Something I learned during my time with Hidden Justice was all criminals have a weak point. Often it was their ego. Andy was a master at manipulation. At pretending to be someone else. Hiding in plain sight and enjoying the twisted satisfaction of doing so.
But he also underestimated those around him. And thought because he was so smart, he couldn’t be found. He was careless with the fact that he left the back of the house vulnerable. He’d been playing his game so long and so well that he assumed no one would ever put the pieces together and find him.
But we did, and we walked right into his hideaway. The security on the back door was simple to override. Egan blocked it, and Marcus had the lock open in only a few seconds. The double garage was black inside, our night vision goggles letting us see what we needed. One car, a nondescript dark sedan, was parked to one side, closest to the house entrance. There were two doors. One leading in and one leading down. Just as we advanced, the loud music ceased. Marcus held up his arm, signaling for us to stop, and we waited but heard nothing.
Egan breathed in our ears. “Proceed with caution. He’s on the move.”
Julian pulled out a knife, slashing the tires on the car. “He can’t go far now.”
“He’ll head for her once he knows we’re here.”
“I’ll cut him off,” Julian whispered. “Go get her. Be alert, boys. I have a feeling he has some surprises in store.”
The cellar was freezing. Damp. It smelled of mold and decay. The metal door ahead of us had a bar across it that we lifted, opening the heavy door with caution. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of Raven lying on the hard, cold ground. The darkness around us burst into light, and I tore off my goggles as it exploded in front of my eyes, leaving me stunned for a moment. I stumbled as I headed to Raven, calling her name. She remained motionless on the ground. Falling to my knees, I dropped my gun and gathered her up, carefully lifting her into my arms. She winced, her eyes firmly shut.
“Raven, baby, it’s me. I got you. You’re safe,” I repeated over and over. I ran my hands over her, horrified at how cold she was. “Baby, open your eyes.”
I hauled her farther up and over my knees. I could hear shouting, shots being fired, running feet, and Marcus glanced behind him. “Go help him,” I yelled. “Don’t let him get away.”
I ran my hand over her head, fury mounting even higher at her injuries.
Raven’s eyes blinked open, the green hazy and filled with pain.
“I got you, baby. I’m here.”
A smile tugged on her lips. “I-I knew—you’d—come,” she mumbled, her voice low and raw.
I examined the chains holding her. “Search his pockets for keys,” I ordered into my earpiece.
I heard more commotion upstairs, gunshots, then silence.
“I’ll have you out in a few minutes, Raven. You’re safe now.”
“Andy?” she asked.
“Dead, I think.”
She shuddered, and I shrugged out of my coat, draping it around her and carefully tugging her close again.
“I’m taking you home, baby. You’re safe now,” I said, talking into her ear. “Everything is going to be fine now.” She made a small noise in the back of her throat.
I straightened and froze. A red dot was visible in the middle of her forehead. I followed the light. Andy was in the door, a gun in his hands, the laser sight pointed directly at Raven.
“She isn’t going anywhere. Neither are you.”
I observed him dispassionately, refusing to let him see my fear. “I beg to differ.”
“You’ll be begging, all right. I took out your friend fast, but you, I’m going to enjoy killing. You made me suffer, so I’ll let you suffer.” An evil grin spread over his face. “And she can watch.”
I narrowed my eyes, studying him. Without a disguise, I could see him fully. He was younger than his other personas. His hair was unkempt, his build slim. He was furious, his eyes crazed. He’d been shot, the blood running down his arm. His hands weren’t steady.
“Then aim your gun at me, asshole,” I replied.
“Move away from her, or I will kill her.”
“No, you won’t,” I said. “You’re obsessed with her. You won’t kill her.”
His laugh was high-pitched and grating. “I’ll be the one to decide that. I doubt you’ll risk it,” he said. He cocked the gun. “Now, move.”