor and Angelique.
"Did you find anything?" Paul asked.
"We found DeFloro's laptop," Connor said.
"Where is it?"
"Romeo has it."
"Why does he have it?"
"I told him to take it down to Security," Angelique said and Smecker frowned.
"Jus' so you know, Interpol showed up again," Connor said.
"What do you mean they showed up?!" Paul demanded.
"They were in the house when these vans and sedans pulled up. The same ones as those at the warehouse. People got out and stormed the house. You're damn lucky they got out alive because there was no time for us to get them out of there," Angelique said and she and Connor headed for the doors. Smecker watched them go inside when he frowned and he lightly shook his head.
Downstairs, the door opened while Connor walked in the bedroom and he saw Murphy's clothes, boots and black, Navy pea coat on the floor. He heard the sound of water running coming from the bathroom as Connor sighed, picked up the clothes, boots and the black, Navy pea coat and he placed the clothes in the laundry basket, placed the boots near the side of Murphy's bed then he placed the black, Navy pea coat on the hook on the door.
"Hey, Murph," Connor called out as he walked to the doorway to the bathroom and he leaned against the wall.
"What?" Murphy asked as he moved the soap down his chest.
"Know what I'm thinkin'?"
"You're thinkin' someone's gotta be tellin' them what we're up to."
Connor sighed as he tried not to think about who it might be and he scratched the back of his head.
"You think it's Angelique? She is in charge of security," Murphy said and anger boiled in Connor's chest.
"She wouldn't do that," Connor said.
"Jus' 'cause she has th'hots fer you doesn't mean she isn't a snitch."
"She doesn't have th'hots fer me."
"Aye, she does," Murphy said as he stuck his head under the water and he shook his head back and forth.
"Does Doctor Traynor have th'hots fer you?"
"What?!"
"I asked if Doctor Traynor has th'hots fer you!" he said louder and Murphy moved his head back. The water rolled down his face, neck and chest as he thought for a few seconds and he blinked his eyes a few times.
"No, she doesn't have th'hots fer me."
"Then why does she like t'touch yer hair all th'time?"
"She jus' likes to."
"She was fussin' over you when you couldn't sleep."
"She was helpin' me relax."
"What about th'kiss?"
"What about it?"
"Why did you kiss her?"
"Jus' wanted to."
"You never wanted t'kiss Bloom while she was helpin' us."
"Neither did you."
The sound of someone knocking on the door made Connor turn as he frowned and he walked to the door. Opening the door, Connor stood back as Angelica, Angelina, Angelique and Romeo walked in the room and Connor checked the hallway before he closed the door.
"Where's Murphy?" Angelica asked.
"He's in the shower," Connor said and he looked toward the bathroom. "Murph, get yer ass out here."
"Hold on!" Murphy called out. A few seconds later, Murphy walked of the bathroom and Angelica silently admitted she liked him only wearing a towel.
"Go get dressed."
Nodding, Murphy walked into the closet then came back out wearing just a pair of jeans and he placed the white towel in the laundry basket.
"Find anythin'?" Connor said. He walked to Angelique as he noticed she was wearing surgical gloves and she had the laptop tucked under her right arm.
"The laptop is secure. No viruses, traps or explosives," Angelique said as she placed the laptop on the table and they gathered around the table. She opened the top of the laptop when she powered up the laptop and they looked at the screen. "Took a few seconds to get by the password protection."
"What are we looking at?" Romeo asked.
"These are the lists of prices for the, uh, merchandise and their profiles."
"They were selling children?!" Angelina asked as her eyes widened.
"A lot of missing children end up being abducted by human trafficker," Angelica said.
"That's sick," Romeo said.
"Here's a list of the clientele, invoices and their locations," Angelique said as she opened another window.
"Shit," Murphy whispered.
"What is this?" Connor asked, pointing to the screen.
"That is the names and locations of the brokers, the haulers and the rest of the staff," Angelique said
"Any connection t'Yakavetta?" Murphy asked. They watched Angelique typed on the keyboard when she looked at the screen then she smiled.
"Yes, there is. But take a look at this."
"Damn," Romeo said after he read the information and Angelique turned off the laptop then she closed the top of the laptop.
"Has Smecker see this?" Connor asked.
"Nope," Angelique said with a shake of her head.
"Then you better bring that laptop to my office," Paul's voice said over the intercom and they looked at each other. Connor looked up at the mirror on the ceiling when he frowned and he pointed to the mirror with his left thumb. Murphy followed him when they walked to the mirror and they pointed their middle fingers at the mirror. "Very mature."
"Let's go," Connor said as he headed for the door and he opened the door. Angelique picked up the laptop as she followed him out of the room and Murphy closed the door after he, Angelica, Angelina and Romeo left the room. Angelique saw the anger on Connor's face as she sighed and he glanced at her.
"I'll have the guys remove the mirror, the security cameras and the mics," she whispered and he nodded. They headed down the hallway when they stood in front of the doors to the elevator and she pushed the call button. The doors opened as they walked in the elevator car and she pushed the button. The door closed as she looked at Connor and he gave her a small smile after he glanced at her.
Milan - the Yakavetta Estate
Giovani stood in front of the fireplace as he sipped on the brandy and he nearly choked when the door suddenly slammed open.
"They did it again!" Lucinda shouted as she walked to him and Giovani wiped his mouth on the back of his right hand.
"Who has done what again?" he asked, placing the glass on the mantel.
