Antonio Marchelli stood by the window while he watched the men placing the crates of guns, rocket launchers, machine guns, rifles and ammunition in the trucks and he had his hands behind his back. Standing next to him, Dante Corletti frowned at the armed guards walking the perimeter and Antonio glanced at him.
"Nervous?" Antonio asked.
"Damn right, I'm nervous," Dante said.
"Calm down, Kid. There is no fucking way those assholes are getting in here."
"That is what DeFloro and Corzella said. And they're both dead."
"Yeah, but those two were idiots."
Nodding, Dante watched the guards when he thought he saw something moving down the street and he frowned.
Outside, the SUV pulled up to the curb while Angelique checked the screen on the dashboard and she leaned back in the seat.
"Summat wrong?" Connor asked.
"We're at the right place, but take a look," Angelique said as Connor and Murphy looked toward the red brick building outlined in cement and the chain link fence. Murphy had looked through the weapons in the back of the SUV when he found the binoculars and he handed the binoculars to Connor. Connor used the binoculars to scan the area when he saw the armed guards and he lowered the binoculars.
"Shit."
"What's th'plan?" Murphy asked.
"We turn around an' get th'fuck outta here."
"Seriously?!" Angelique asked and he nodded. Angelique sighed when she put the SUV in gear, backed up and she turned the SUV around. The SUV went down the street as she strummed her fingers on the steering wheel then she glanced at Connor. "Still think we should go check the place out."
"Pull over."
"Wait. You just said…"
"We were too close. If they saw us, they'll think we were jus' someone who got lost then turned around. Now, pull over."
"Better do as he says," Murphy said. Rolling her eyes, Angelique moved the SUV to the edge of the road as she turned the engine off then she turned to look at Connor.
"Now what do we do?" Angelique asked.
"We do as you said. We're gonna check th'place out," Connor said.
"Wish we had gotten dressed first," Murphy said as he looked at the jeans, work boots and black t-shirt he was wearing. Connor was wearing jeans, brown cowboy boots and a white t-shirt and he had the arm of his sunglasses tucked in the collar of the t-shirt.
"And announce that the Saints are here? Don't think so," Angelique said.
"Let's go," Connor said, opening the door. Angelique opened the door as they got out of the SUV then Connor noticed Murphy was missing and he turned to look at the SUV. "Murph!"
"Hang on!" Murphy said. He got out of the SUV as Connor noticed the black tote bag Murphy was carrying and Connor blinked his eyes a few times. "You never know. We might need shit."
"Good point," Connor said with a nod.
They headed into the woods as they made their way back to the warehouse when they ducked down and they hid behind a large rock. Connor looked out from behind the large rock while he watched the guards moving by the chain link fence and he saw the rifles strapped to their backs. As they moved by, Connor signaled for Angelique and Murphy to follow him and they headed for the chain link fence. Connor looked up as he checked the chain link fence and he saw the barbed wire and the security cameras to his far left and his far right. They headed back to the large rock as they sat against the large rock and Connor frowned.
"How are we gonna get by th'camera?" Murphy asked.
"If I had my laptop, I could hack into their system and place the footage in a loop," Angelique said.
"We still need t'find a way in," Connor said, peaking out at the chain link fence then he moved back when he saw the guards.
"Hold on," Murphy said when he headed for the tall grass and he squatted down. He started moving through the tall grass while he peeked out at the chain link fence and he ducked down when a guard moved by. He checked the security cameras as he moved through the tall grass then he stopped when he felt like someone was behind him. He quickly turned to see Angelique and Connor behind him and he gave them an annoyed look. "What part of "hold on" didn't you understand?"
"We were holding on until some guards showed up," Angelique said.
"We need t'keep goin'," Connor said, looking behind him. They started moving through the tall grass while Connor checked to see if the guards were following them and he gasped after he felt someone push him to the ground. Angelique hushed him as he looked through the tall grass and they watched the guards walking by. Murphy turned as he looked behind them and he pointed. They carefully crawled through the tall grass until they came to the road, stood and they headed for the SUV. The sound of something moving down the street made them duck down near the SUV when several black vans and black sedans moved down the road and Connor carefully stood up. "You have gotta be kiddin' me."
"What's going on?" she asked.
"I think Interpol jus' showed up."
Angelique and Murphy stood up as they watched the black vans and the black sedans heading for the warehouse and Angelique leaned against the SUV.
