“This is the one I told you about,” the slick guy said. “She’s not been tapped, and she’s AB negative just like you requested.”
Olivia pressed her back against the wall as if she could dissolve into it. The pain she’d seen on Mindy’s face as she’d been fanged made Olivia’s neck burn in dread.
The person in the black cloak nodded once, and the ones in red stepped forward and unshackled her. Immediately, she fought them, but it did no good. Their grips were ironclad.
“No,” Mindy said, her voice still weak but determined. “Let her go.”
They ignored Mindy’s pleas as much as Olivia’s struggles as they dragged Olivia toward the door at the end of the room.
“Liv!” Mindy called out, a bit more forcefully.
“Stay strong,” Olivia said right before she was dragged into a dark corridor and the door shut behind her.
She couldn’t help the thought that the door had just shut forever on the life that she’d known.
* * *
When night finally fell, everyone was already geared up without any direction from Campbell. They knew their jobs and did them well. They all had their own reasons for wanting to put lowlife vampires like Salmeri away.
An hour before Salmeri was supposed to be at the club, Campbell texted Matt with Team 2 that they were heading out and his team should do the same. Everyone had their assigned positions and would be in them within minutes.
Campbell had to tell himself over and over to stay in control, stick with the plan. It was the best way to ensure Olivia, Mindy and the others stayed safe. The best way to make sure they found them and made certain this time Salmeri paid for his crimes. That he didn’t hurt anyone else.
They fell into the premission silence as they walked the now familiar series of hallways to the garage. They climbed into their new truck and Colin drove them out on their first foray since the bombing. Campbell could tell by the focused look on everyone’s faces that they were eager not only to save the human abductees but also to dish out some retribution for Billy’s death.
Colin parked in the dark alley they’d chosen for the express purpose of staying hidden from any vamp who might tip off Salmeri. Still without speaking, they all slipped out into the night and blended with the shadows as they walked the final three blocks to the edge of the Tribeca vampire-club strip. Campbell held up his hand, indicating everyone should stop while he checked in with Matt.
“You guys ready?” he asked over the radio as he looked up to the rooflines surrounding Universal Donor.
“All set here,” Matt said back, and gave Campbell a two-fingered salute from his post across the street. Dressed as he was all in black, he blended against the night sky behind him.
Despite the fact he didn’t need it, Campbell took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. “Okay, here we go. Move in hard and fast, and don’t let anyone get in your way.”
When Campbell moved forward at full speed, he sensed the rest of his team doing the same. The bouncer saw them at the last second and started to block their path inside. Campbell knocked him aside so hard that the guy crashed into the side of the building next door.
The moment they were inside, internal security descended. If this were a law-abiding club, no one would have messed with a V Force team. The fact they were meeting resistance was all the proof Campbell needed that something illegal was going on here.
Colin and Kaja parted a path for him, and he scanned the club until he spotted Salmeri sitting in a corner yet again, this time with a leggy brunette draped over him. He dumped her on the floor the moment he saw Campbell and tried to make a smooth getaway.
“No such luck, you bastard,” Campbell said as he sped after Salmeri and tackled him in a flying leap. Before Salmeri could buck him off, Campbell clamped a set of silver cuffs on him behind his back.
“You better have a damn good reason for assaulting me,” Salmeri spat over his shoulder.
Kaja placed her booted foot on his head and shoved it back to the floor. “We’re just taking out the garbage, and you’re stinking up the neighborhood.”
“Bitch.”
“Big mistake,” Kaja said then called Salmeri a rather unflattering name. She pressed down until his cheeks flattened.
Campbell let her have her bit of payback then signaled for her to back off. She did so with a final sneer in Salmeri’s direction. Campbell jerked him to his feet, and not gently. A quick glance around the club showed him his team had trussed up the security goons, and the club’s patrons had been herded onto the opposite side of the glowing dance floor.
He returned his attention to Salmeri and leaned in close. “One chance. That’s all you get to come clean about the abductions and the location of the people you took.”
Salmeri answered by spitting in his face. Campbell responded with a fist to the other vampire’s jaw. Then he simply stood and looked at the crowd.
“Everyone stay where you are. There’s another team outside armed with stakes and enough holy water to float the U.S. Navy.” Matt came through the front door then. “Watch this no-good piece of garbage.”
“With pleasure,” Matt said as he settled his hand atop a stake at his waist.
Campbell looked at his own team. “Tear this place apart. Look for anything that might lead us to the captives.”
They searched every room on every floor, but it wasn’t until they descended the stairs to the basement that they found what they were looking for.
“They’re here,” Colin called up the stairs.
Campbell couldn’t get to the basement fast enough.
A line of humans stood against the wall, their hands chained to it above their heads and their feet manacled and secured to large metal rings in the stone floor.
“Oh, my God,” Sophia said.
One of the women looked up and started whimpering. “Please, not again,” she said. Though she’d only been gone a few hours, Mindy was pale from multiple feedings.
“We’re not here to hurt you,” Sophia said as she moved toward her.
Mindy flinched and tried to get away even though she had to know it was no use trying. But the human survival instinct was strong.
He scanned the faces of the rest of the captives but didn’t see Olivia. Was he too late? No, he couldn’t be. He refused to believe it.
“Mindy, where’s Olivia?” he asked. His question was more like a command, and it made her recoil.
Colin gripped Campbell’s shoulder. “You’re scaring her.”
“I need to find Olivia.”
Colin centered himself a few feet in front of Mindy. “Hi, Mindy. I’m Colin. I know you’re scared, but I also know you want to save Olivia. Do you know where she is?”
“She needs to go to a hospital,” Sophia said to Campbell. “They all do.”
Mindy stared at Colin in confusion. “I’ve died, haven’t I? Or I’m having a dream.”
“No, you’re awake and if you’ll let me come closer, I’ll take the restraints off you,” Colin said. “We can free all of you.”
Tears streaked down Mindy’s cheeks, and Campbell knew exactly what she must be thinking. That she’d thought she’d never see the outside of this basement ever again. But he desperately needed her to focus.
With what little energy Mindy had, she nodded. Campbell motioned to the rest of the team to start releasing the prisoners. Colin moved forward slowly. Even with freedom not far away, Mindy couldn’t hide her vivid fear of him. Once the chains were off Mindy, Colin helped her slide to a sitting position on the floor and offered her a bottle of water they’d brought in the hope they’d find the prisoners alive. With shaking hands, Mindy sucked the bottle dry in seconds. It seemed to push away some of her hysteria. When she looked up, she appeared to be thinking more clearly.