"One of Peter DeFloro's houses was just raided!"
"That is nothing new."
"He's dead!"
Giovani gave her a puzzled look when he sighed and he started pacing.
"You said the Saints were gone!"
"They are gone," Giovani said as he waved his hands in the air. He paced some more as he sighed and he rubbed the back of his head with his left hand. "If it was the Saints, who told them about the house?"
"I told you! We have to have a mole!"
"No, our people are loyal."
"But they can be bought!"
"What we need to do first is find out what really happened."
"And how do we go about doing that!?"
"This," Giovani said when he walked to the bar, picked up the remote for the television and he pushed the button. The television came on as they looked at the news report about the raid and Lucinda glared at her son. Giovani watched Callahan talking to the reporter when Giovani turned the television off and he frowned. "Damn."
"What's wrong?"
"That man. I have had run ins with him before."
"Yes, I recognize him. Why is he still breathing?"
"Like with the Saints, he's nearly impossible to kill."
Lucinda pulled her fingers into tight fists as she growled and Giovani sighed.
"I want him dealt with! Now!" she said when she stormed out of the room and she slammed the door behind her. Giovani used the remote to turn on the television as he flipped through the channels until he found another news report on the raid. He listened to Callahan's interview then he removed the gun from the holster under the suit jacket and he pointed the gun at the television. Gunfire filled the air as the guards ran in the room and he looked at them.
"I need a new television," Giovani said as he placed the gun back in the holster and he left the room.
Safe Haven
Smecker watched the door open as Murphy, Connor, Romeo, Angelica, Angelina and Angelique walked in the room and Angelique had the laptop on her hands.
"Let's see what you found," Paul said, holding his hands out for the laptop. Angelique walked to the desk while Connor followed her and she placed the laptop on the desk. Smecker opened the laptop when she hit the power button and the screen came on. He watched her typing on the keyboard when the information appeared on the screen and he looked at the information. "Damn."
"There's more," Angelique said, typing on the keyboard. Smecker looked at the information on the screen when he sat back in the chair and he smiled.
"We got him," Paul said.
"Problem is this information was obtained illegally. We can't use it."
"She's right. We can't use it," Angelica said.
"We can if we give it to the right people," Paul said.
"An' you know th'right people?" Murphy asked.
"Yep," Paul said as he popped the "p".
"Mind tellin' us who they are?" Connor asked.
"Sorry. That's classified."
Angelique looked at Connor when she turned the laptop off, closed the lid then she picked up the laptop.
"If you're not willing to share information with us then we're not sharing information with you," Angelique said as she headed for the door and she left the room.
"And here I thought you were the immature one," Paul said, looking at Connor.
"She's not bein' immature. She's bein' smart," Connor said.
"Smart?" Paul asked.
"She knows summat's up. So, she isn't gonna trust anyone with whatever information she has. Also, someone is tellin' Interpol what we're doin' an' where we are."
"Are you saying we have a mole?"
"That is exactly what I am sayin'."
"How do you know it isn't her?"
"It isn't," Connor said, locking eyes with Smecker. "I think it's you."
They watched Connor head for the door when he opened the door then he left the room. He closed the door when he headed down the hallway and he slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans. He headed up the stairs as the doors to the lower deck hissed opened and he walked out onto the deck. He walked to his right when he saw Angelique standing near the railing and he went to stand next to her. She was looking out at the darkness while the laptop sat on the railing and she had her hands on top of the laptop.
"Don't do it," he said in a soft voice and she glanced at him.
"Don't do what?" Angelique asked.
"Don't push it into the water," he said, pointing to the laptop.
"I wasn't going to do that."
They stood in silence as she strummed her fingers on the top of the laptop and he placed his left hand on top of her right hand to stop her fingers.
"I'm not a mole," she said suddenly.
"Never thought you were," he said, wrapping their fingers together.
"That's foolish. Anyway, this is not the first time someone thought I was."
"Is that why you're workin' fer Smecker? Someone thought you were a mole an' he promised t'keep you safe as long as you do as he says?"
"No. That's not it."
"Then why are you here?"
"Believe it or not, I'm doing it to repay a life debt."
"A life debt?"
"Yeah."
"You owe Smecker yer life?"
"No, it's someone else."
"Who?"
"Your uncle."
"My uncle?!"
"Yes."
"How do you owe my uncle yer life?"
"It's not my life. It's my dad's. You see, my dad was in trouble and someone saved his ass. Dad told him his life is his as thanks for saving it."
"An' that person was my uncle?"
"No. It was your dad."
Connor gave her a stunned look when something inside told him she was telling the truth and she lightly squeezed his fingers.
"Why are you here instead of him?" he asked.
"Dad was a four-time black belt. One day, during a match, he was flipped the wrong way and he ended up paralyzed from the upper chest down."
"Now I get why you got pissed off at me fer prankin; you," he said.
"When Smecker called in the debt, I was the one who showed up. Smecker wasn't pleased. Then he found out what I could do and he made me head of security."
She looked at the laptop then at him when she slid the laptop off the railing and she held the handle of the laptop in her right hand.
"Think I should give this to him?" she asked.
"Nah. But you need to put it in a safe place."
"You really don't trust him, do you?"
"What do you think?" he asked as he arched an eyebrow and she nodded.
"I will tell you this. He's not the only one onboard with friends in high places."
He watched her walking away when he leaned against the railing and he crossed one ankle over the other.