Chapter 37

Benedict

We pull up to the abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Saint Pierce, the one near the marina where Christopher’s operation is supposedly going down. The tension in the air is thick, heavier than the salty breeze blowing in from the water. I take a deep breath, steadying myself for what’s about to happen. This isn’t just another bust. It’s personal. Eva’s inside, along with who knows how many other women. And we’re going to get them out.

Vin’s already out of the SUV, crouched low beside the vehicle, his gun resting against the hood as he surveys the perimeter. His face is a mask of determination, but I can see the same urgency burning in his eyes that I feel in my gut. We don’t have time to waste.

“He’s in there,” Vin says, his voice low but certain, like it’s an undeniable fact. He places his gun on the hood, double-checking the chamber, his movements deliberate and calm, though I know he’s just as wired as I am.

I glance down at the blueprint spread across the hood of the SUV. Davis, our tech guy, points to an interior wall marked with a red pen. “There’s about ten men inside, give or take,” Davis says, his finger tracing the area where Christopher’s goons are likely stationed. “They’ve got the women lined up along this wall here. We need to be quick before any of them get spooked.”

Ten men. A lot of women. My mind immediately snaps to Eva, and my grip tightens on the edge of the blueprint. The thought of her in there, chained up like some kind of animal, makes my blood boil. But I can’t let emotion cloud my judgment. Not now.

“There are two exits,” Vin continues, his voice steady as he secures his Kevlar vest in place. He points to the side of the building. “One here, at the front, and another in the back by the loading dock. Both are being watched, but we can make a breach.”

I nod, pulling my vest tighter, checking the weight of the Glock at my side. My pulse quickens as the gravity of the situation settles in. This is it. We have to move fast, no room for error.

“They’ve got the women along this wall, closest to the loading dock,” Davis reiterates, pointing to the section of the blueprint. “We’ll have to be careful—we don’t want any stray bullets.”

Vin glances over at me. “We hit them hard and fast, straight through the front. Once we’re inside, I’ll cover the east side, you take the west. We need to neutralize Christopher and his men before they realize what’s happening.”

“And the women?” I ask, my throat tight.

“We’ll get them out as soon as it’s clear,” Vin says, his expression hard. “We won’t leave any of them behind, Benedict.”

I know he means it. But that doesn’t stop the knot of dread from forming in my stomach. This isn’t just a tactical raid—it’s a rescue mission, and every second counts. I have no idea what condition Eva will be in when we get to her, but I pray she’s still in one piece.

“We ready to go?” Davis asks, his voice low but laced with urgency.

I glance around at the team—FBI agents, tactical gear, guns locked and loaded. Everyone’s tense, focused. There’s no room for hesitation now. “Yeah,” I say, my voice firm. “We’re ready.”

Vin gives a quick nod, pulling his radio to his mouth. “Team One, we move in on my signal. Breach on the east side. Let’s get these bastards.”

I grip my gun, taking one last look at the warehouse. The faded paint, the rusted metal siding—it’s a shell of a place, but inside is where all the horrors have been happening. I can’t think about that now, though. I can’t let it distract me. Not until Eva’s safe.

Vin signals, and we move as one, quiet and swift across the gravel lot toward the front of the warehouse. My heart pounds in my chest as we close in on the door, but my focus remains sharp. This is what we’ve trained for.

We take our positions, and Vin motions for the breach. The next few seconds happen in a blur—an explosion of sound as the door blows inward, followed by the deafening shouts of men caught off guard. We charge in, guns drawn, clearing the entrance. Inside, the place is a nightmare… dim lighting, concrete floors, and the stench of mildew and mold hanging in the air. But I don’t have time to process it. We move quickly, spreading out just like we planned.

I take the west side, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of Christopher—or Eva. There’s gunfire from the far end, but I don’t flinch. I focus on the mission. Clear the men. Save the women.

We move like lightning, storming through the warehouse, our footsteps heavy and sure, but precise. Each man that crosses our path goes down in seconds, their weapons clattering uselessly to the ground. The air is thick with the smell of gunpowder, sweat, and fear. I barely register it, my focus razor-sharp as we clear each corner, every shadow.

I spot Eva, chained to the railing with the others, and my heart slams against my chest. There she is. Her head is bowed, her body slumped in exhaustion, but I know she’s still fighting, because that’s who Eva is. She’s a fighter, even in the darkest moments. I push forward, dodging two more men before they can even react, and make a beeline straight for her.

