~ Los Angeles, Kenneth street ~
About fifteen minutes earlier...
Jeff, Aiden and Sarah are in the car, across the street from the warehouse.
The street is almost deserted with no pedestrians and only occasional car passing by.
Six feet high fence is surrounding the property. The large yard is empty in front and it has unkept bushes on each side. Weather worn-out gray warehouse building is toward the end of the lot.
Jeff is staring at Sarah who is checking the palm-sized drone. His mind is full of dark thoughts about JoAnna being scared and suffering. Because he is not capable to keep her safe... Her beautiful face which has the brightest smile in the world is now terrified, with eyes full of fear while tears roll down her cheeks… because he can't keep her safe.
Aiden is observing the warehouse and surrounding while coming up with a plan. He is the calmest one out of the three.
Sarah snapped rotor of the drone. She grimaced and reached into the backpack to get another one.
"Relax, it will all be fine. We will scout the area, come up with a plan and get Anna out safely.", Jeff comforted Sarah, but his voice was breaking so it didn't sound convincing.
Sarah glanced at Jeff and didn't say anything. He is in much worse state than she is.
On the way to the warehouse, Jeff arranged about fifty people to wait, hidden in the area and ten snipers on rooftops of surrounding buildings. They are ready for the command to storm the warehouse.
Number of those men took the four week training at White property and they are eager to put their newly honed skills to test.
When they heard that their Mistress JoAnna is the one they are saving, they got anxious, especially snipers. They were filled with rage and ready to avenge their Mistress.
Sarah exhaled when she put the new rotor on successfully.
"I see two people walk out of the building occasionally, but they don't stay much outside. Other than that, it looks deserted." Aiden voiced his observation. "We can go over the fence and use those bushes for cover to approach…"
Aiden stopped talking when Jeff rushed out of the car without a word.
Sarah and Aiden saw a car turning into the warehouse lot. Driver was Enrique.
They realized that Jeff saw who the driver is and lost it. He is about to do something either very brave or very stupid.
And they were right about Jeff losing it.
Jeff was anxious and when he saw Enrique, he could not sit and watch. He wanted to see JoAnna as soon as possible, and to confirm that she is safe. Jeff is ready to give to Enrique whatever he wants… And when JoAnna is somewhere safe, Jeff will find Enrique wherever he is, and skin him alive because he dared to touch her.
"What happened with coming up with a plan?", Sarah asked in disbelief while looking at Jeff recklessly running toward Enrique.
Aiden took the drone from Sarah's hand, stuffed it in the backpack and nudged her to get out. "We improvise… let's go."
Sarah and Aiden rushed towards the fence, jumped over it and found cover in the bushes. They got the drone out and Aiden used his phone to show what drone sees with its in-built sensors as drone flew up.
"Besides Jeff and that man, no one else is outside…", Aiden tapped on the screen and drone showed outlines of people inside warehouse building. They could see six people close to the entrance, and four further away.
They felt their rings vibrating. Sarah got her phone and exhaled in relief. "It's Anna. She is safe."
Aiden glanced toward Jeff who was approaching the parked car. Enrique was busy with something and didn't notice him.
"It seems that Jeff didn't notice Anna's message.", Aiden said and focused back on his phone. "I don't think Anna is here…"
"Why?"
"Look…", he showed her his phone. "Based on postures and movements, these six are casually chatting… and if you look at those four in the back, they are in seated positions. Probably around the table. Playing cards maybe? In which of these two groups would Anna fit?"
Sarah had to agree with his conclusion, but she could not give up. She checked JoAnna's location on her phone again. "She is inside, or at least her ring is… and we just got the message through the ring… In any case, we need to check it out."
Aiden nodded. "Since it's just one guy, let's leave Jeff to handle him. We can take care of the ones inside."
They left drone in the hovering mode and used cover of the bushes to approach the warehouse undetected.
Enrique stepped out of the car and was startled to see Jeff. He glanced around and when he saw that Jeff is by himself, his confidence soared.
"Well, well… Mr. White… To what do I owe this pleasure?" Enrique smirked.
"Cut the crap! I know you have JoAnna. Where is she?" Jeff was doing his best not to punch the man in front of him.
"Mr. White, if you need something from me, you should show more respect.", Enrique smugly said.
Jeff saw Aiden and Sarah slipping into the warehouse and calmed down a bit.
"What do you want, Mr. Nanez?" Jeff's voice was not so vicious, but his expression was still dark.
Enrique laughed. "That's better! What do I want? The real question is what will you give me in order to keep that little wife of yours safe?"
Jeff squinted and composed himself. "I will not give you anything until I see that she is safe."
Enrique thought for a second. Jeff is by himself, and he has nine people inside that warehouse guarding JoAnna. They are not professionals, but it was the best he could afford. Even if they are just some street thugs, there is still nine of them, ten with Enrique included. And what can Jeff do against ten people?
Enrique will let Jeff see JoAnna tied up, pitiful… that will be a good incentive for Jeff to be more open to negotiations.
"Fair enough. This way, please…" He gestured toward the warehouse.
Two of them walked inside and Enrique went straight for the room in the back. He was so full of confidence that he didn't notice absence of his men.
Enrique's smirk faded when he grabbed the doorknob.
"Why is this locked?" He knocked two times on the door, and then banged on it with his fist. "Open the door!"
They heard voice from inside: "We are busy!"
Enrique felt lightheaded at the thought what can it mean when his men are locked inside with a woman, and they said they are 'busy'? And where are his men?
Just then he noticed that besides him and Jeff, warehouse seems empty.
Are all of his men inside?!! Even if they want to have their fun with Jeff's woman, that should be done AFTER his deal is done! How can he use JoAnna's safety as a leverage if his men already had their way with her?
"BUSY?!!" Enrique screamed while banging on the door with his fist. "Juan? Is that you? OPEN THE DOOR! RIGHT NOW!"
Jeff lost his patience. He pushed Enrique on the side and kicked the door open.