"Well, there goes our chance to take down Marchelli," Angelique grumbled.
"Are you givin' up?"
"Uh… Yeah… The moment he sees those guys, he's going to bolt."
"Maybe. Or he might hide in th'buildin'," Murphy said.
"Are you saying we should go in there while those assholes are shooting at the Interpol agents and kill Marchelli?"
"That's exactly what he's sayin'," Connor said and they headed for the tall grass. Sighing, Angelique kicked off the SUV and she picked up the tote bag Murphy had dropped to the ground.
The warehouse
Marchelli stood on the catwalk while he watched the men loading the crates and he folding his fingers over the railing. Dante stood next to him when they heard a loud crashing sound and the men ran outside.
"Shit!" Antonio said as he ran into his office and he headed for his desk. Dante followed him as Marchelli opened the top left drawer and he removed two guns. He handed one of the guns to Dante as they checked to see if the guns were loaded and the safety was off then they ran out of the office. They heard gunfire coming from outside as they ran down the stairs then headed outside and Marchelli saw the front gates had been smashed open. Some of the guards were lying dead on the ground as he growled then he started firing at the people in black body armor and riot helmets.
"Move!" Dante said while he fired at the people in the black body armor and riot helmets and they headed for the truck to their left. They knelt down as Marchelli looked out to see the people in black body armor and riot helmets heading toward the warehouse and he growled. He pointed for Dante to move as they ran and they headed for the crates.
Outside the chain link fence, Connor, Angelique and Murphy stood near the trees as they watched the gunfight when Angelique tapped Connor then she pointed to the tote bag. She knelt down and she placed the tote bag on the ground. She moved the zipper back when she opened the tote bag and she saw some guns, silencers, a lockpick kit, a glass cutter kit, a Saw-backed Bowie knives with finger rings and a coil of rope and she held up the coil of rope.
"What is it with you two an' fuckin' rope?" Murphy asked and Connor playfully shoved his twin.
"Move," Angelique said after she removed the guns and a silencer and she armed the guns with the silencers. She zipped the tote bag shut then she slid the strap over her left shoulder and she stood up. She took aim as she fired the gun a few times and the security cameras exploded. She was surprised with how fast Connor and Murphy caught the bullet casings and they placed the bullet casings in the pockets of their jeans. They ran by the chain link fence while she tired at the next security cameras and the twins caught the shell casings. She stopped when she noticed someone running toward the chain link fence and she pointed to the trees. They ran for the trees then they ducked down and Connor looked out to see two men climbing the chain link fence. He also saw there was no barbed wire at the top while the men hopped down the top of the chain link fence and the men were heading toward them.
"Move!" Antonio shouted as he and Dante run by them while Connor and Murphy looked at each other and Connor looked at Angelique. They ran after Marchelli and Dante when Dante ran right as Marchelli ran left and Angelique chased after Dante.
Connor and Murphy ran while Marchelli turned to look at them and he growled. Marchelli didn't see the tree in front of him until he slammed into the tree and he fell onto his back. He felt the blood running out of his nose as he panted then he held his breath when he saw Connor and Murphy standing over him.
"Shit," Antonio whispered. He scolded himself for dropping his gun as he tried to sit up, but Connor pointed the gun at his face.
"I wouldn't move if I were you," Connor said.
"You're both dead."
"We're th'ones pointin' guns in yer face an' you're sayin' we're dead?" Murphy asked.
'You're them, aren't you? The Saints?"
"Good guess," Connor said as he reached down then he pulled Marchelli to his knees.
"If you're expecting me to beg…."
"Nah. Beggin's fer sissies," Murphy said when he heard something and he looked toward the chain link fence. "Someone's comin'."
"Then I guess we better get this over with," Connor said.
Marchelli tried to get up, but Connor pushed him back down and Marchelli growled. He felt the pressure of the guns against back of his head as he closed his eyes and a cold look appeared on the twins' faces.
"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," Connor and Murphy said when they fired the guns, caught the bullet casings and the body fell to the ground. A shout caused them to run as Connor tried to see where Angelique ran off to and he sent a small prayer out for her safety.
A short distance away, Dante ran by the trees as he heard gunfire coming from behind him and he ran faster. He turned his head to look behind him when he saw Angelique catching up to him and he sighed.
