Chapter 14: The Rescue Operation
Anjo sat across from Dimitri in the dimly lit interrogation room, his eyes fixed on the man who had been at the center of so much pain and chaos. Dimitri’s wrists were handcuffed to the table, his expression defiant even as he nursed a bruise from the recent market scuffle. Anjo knew he had to play this carefully—Dimitri was cunning, and this was no ordinary criminal.
Anjo leaned forward, his voice calm but edged with steel.
“We both know you’re a key player in Barron’s operations, Dimitri. The drugs, the trafficking... you’ve got your hands in a lot of dark business.”
Dimitri scoffed, flashing a mocking grin.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’ve got me on the drug charges, maybe a few scuffles, but anything else? That’s pure speculation.”
Anjo’s gaze didn’t waver.
“Let’s talk about Farrah’s kidnapping.”
Dimitri’s grin faded, replaced with a flicker of unease.
“I don’t know any ‘Farrah.’ I don’t get involved with kids.”
“Then you won’t mind explaining why several witnesses saw you speaking with a man matching Barron’s description just a few days before her kidnapping,” Anjo pressed, keeping his tone steady but relentless.
“If you’re not involved, this is your chance to clear your name.”
Dimitri’s eyes darted away for a moment, then he sneered.
“Even if I did know something... what would be in it for me?”
Anjo sighed, feigning indifference.
“Well, that’s up to you. Help us find Farrah, and maybe I put in a good word with the judge. Stay quiet, and you go down with Barron’s whole network. You know what they do to people who keep secrets, don’t you?”
Dimitri stared back, weighing his options. After a tense silence, he finally relented, his shoulders slumping. “Fine. I don’t know much, but I know they’ve been using an old factory out of town. Abandoned, left from an old textile business that went bankrupt years ago. It’s isolated, no cameras, and hard to trace. That’s all I know.”
Anjo’s eyes sharpened. “The address.”
Dimitri leaned forward, his voice low. “End of Madison Lane. But don’t expect a warm welcome.”
---
A few hours later, Anjo, Garner, Sienna, and a SWAT team gathered in the police briefing room. Captain Reyes addressed the team, briefing them on the operation details.
“Our target is an abandoned textile factory at the end of Madison Lane. Intel suggests this could be a holding place connected to Barron’s syndicate,” Reyes explained. “Be prepared for a heavily armed resistance. Farrah may be inside, so minimize risks to civilians.”
Anjo turned to Sienna and Garner, giving them a serious look. “You two understand that this will be dangerous. If things go south, stay close to me and keep out of the line of fire.”
Sienna nodded, determination in her eyes. “We’re ready. Farrah deserves to be safe, and I won’t let anyone stop us from getting her back.”
Garner’s face was set with resolve. “I’m going to get my sister back. Whatever it takes.”
---
The factory loomed ahead as their vehicles pulled up silently on the outskirts of the dilapidated building. Shadows danced across the peeling walls, and broken windows gave the place an eerie, foreboding atmosphere. The team moved in quietly, positioning themselves around the entrance.
Anjo gave the signal. “On my mark… three, two… one—move!”
The SWAT team surged forward, breaching the door with a loud crash. Inside, the place was dimly lit, littered with abandoned machinery and crates. The team moved methodically, sweeping the rooms one by one.
Suddenly, a gunshot echoed through the air, and Anjo ducked, motioning for Garner and Sienna to stay low. Barron’s men had noticed them.
“Everyone, take cover!” Anjo shouted. “They’re in the back rooms!”
Gunfire erupted, and Anjo leaned out, returning fire at the armed thugs. Garner and Sienna huddled behind a stack of crates, their hearts pounding.
Garner clenched his fists. “They’re not getting away with this. I can’t believe they’d go this far.”
Sienna grabbed his arm, giving him a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll get her back, Garner. Just stay close to Anjo, alright?”
Anjo moved ahead, ducking and weaving between machinery as he returned fire. He finally caught a glimpse of one of Barron’s men, a burly thug, and took him down with a quick shot to the leg. The man crumpled to the ground, cursing as he writhed in pain.
“Where’s the girl?” Anjo demanded, pressing his foot against the thug’s arm to prevent him from reaching his gun.
The thug gritted his teeth, but the pain forced him to speak. “Third room down the hall. But you won’t make it past the others.”
“Watch me,” Anjo replied coolly, before motioning to the SWAT team to move forward.
With precision and caution, they advanced toward the room. Sienna felt a chill run down her spine as she followed close behind, Garner by her side.
Anjo gestured to Garner. “Get ready. The room ahead is where they’re keeping her. Sienna, you stay here.”
Sienna nodded reluctantly, staying back but still close enough to see. She watched as Anjo and Garner positioned themselves outside the door. With a quick signal, they kicked the door open, storming inside.
Inside, Farrah was tied to a chair in the middle of the room, her face pale and tear-streaked. Two armed men stood nearby, their expressions darkening as they realized they’d been caught.
One of them raised his gun, but Garner reacted instinctively, lunging forward and tackling the man to the ground. The two struggled, but Garner’s adrenaline gave him an edge as he wrested the gun away.
Anjo took on the second thug, exchanging blows with him before finally knocking him unconscious with a swift punch to the jaw.
“Garner!” Farrah gasped, her eyes filling with relief as she saw her brother.
Garner quickly moved to her side, loosening the ropes around her wrists. “Farrah, it’s me. You’re safe now.”
She looked up at him, trembling. “I was so scared, Garner… I thought I’d never see you again.”
He hugged her tightly, his voice choked with emotion. “I’m here, Farrah. I’m not leaving you.”
Sienna entered the room cautiously, her face softening as she watched the siblings reunite. She couldn’t help but feel a surge of warmth in her heart, seeing Garner so relieved, so full of love for his sister.
Anjo scanned the room, ensuring no other threats remained, before turning to the team. “Clear the area. We need to secure everyone involved.”
---
Outside, as the police team wrapped up the operation, Garner sat beside Farrah, holding her hand. Sienna approached, her gaze gentle as she looked at Farrah.
“Hi, Farrah,” she said softly. “I’m Sienna, one of Garner’s friends. You’re safe now.”
Farrah looked at her, managing a small smile through her tears. “Thank you... thank you all for coming.”
Sienna smiled back, feeling a sense of pride. “We’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Garner took Sienna’s hand, squeezing it tightly. “Thank you, Sienna. I don’t know how I’d have done this without you.”
A blush crept onto Sienna’s cheeks. She looked away, trying to hide the warmth in her eyes. “We’re in this together, right? I care about you, Garner.”
They stood there, hands entwined, a silent understanding passing between them.
Captain Reyes approached, nodding in approval. “Excellent work, team. This operation might have saved more than just Farrah—taking down Barron’s network will keep the whole community safer.”
Anjo nodded. “We’re just getting started, Captain. Barron’s still out there, and we’re not stopping until he’s behind bars.”
Reyes smiled, pride in his eyes. “With determination like that, I have no doubt you’ll succeed.” He turned to the team. “Let’s wrap up and head back. You all deserve a rest.”
As they made their way to the vehicles, Garner stayed close to Sienna, his hand still entwined with hers. “You know,” he said, his voice soft, “I didn’t think anyone would understand what Farrah means to me. But you… you seem to get it.”
Sienna looked up at him, her heart pounding. “I’d do anything for you, Garner. You’re not alone in this.”
He leaned in, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so glad to have someone by my side.”
And in that quiet moment, amidst the chaos and relief, a deeper connection blossomed between them.