43-Javier

When we locate the warehouse, my mind is frantic about the possibilities of what they have done to her.

Derick parks along the outside fence that surrounds the warehouse and scans the area. "The SWAT team is on their way," he says, but I am not going to wait for them.

I lunge out of my seat and run toward the building, ignoring Derik's calls. I run until my calves are burning. My shoes pound across the gravel ground, darting past trees as the wind smacks against my face.

A bullet zooms through the air at breakneck speed, and my partner yells at me to stop, but I keep going. Adrenaline courses through my veins as I push harder and faster.

More gunshots ring through the air.

"Fuck!" I dodge a bullet and am tackled to the ground.

"God damnit, Javi! I told you to wait," Derik hisses as we take cover behind the side of the building.

"I need to get to her," I say through clenched teeth.

"And we will," Derik responds, "but we can't go off half cocked, especially with the cartel."

I know he's right. She could get hurt or worse if I go in with gun blazing.

"10-David, we're in position." One of the agents says through the radio.

"10-David, we're on the southeast side of the building." Derik presses and releases the button on the radio.

"10-David, hold your positions," the agent commands.

A thin layer of sweat covers the nape of my neck.

POW! POW! POW!

"Shots fired! Shots fired! Move in!" the lead agent screams through the radio.

Derik and I shoot up to our feet with our guns raised as we sprint forward. Derik shoots off two rounds, taking down one man, and I take down another.

We walk through the open space and quicken our pace until metal double doors come into view.

Derik stands watches while I place my ear against the door, hoping to hear any movement.

My heart races when I hear voices.

"Come on, bro. Let's go." one of the Romano brother demands. "These bitches ain't worth prison time."

I hear something spinning and then a clicking sound.

My gaze shoots up to Derik, and he's got a panicked look on his face, mirroring the twisting knots in my stomach.

"Game over," we hear Vince say.

Without waiting for backup, we whip the doors open and take down the two men blocking our entry.

"Stop, or I'll blow his brain all over the floor," Vince's brother warns as I walk further into the room.

Derik points his gun at the other Romano brother.

"FBI! Drop the weapon, and put your hands up," I demand, keeping my gun aimed between Vince's eyes.

Movement on my right causes my eyes to move in that direction. My legs feel like they're buckling underneath me, unable to stand from the guilt I've harbored for months.

I'm staring at my dead half-brother.

No, it's not possible.

I saw his body.

I blink, shake the daze off, and turn my head to focus on the piece of shit in front of me. Vince's arm is wrapped around Sadie's neck, and a gun is pointed at her head. Her face is stained from her tears. She looks defeated.

"It's over, Vince. The building is surrounded. Half your men are dead."

His lips twitch as if he finds it humorous, and my fingers twitch to pull the trigger, but I can't risk hitting Sadie.

Vince lets out a dark chuckle and shakes his head. "Yeah, I don't think so. The game will be over when I say it's over. Put your guns away or I'll blow her pretty little head off."

There's no way out unless he pulls the trigger, forcing me to kill him. I quickly analyze all the angles. The only shot would be between his eyes, but I would have to be fast before he is able to hurt Sadie.

"Pull the trigger, cop," Vince taunts as he pushes the gun further against Sadie's temple.

I take a deep breath and count to ten, but once I get to five, I pull the trigger.

Vince falls back and another shot goes off. "Fuck!"

"Drop the gun, now!" Derick yells at Neo, who complies.

I sprint forward and kick the gun away and catch Sadie as she crumples to the ground, taking the chair with her. I roll her onto her back and scan her for visible injuries but see none. However, the red marks on her face and bloody nose ignite the fire within me.

He hurt her.

"Sadie, are you ok?" I say in a hurry as I untie her restraints.

"FBI!"

"In here!" Derick calls out. I look over at him to see Neo in handcuffs.

Agents fill the room.

"Motherfucker!" Vince groans in pain when he's lifted onto his feet.

"You missed cop." Vince's hysteric giggle comes out as he's being handcuffed. The bullet hit his shoulder.

I didn't miss. It was the only angle I had so I could save Sadie without the risk of her getting hit.

I look down to see Sadie's big brown eyes full of tears. "Javi. Jo..."

Fuck.

Jo.

Jo is alive.

I glance over my shoulder and look into the eyes of my brother who is very much alive.

"How is this possible?" I whisper into the room.

"Agent, we need to check the victim," a female paramedic says as she sets her bag beside Sadie.

I step aside and let them look at her.

I rise to my feet and look around the room. A second paramedic is checking on another female who looks a lot like…

"Elisa?" I ask. She meets my gaze and gives a stiff nod.

Then I look over at Jo. My feet move on their own accord until I'm standing directly in front of him.

"Jo, how are you here?"

"I never left," his voice is hoarse.

"Do you know who I am?" I ask.

He cocks his head and searches my face. "Yeah, I was supposed to beat your ass." He smirks, and it quickly fades when worry fills his eyes when he looks over my shoulder to where Sadie is.

"Is she going to be ok?"

I glance back to see Sadie being lifted onto a gurney.

"We need to go," the paramedic says as she pushes the gurney toward the door, but I stop her and step aside as she reaches out for Jo.

Jo immediately drops to his knees, ankles still in chains, and kisses her hand. His shoulders shake as he cries and lays his head on the side of the bed. Sadie reaches out and runs her hands into his greasy hair.

"Oh, Jo." Sadie's cries as her little body racks with sobs.

I step aside, feeling like I'm intruding on a special moment between them, but Sadie surprises me and says," Javi, please don't go," she says between her sobs.

I walk over to them and grab Sadie's hand and place my other hand gently on Jo's shoulder. Never in my life have I ever experienced such intense emotion, crushing every nerve in my body. A tear falls from my eyes as the overwhelming feelings flood my heart.

The family I once lost has found its way back to me.

Now the game's over.