"Shirt," Dante said over and over when he saw the chain link fence, but dodged when he saw two people wearing body armor and riot helmets. They fired at him as he dodged to the left and he growled.
Angelique has stopped near a tree while she watched Dante run off and she frowned. Turning, she headed toward the road when she arrived at the SUV and she opened the driver side door.
"Don't leave without us!" made her turn as she watched Connor and Murphy running toward the SUV then they got inside the SUV.
"Go!" Connor said. She got into the SUV when she closed the door, started the engine, put the SUV in gear. She steered the SUV down the road while Murphy placed the guns, silencers, a lockpick kit, a glass cutter kit, a Saw-backed Bowie knives with finger rings and a coil of rope back where he found them and Connor looked at the screen on the dashboard.
"That was too close," Murphy said, leaning back in the seat.
"Wonder how Interpol knew we'd be there."
"I didn't tell them," Angelique said, glancing at Connor.
"I didn't say you did," Connor said and she was surprised when he placed a reassuring hand over her right hand.
"I am really gettin' tired of this shit," Murphy said.
"So am I."
"Me, too," Angelique said while she held tighter onto the steering wheel and the SUV head down the road.
The warehouse
The black sedan pulled up to the curb as the driver side door opened and Melletti got out of the car. He watched the people in body armor and riot helmets placing men into the black vans when he saw Callahan talking with one of the people in body armor and riot helmets and Melletti walked to Callahan.
"Looks like I'm late to the party," Franco and Callahan looked at him. Melletti looked at the tarp covered bodies then he knelt down, looking at the bullet casings lying on the ground.
"If you were doing your job, we wouldn't have had to do this," Rory said.
"I do my job just fine," he said as he stood. "Have you found Antonio Marchelli yet?"
"No," Rory said when he heard the soft beeping of his cellphone and he removed the cellphone from the inner pocket of his suit jacket. He looked at the screen when he pushed the button and he saw a map of the area. A red dot blinked at him and Antonio Marchelli's body is here. was under the map. "Excuse me. I have to take this."
"No, I don't excuse you. What is going on?"
"Follow me."
Melletti followed Callahan as they headed by the gates and Callahan looked at the screen. They headed into the woods when as they walked by the trees and Melletti wondered where they were going. They stopped as they looked at Marchelli's body lying on the ground then they walked closer. Melletti looked down at Marchelli's body as Callahan knelt down on his haunches and he examined Marchelli's body with his eyes. He reached into the pocket of his suit jacket when he removed a pair of surgical gloves then he placed the surgical gloves on and he carefully rolled Marchelli's body over.
"Hmmm…," Rory said.
"What is it?" Franco asked.
"This doesn't look right."
Melletti knelt down on the other side of Marchelli's body as he looked at the back of Marchelli's head. He had seen photographs of the bullet wounds to the back of the heads of the other two men the Saints had killed and he agreed this did look different.
"What do you think?" Rory asked.
"I'm not sure. Maybe we should wait for the pathology report," Franco said as he stood up and he scanned the ground with his eyes. "Not sure if we're going to be able to get any good castings. There are too many footprints."
"I noticed that," he said as he stood. Melletti watched while Callahan look at the footprints when Callahan noticed a pair of footsteps headed toward the road and he signaled for Melletti to follow him. They headed for the road when Callahan saw the footsteps ended at the side of the road and Callahan frowned. "Shit."
"See any tire tracks?" Franco asked.
"No. Looks like they parked on the road."
Callahan started pacing when he remembered something and he punched his right fist into his left hand.
"There was a SUV parked here. I saw it as we were driving up," Rory said as he looked around for any SCTV cameras. "Why aren't there any SCTV cameras here?"
"No place to put them," Franco said. Growling, Callahan stormed off and Melletti went to catch up with him.
Near the Yakavetta Estate
The convertible moved down the road while Romeo glanced at the screen then he pulled the convertible to the curb. He turned the engine off as he frowned and he brushed the hair out of his eyes.
"Why did you stop?" Angelina asked.
"Just trying to figure out an excuse for us being here," Romeo said, placing his right arm over the top of the seat.
"We could tell them we're lost," Angelica said.
"Yeah, but that won't get us inside the compound or the house," Angelina said.
Suddenly, a soft beeping sound filled the air as Romeo looked at the screen and he frowned.