Her eyes, wide and stunned, meet mine as I crouch down in front of her. Her lips part, but no words come at first. It’s like she’s in shock, trying to process that I’m really here, that I’ve found her.

“Benedict…” Her voice is shaky, barely above a whisper. “I…I…”

Her words trail off, as if the weight of everything she’s been through is suddenly crashing down on her. Her face is pale, eyes rimmed with exhaustion and fear, and I can see the bruises forming along her jawline. It’s like a gut punch, seeing her like this—so vulnerable, so hurt. But there’s no time to dwell on it. I reach for the zip ties, my knife working fast to remove them.

“You’re going to be okay,” I tell her, my voice low and steady, though my heart is racing. I need her to hear the certainty in my voice, to know that she’s safe now, that I won’t let anything else happen to her.

As the zip ties fall away, Eva’s arms drop limply to her sides, her body trembling from exhaustion and fear. Tears well up in her eyes, and she doesn’t try to stop them this time. They spill freely down her cheeks, her chest heaving with the effort of holding herself together.

“Christopher…” she whispers, the name like a ghost on her lips. There’s pure panic in her eyes as she looks at me, and it’s all I can do to keep myself calm, to not let my rage take over at the thought of that bastard putting her through this.

“We’ll find him,” I say firmly, meeting her gaze and willing her to believe me. “But right now, I’ve got you. You’re safe.”

Without hesitation, I scoop her into my arms, lifting her off the cold concrete floor. Her body feels fragile against mine, as though she could break with the slightest touch, but I hold her close, cradling her like something precious. Her arms wrap weakly around my neck, her face burying into my chest, as if she’s seeking the reassurance she so desperately needs. I can feel her trembling, but I also feel her trust. She trusts me to get her out of this hell.

As I carry her toward the exit, I don’t look back. There’s no need. Christopher will get what’s coming to him soon enough. For now, my only focus is Eva, and making sure she never has to feel this kind of fear again.

After what feels like an eternity, though it’s likely no more than five minutes, the chaos inside the warehouse begins to settle. The echo of gunfire fades, replaced by the crackle of radios and the distant wail of sirens. The air is thick with the smell of gunpowder and sweat, and the tension slowly unwinds as the last of Christopher's men are secured.

I carry Eva outside, her fragile body limp in my arms, and the moment we step into the cool night air, the flashing red and blue lights of police cars and ambulances greet us. My grip tightens on her as if I could shield her from everything she’s been through.

As I bring her to the waiting ambulance, I feel her stir faintly against me. She’s barely holding on, her body trembling from exhaustion and shock, her head resting against my shoulder. I approach the paramedics, who are already waiting with a stretcher. Gently, I lower her down, careful not to jostle her any more than she already has been. Her eyes flutter open for a moment, catching mine, but she’s too weak to speak. The paramedics rush to her side, their hands moving swiftly as they begin to check her vitals, assessing her injuries.

I stand there for a beat, watching as they care for her, my heart still racing with adrenaline. The reality of what we’ve just pulled off hits me in waves, but I don’t have time to process it. There’s still work to be done. I turn away reluctantly and head over to where Vin is gathering the other women.

“They’re scared out of their minds, but we’re getting them to safety,” Vin says, his voice gruff as he helps one of the women into a police car. Her face is streaked with tears, her eyes wide with terror, but there’s a sense of relief in the air. Relief that they’ve been saved from whatever nightmare Christopher had planned for them.

As I reach him, I scan the crowd, looking for one face—the face that still haunts me. “Where’s Christopher?” I ask, my voice tight with urgency. I need to know we got him, that we’ve put an end to this madness.

Vin shakes his head, grimacing. “Got away. We’re thinking he slipped out through the marina. There was a boat missing from the dock, and we’ve got the Coast Guard sweeping the area now.”

My jaw clenches, frustration gnawing at me. “Damn it.” I glance back at the warehouse, my mind racing with what-ifs. Christopher slipping through our fingers like that—it feels like a punch to the gut. He’s out there, and as long as he’s free, no one is truly safe. Especially Eva.

Vin claps a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm. “We’ll find him, Benedict. The Coast Guard’s got every boat on lockdown. He can’t run forever. We’ve got cars picking up his son now.”

I nod, forcing myself to stay calm. I know we’ll keep looking, but every second Christopher is on the loose feels like another second he’s out there plotting, scheming, and hurting people. I look back toward the ambulance where Eva lies, knowing she’ll never be safe until Christopher is found.

For now, though, she’s out of that hellhole. And that’s one small victory. But it’s not over. Not yet.