The gun warehouse was raided by Interpol. Abort mission. Return to the house.
"Shit," Romeo said.
"What's wrong?" Angelina asked.
"The gun warehouse was raided by Interpol."
"Hand me the keypad," Angelica said. Angelina removed the keypad from the holder as she handed the keypad to her and Angelica typed on the keyboard.
Are you alright?
Yes.
What do you want us to do?
Go back to the house.
Where are you?
Romeo heard a small beep as he glanced at the screen and he saw a little red dot.
"What's that?" Romeo asked as he pointed to the little red dot.
"That's where the SUV is," Angelica explained then she typed on the keyboard.
Do you want to meet up?
No. We will meet you back at the house. Make sure no one is following you.
"Looks like we're aborting the mission."
"Why?" Angelina asked.
"The gun warehouse was raided by Interpol…"
"Again?!" Romeo asked.
"Yes, again."
"What are we supposed to do?" Angelina asked.
"We're to meet Connor, Murphy and Angelique at the house."
Nodding, Romeo started the engine as he put the convertible in reverse, turned the convertible around and he steered the convertible down the street.
Angelica looked behind her, but she didn't' see any cars following them and she was glad the convertible didn't have a license plate. She turned back around as she handed the keypad to Angelina then she prayed for the safety of Connor, Angelique and Murphy.
Safe Haven
Smecker watched the news as he listened to Callahan and Melletti talking about what had happened at the gun warehouse while the door opened and Eunice and Sibael entered the room.
"Looks like they're still in Milan," Paul said using the remote to turn off the television.
"Are you talkin' about my nephews?" Sibeal asked, sitting on the chair in front of the desk.
"Yeah. They just hit that gun warehouse."
"Do you know if they killed Antonio Marchelli?" Eunice asked, sitting on the edge of the desk.
"This is the Saints we're talking about. Of course, they killed him."
"Which means they're goin' after Yakavetta next," Sibeal said.
"Yep."
"And what are we going to do?" Eunice asked.
"Haven't figured that out yet."
"As always," Sibeal whispered and Smecker glared at him.
A knock on the door caught their attention as the door opened and one of the security guards walked in the room and he headed for Eunice.
"Thank you," Eunice said as she took the tablet from him and the guard nodded, turned and he headed for the door. She looked at the information as she frowned and she glanced at Smecker then at Sibeal.
"Bad news?" Paul asked.
"No," Eunice lied and she stood, walked to the door and she left the room. She walked down the hallway when she looked at the information again then she headed for the elevator.
Milan - the Yakavetta Estate
Giovani stood at the fireplace while he sipped on the brandy and Lorenzo sat on the white leather, high back chair. Giovani heard the doors opening as Lucinda walked in the room and he saw the anger in her eyes.
"It happened again!" Lucinda shouted, waving her hands in the air.
"What happened again?" Giovani asked as she walked to him.
"I just received word. The gun warehouse has been raided and Antonio Marchelli is dead."
Giovani felt his heart slamming in his chest when he turned to look at Lorenzo, but his uncle just sat in the chair, glaring at them.
"Are you sure?" Giovani asked.
"Yes, I'm sure!" Lucinda snapped as she walked to the television and she used the remote to turn on the television. They watched the news report as the interviewer spoke with Callahan and Melletti and Giovani glanced at Lorenzo.
"Shit," Giovani said, taking the remote out of her hand and he turned off the television.
"You know what this means, don't you!? We're next!"
"Mother, please, calm down."
"Calm down!? Those assholes have taken down all of your underbosses!"
"No, they haven't. Just the ones I have here."
"And that will show the others that you are weak and you no longer have control over the organization!"
"I'm the one in control?! Since when?! Everyone knows it's you who really runs things around here! So, if anyone is to blame for all this, it's you!"
"Are you children finished with your petty arguing?" made them look at Lorenzo when he stood then he walked to them. The cold stare made Giovani swallow the lump in his throat when Lorenzo stopped in front of them and Lorenzo locked eyes with him.
"Leave," Lorenzo said.
"Leave?" Giovani asked.
"Did I stutter?"
Giovani shook his head when he turned, walked toward the doors and he opened the doors. He closed the doors when he looked at the guards then he jumped when he heard the sound of gunfire coming from behind the door. Crossing himself, Giovani straightened his cuffs, rolled his shoulders then he walked down the hallway.